Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Challenge To Racial Discrimination In Public School Admissions

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a case challenging Boston Public Schools using a student’s ZIP code as a factor for admission in an attempt to admit more nonwhite students.

The case alleges white students were unfairly discriminated against after several prestigious schools within the district created a quota for admitting students from different ZIP codes rather than basing admission on the students’ academic performance, leading to decreased white enrollment. Several schools have created alternative admissions policies in an attempt to sidestep the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that banned the use of race as a factor for admission into schools.

“Every student should have an equal opportunity to succeed based on their merit, not where they live or the color of their skin,” Chris Kieser, senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, who represents the case, said. “Boston Public Schools’ use of a ZIP Code quota as a naked proxy for race violates the Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Regardless of today’s disappointment, the government’s use of skin color or ethnicity to choose who can attend public schools is a critical constitutional question that must be settled.”