Justice Department Reaches Settlement With New Jersey School Over Admissions Practices

BY MIRABEL ODETA

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement agreement with the Jersey City Board of Education to end admissions practices at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School that federal officials said involved discrimination based on race and national origin.

The agreement, announced Thursday, marks the latest action by President Donald Trump’s administration targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in educational institutions across the country. The Justice Department said the settlement resolves its investigation into the highly selective Jersey City college preparatory school.

“Through this voluntary settlement agreement, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Jersey City Board of Education agreed to end race and national origin discrimination in student admissions at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School,” the department said in a statement.

The school did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the settlement.

Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School is considered one of New Jersey’s top-performing public schools, ranking among the highest-rated institutions in the state. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school has a student population that is 81% minority, with approximately 34% of students classified as economically disadvantaged.

Under the terms of the settlement, the district must revise its admissions process and ensure that student placement decisions are not based on race or national origin. The Justice Department said the school will no longer reserve a specific number of admission slots for students based on those factors.

The district will be required to adopt a new admissions policy before the application cycle for the 2027-2028 school year. The agreement will remain in effect until August 2029, and the district must provide regular reports to the Justice Department detailing how the new admissions system is being implemented.

The settlement is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge diversity-related programs in schools, universities, government agencies, and private organizations. The administration has argued that certain DEI policies create unfair advantages and violate equal protection principles.

Since returning to office, Trump has taken steps aimed at limiting diversity initiatives, including policies affecting higher education, federal agencies, and educational funding programs. The administration has also targeted issues involving campus protests, climate programs, transgender policies, and institutional diversity efforts.

Supporters of the administration’s approach argue that admissions and employment decisions should be based on individual qualifications rather than demographic factors. Critics, including civil rights organizations and academic experts, argue that DEI initiatives are designed to address longstanding inequalities and expand opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.

Civil rights advocates have warned that restrictions on diversity programs could reduce efforts to address unequal access to educational opportunities for minority communities, women, and other marginalized groups. They have also raised concerns about the impact of government actions on academic freedom, free expression, and institutional independence.

The McNair High School settlement reflects the ongoing national debate over how schools should consider issues of diversity and fairness in admissions. As federal officials continue reviewing similar programs across the country, education institutions are facing increasing pressure to evaluate and adjust their policies to comply with changing legal interpretations.