User talk:Gracebyrne

The article entitled ‘Boston Latin Academy’ states that prior to 1972 BLA was formally named Girls Latin School, implying, incorrectly, that they are one and the same. The article, based upon this incorrect premise, also presents the history of Girls Latin School (GLS) as that of Boston Latin Academy, again incorrect.

Girls Latin School was founded in 1877 as an alternative for girls since the Boston Latin School (BLS) and the Boston School Committee refused to admit girls to the Boston Latin School.

On June 23, 1972 Title IX was put in place as a portion of Education Amendments of 1972 and stated that: ‘No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex,    be denied the benefits. . . under any educational program. . ‘

While many associate Title IX with girls’ sports, it is the law that forced the Boston School Committee to admit girls to the Boston Latin School.

Since the 1972-73 school year, Girls Latin School, as defined by its mission and operation from 1877-1972, ceased to exist.

Due most likely to a bureaucratic mistake within the Boston School Department, the name of Girls Latin School was not changed to Boston Latin Academy (BLA) until 1975 and not 1977 as stated.

The fact that BLA used the GLS name until 1975, as well as the GLS Codman Square Building, leads many to incorrectly state that BLA is the old GLS.

GLS ceased to exist since no Boston public school restricted its student body to girls only.

Before 1972, based upon test results, only males were admitted to BLS and females to GLS. If your score didn’t qualify for admission, your only option was a Boston public high school.

As of 1972-73 school year, all students take the ISSE exam for admission to one of Boston’s three test schools, BLS, BLA,and the John O’Bryant. A student ranks their choice of the 3 schools as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

Boston Latin has a number of seats open for the 7th grade and if the number is 300, for the purposes of discussion, the 300 highest scores on the ISSE are admitted.

Even if a student has elected Boston Latin as their 1st choice, they will not be granted admission if they do not fall within the 300 highest scores.

Subject to the number of remaining seats, a student is admitted to their 2nd or 3rd choice.

Among students BLS is usually rated as number 1 and BLA number 2.

Gracebyrne (talk) 23:23, 4 October 2014 (UTC) gbyrne--Gracebyrne (talk) 23:23, 4 October 2014 (UTC)