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New York City Has 186,000 Fewer Children and Teens Than It Did in 2020
New census numbers show the steepest drop in the city’s youngest age group in at least a decade as many families have left to live elsewhere.
By Winnie Hu and Troy Closson
I write about schools, children and families in New York City, home to the largest public school system in the country. Disadvantaged students make up the vast majority of the population, and I try to examine the issues that affect them and the obstacles they face in education. I write about topics like reading and math, school segregation, early childhood education and the political forces that shape the system.
I joined The Times in 2020 as a member of its yearlong fellowship, a program for journalists early in their careers. I covered law enforcement and courts for about two years, and was named the National Association of Black Journalists’ Emerging Journalist of the Year in 2023.
I graduated from Northwestern University, where I was the editor of the student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern. I grew up in Laurel, Maryland, and now live in Brooklyn.
As a Times journalist, I uphold the standards outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I work hard to treat the people I write about fairly, and strive to be accurate and empathetic in my coverage. I do not donate to education advocacy groups or political campaigns. I protect confidential sources who need to protect themselves from retaliation. But I also carefully consider their credibility, and seek out verification or corroboration of their claims.
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New census numbers show the steepest drop in the city’s youngest age group in at least a decade as many families have left to live elsewhere.
By Winnie Hu and Troy Closson
A new report found that many schools enrolled more racially and socioeconomically diverse groups of students without sparking a major exodus of families from public schools.
By Troy Closson
A major lawsuit against racial inequality in New York City’s public schools is moving forward. Already, local districts in the city were trying different measures to diversify schools.
By Troy Closson
The percentage of Black and Latino students in the eight schools increased modestly to 12 percent, the highest since 2013, but still far below the overall percentage of those students in schools.
By Troy Closson
Budget constraints and staff shortages reduced capacity at the agency that investigates criminal behavior in public schools, according to the City Council.
By Troy Closson
One parent led a push to review rules around transgender athletes. The other had encouraged pro-Palestinian student activism. The chancellor said their conduct at parent meetings crossed a line.
By Troy Closson
New York City will give schools the option to send eighth-graders on field trips to the Museum of Jewish Heritage as part of an effort to address antisemitism.
By Emma G. Fitzsimmons
Top students can benefit greatly by being offered the subject early. But many districts offer few Black and Latino eighth graders a chance to study it.
By Troy Closson
Over a dozen Democratic elected officials criticized a parent group that asked for a review of rules that let students play on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
By Troy Closson
Many New York City families counted on the prospect of free preschool, but hundreds were not immediately offered a seat and may have to travel across town to available spots.
By Troy Closson
Republicans have pressed educators to fire employees who they say crossed lines. But school leaders say that legal, political and union considerations complicate matters.
By Troy Closson
For some in Berkeley, Calif., New York City and Montgomery County, Md., their responses about the hearing on antisemitism appeared to hinge on their opinions going in.
By Heather Knight and Campbell Robertson
Politicians said educators had not done enough. But the New York chancellor said members were trying to elicit “gotcha moments” rather than stop antisemitism.
By Dana Goldstein, Troy Closson and Michael Levenson
Under rapid-fire questioning, David C. Banks, the chancellor of New York City schools, pushed back on accusations that the district had allowed antisemitism to fester.
By Troy Closson and Sarah Mervosh
This was featured in live coverage.
By Troy Closson
This was featured in live coverage.
By Troy Closson
This was featured in live coverage.
By Troy Closson
This was featured in live coverage.
By Troy Closson
As David C. Banks prepares to testify about antisemitism in the New York City schools, he said he wasn’t intimidated by congressional Republicans.
By Troy Closson
At a hearing in Congress, public school leaders from New York, California and Maryland forcefully buffed Republican attacks, drawing a contrast with university presidents.
By Jacey Fortin
After helping topple two college presidents, lawmakers will grill school district leaders from New York City; Berkeley, Calif.; and Montgomery County in Maryland.
By Dana Goldstein and Sarah Mervosh
After helping topple two college presidents, Congress will grill school district leaders from New York City; Berkeley, Calif.; and Montgomery County in Maryland.
By Dana Goldstein and Sarah Mervosh
The victim, identified by the police as Emery Mizell, 17, was attacked at an apartment building in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx.
By Lola Fadulu and Troy Closson
The lawsuit calls out “pernicious racial inequality” in the nation’s largest school district. If successful, it could lead to changes to gifted and selective programs, or even their elimination.
By Troy Closson
Israel says the number of trucks entering the enclave has doubled to an average of 400 a day. The U.N. disputes that, but agrees that the pace of deliveries has quickened.
By Isabel Kershner, Raja Abdulrahim, Adam Rasgon and Troy Closson
This was featured in live coverage.
By Troy Closson and Stephanie Saul
Protesters were arrested at the University of Minnesota and Yale, and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, said he would come to Columbia to speak to Jewish students about antisemitism on campuses.
By Troy Closson
Dozens were arrested Monday at N.Y.U. and Yale, but officials there and at campuses across the country are running out of options to corral protests that are expected to last the rest of the school year.
By Alan Blinder
The crackdown at Columbia this month led to more campus demonstrations and hundreds of arrests so far.
By The New York Times and Troy Closson
This was featured in live coverage.
By Alan Blinder, Troy Closson and Sarah Maslin Nir