Exciting news! StuyPrep is launching its biggest season yet, welcoming nearly 200 students into our transformative program! This incredible milestone reflects the growing impact of our initiative and our unwavering commitment to increasing diversity in NYC’s specialized high schools.

StuyPrep, an initiative of the SHSAA, was founded in 2016 by Stuyvesant alumni Kent Kim ’05 and Christina Alfonso ’01 to address the underrepresentation of historically marginalized students in specialized high schools. By providing free tutoring and preparation for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), we empower middle school students from underserved communities with the skills and confidence they need to gain admission to schools like Stuyvesant. To date, we have supported over 500 students, with a 20% placement yield over the past two years.

The underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in NYC’s specialized high schools remains a pressing issue. While these students make up nearly two-thirds of the NYC public school system, they account for less than 2% and 5% of Stuyvesant’s student body, respectively. StuyPrep is dedicated to closing this gap by offering high-quality, targeted SHSAT preparation and fostering a sense of community through connections with current Stuyvesant students from ARISTA, BSL, and ASPIRA. Our collaborations with educational providers such as AdmissionSquad, CAS Prep, Helicon, K12 Tutoring, and Kweller Prep, along with partnerships with community-based organizations like HEAF, REACH, SEO, Henry Street Settlement, and PISTE, ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.

This year marks a record-breaking expansion for StuyPrep, growing from just 25 students two years ago to 125 last year—and now nearly 200! This growth is a testament to our alumni-driven commitment to diversity and inclusion, spearheaded by Executive Director Diego Segalini ’98. So far we’ve learned that 20 of our students gained admission to a specialized high school, including six to Stuyvesant, and we are eager to build on that success this year. Diego emphasizes, “Our success hinges on ensuring that supporting one community does not come at the expense of another. While we are focused on underrepresented communities, we seek to empower all communities that have been marginalized.”

Fueling this expansion is a remarkable fundraising achievement—StuyPrep has successfully raised over $100,000 in dedicated funding! Thanks to the generous support of organizations such as the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, we are able to sustain and scale our initiative, ensuring that students receive top-tier instruction and mentorship from Stuyvesant students. The strong relationships we have built with students and their families reinforce our vision of Stuyvesant as a beacon of hope for all NYC students striving for an excellent education.

With nearly 200 students and a growing network of support, StuyPrep is on an exciting trajectory. We can’t wait to see what this next season brings!