The system for girls’ acceptance into High Schools, developed nearly two decades ago with the guidance of BMG Mashgiach Rav Matisyahu Salomon, has completely collapsed for this year, leaving parents and schools scrambling.
The High School Vaad, established to ensure that all girls are placed, sent a letter to parents and schools saying in part: “For the last 18 years we had a system in place, and we had a coordinated approach to High School acceptance. This has fallen apart this year, and girls are being offered High School acceptance with quick ultimatums. For this year, due to these unforeseen circumstances, there is no longer a system.“
The letter added, “To high schools that have been following protocol–schools are currently accepting, and you should do the same.”
The current Vaad system which has been in place until now oversees a process in which every High School tries to accept girls simultaneously, to ensure every girl has a slot.
According to one Lakewood news source, quoting an unnamed askan, “This year, one school stepped out of the system and accepted girls before the usual time. This had a ripple effect on other schools who scrambled to hold interviews and fill up their enrollment.”
As a result, hundreds of students have reportedly been told they have a slot, yet hundreds more have been left out or have not even been interviewed yet, since under the previous system they still had time before any acceptances were issued.
According to one report, although the Vaad is not operating in official capacity this year, it will nevertheless undertake to assist every girl to be placed.
It’s not clear what pushed one school to undercut the process and jump the gun on its acceptance process.