The new school is a collaboration with Delaware State University.
Earlier this month, New York City officials proudly opened the doors to a groundbreaking educational institution: the first-ever Historically Black College and University preparatory high school in a major U.S. city.
“There’s just not enough exposure to HBCUs across the country,” Dr. Asya Johnson, principal of the newly established HBCU College Prep High School, said during an interview with ABC News. “We talk about college and college access, but we do not spend enough time celebrating the history and the data around it.”
HBCUs play a critical role in the education of Black students, enrolling nearly 10% of all Black undergraduates in the U.S. They also produce the majority of Black doctors, lawyers and judges, as highlighted by the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. However, there are no HBCUs located north of Pennsylvania on the East Coast, including in bustling states like New York.
Dr. Johnson, a graduate of Delaware State University (DSU) – a historically Black land-grant research institution – expressed her desire to help her students connect with their roots, and her perspective on the need for an HBCU-focused prep school hits the nail on the head.
“It’s important because it doesn’t exist.” In a world where educational opportunities can feel limited, especially for students of color, she is calling attention to the lack of awareness about the broader landscape of higher education.
“We often don’t explain to students what exists beyond just our state or our local tri-state area. Why not expose students to that?”
Johnson continued, “We want them to know that from the minute they walk into the doors, how much we love and care for them,” she said, referring to the first group of students at the new school.
The school is making waves with its limited 100-seat offering that drew over 1,000 eager applicants for its inaugural year, as reported by Johnson. To stand out in such a competitive pool, prospective students had to tackle an essay focused on solving a pressing technology or health care issue within their community, alongside submitting a two-minute video that showcased their passion for using their degree to make a difference. This rigorous selection process underscores the school’s commitment to fostering a vibrant “community of learners dedicated to academic excellence, diversity, societal contributions, and social justice,” as highlighted on its website.
Starting in 11th grade, students at HBCU Early College Prep will take online college courses taught by professors from DSU. This initiative not only gives students a head start on their college education but also allows them to engage with higher learning in a supportive environment that recognizes the unique challenges faced by underrepresented communities.
During the school’s opening news conference, DSU President Tony Allen stressed the vital role HBCUs have played over the past century and a half in building the Black middle class.
“To be clear, the greatest indicator for a lower-resourced student from an underserved community to actually get into the middle class and change the economic trajectory for themselves, their families, and their communities is their attendance at an HBCU,” he said.
According to the New York mayor’s office, students at the school can earn up to 64 college credits toward an associate’s degree in liberal arts from DSU and are guaranteed admission there.
FocusQuest, a company dedicated to enhancing recruitment efforts for HBCUs, has been selected as an official partner with the school, a move that CEO Sean-Reed McGee has described as a “game-changer.”
This collaboration comes at a crucial time when some educational institutions are rolling back their DEI initiatives, but Johnson emphasizes that while their unwavering commitment to education and empowerment is a testament to the ongoing importance of HBCUs in shaping brighter futures for young Black scholars, all are welcome at HBCU Early College Prep.
“HBCUs, and our school, in particular, are not just for students who are Black,” Johnson said. “Anyone can attend an HBCU, just like anyone can attend and apply to HBCU Early College Prep here in New York City.”
