Excellence Beyond the Exam: Medgar Evers and Traditional High Schools

• 1,267students in grades 6 through 12 at Medgar Evers College Prep
• 96% and 99.5%range of its four-year graduation rate
• 81%of students proficient in reading (73% in math)
• 1170average SAT score (ACT average of 26)

The intense focus on specialized exam schools often eclipses the profound successes occurring within Brooklyn's traditional, unscreened, and audition-based high schools. The most prominent example of high-level academic achievement occurring outside the SHSAT paradigm is Medgar Evers College Preparatory School (MECPS), located in District 17 (Crown Heights).³⁰

Serving 1,267 students in grades 6 through 12, Medgar Evers College Prep operates with a student body that is 99% minority (predominantly Black). Despite serving a demographic that the SHSAT systematically filters out of specialized schools, MECPS posts metrics that rival or exceed state averages in almost every category. The school maintains a four-year graduation rate hovering between 96% and 99.5%, placing it in the top 10% of all public high schools in New York State. Furthermore, its college and career readiness indicators are exceptional, heavily driven by dual-enrollment programs that allow students to accrue CUNY college credits while still in secondary school.^5,37

The success of Medgar Evers College Prep forces a critical reevaluation of the narrative surrounding Black and Latino educational attainment in Brooklyn. It demonstrates that when students are provided with rigorous curricula, high expectations, and culturally responsive pedagogy, they achieve at elite levels without being gated by a single high-stakes standardized test. The school's academic rigor is validated by state assessments, where 81% of students demonstrate proficiency in reading and 73% in math, drastically outpacing the District 17 averages. The school reports average SAT scores of 1170 and ACT scores of 26, solidifying its position as a premier college preparatory environment.^5,40

Other Brooklyn high schools also demonstrate high levels of localized success. Midwood High School and Edward R. Murrow High School are massive, comprehensive institutions that balance diverse student populations with highly respected honors programs and specialized tracks. Midwood boasts the highest application-to-seat ratio among all Brooklyn high schools, reflecting its status as a highly desirable destination for students shut out of the specialized exam schools. Brooklyn Collaborative Studies (District 15) serves as another model of unscreened success; despite 55% of its students falling under the Economic Need Index and 33% holding IEPs, it maintains an 88% attendance rate and a culturally diverse student body (35% White, 33% Hispanic, 24% Black).^30,44,41

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Brooklyn is also home to a robust network of Career and Technical Education (CTE) high schools, designed to provide students with direct pathways into the workforce alongside traditional high school diplomas. George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, located in Downtown Brooklyn (105 Tech Place), serves as a prime example. Named after the electrical pioneer, the school provides skills in information technology, electrical engineering, and digital media to its roughly 550 students. Similarly, Grady High School offers comprehensive CTE programs, leaning into vocational certifications.^45,42,48

These CTE institutions serve a vital role in the borough's educational ecosystem. For students whose aptitudes lean toward applied sciences and immediate workforce entry, CTE schools provide industry-recognized certifications. The emphasis on hands-on, project-based learning in these environments frequently yields higher engagement rates for students who might otherwise become disconnected from purely theoretical academic tracks.