Supreme Court Takes Up Race and School Admissions Again

October 19, 2026 - 17:20

The Supreme Court has agreed to review an admissions policy used for selective middle school programs in Maryland, setting up another major test of how far schools can go in considering race as part of enrollment decisions. The case arrives just a few years after the court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, a ruling that reshaped how universities across the country build their incoming classes.

At issue is whether the Maryland program's approach to balancing its student body crosses a legal line, or whether it remains a permissible tool for promoting diversity at the K through 12 level. The policy was designed to widen access to academically demanding middle school programs that had long enrolled disproportionately small numbers of Black and Hispanic students. Supporters say the changes opened doors for talented children who otherwise would have been overlooked. Critics argue the policy amounts to a race conscious system that disadvantages other applicants and should not survive legal scrutiny.

The case will likely draw intense attention from school districts nationwide, many of which have spent the past two years reworking their admissions rules in response to the earlier higher education decision. A ruling could clarify whether the same limits apply to younger students and to specialized programs that serve as gateways to advanced coursework in high school.

Lower courts have split on the question, and the justices are expected to hear arguments in the coming months, with a decision likely by late spring or early summer.