The city withdrew a proposal to open the Next Generation Technology High School, a selective AI-focused high school planned for downtown Manhattan, after public protests and equity concerns. Chancellor Kamar Samuels pulled the plan on April 27, two days before a Panel for Educational Policy vote, and said officials will continue discussions with the community. Protesters delivered a petition of more than 2,200 signatures and called for a two-year moratorium on classroom AI while officials weigh revisions.
NYC Withdraws Proposal for AI-Focused Selective High School After Public Backlash
Protestors hold placards during the "March Against The Machines" Protest; Hundreds of protesters joined the "March Against The Machines" in London, marching from OpenAI's offices to major tech headquarters in King's CrossCredit: Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty; Getty
New York City officials have withdrawn plans to open a selective, artificial intelligence–themed high school in downtown Manhattan after mounting public criticism and concerns about equitable access.
Decision and Context
On April 27, Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels formally pulled the proposal for the Next Generation Technology High School, just two days before the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) was scheduled to consider it. The proposal first appeared in documents published by N.Y.C. Public Schools as a potential new selective option aimed at preparing students to be both builders and ethical users of AI and other emerging technologies as early as the 2026–27 school year.
Community Reaction
The plan drew protests from parents and advocacy groups who raised alarms about student privacy, potential harms to creativity and cognitive development, and broader equity concerns. On April 16, demonstrators delivered a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to city officials and urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani to impose a two-year moratorium on classroom uses of AI.
Equity and Policy Concerns
PEP Chair Greg Faulkner formally asked Chancellor Samuels to withdraw the proposal, citing worries that a "screened" selective school could create barriers for students from historically underserved communities. Supporters of the plan, including Linda Quarles, secretary of the Citywide Council on High Schools, argued the school would expand advanced options for academically accelerated students.
Enrollment Data and Next Steps
According to reporting from the New York Post, the applicant pool for the proposed school was approximately 39% Hispanic, 21% Black, 20% Asian and 17% White, with the remainder identifying as multiracial or Native American. Chancellor Samuels — who helped develop the proposal while serving as Manhattan District 3 superintendent — said the withdrawal "is not an end to these important policy conversations" and indicated the package of proposals could be restored, revised, or abandoned after further community engagement.
"We want to consider the various perspectives on this matter, so that we can make meaningful changes," Samuels wrote in a memo reported by local outlets.
What This Means
The withdrawal leaves open the possibility that elements of the plan could be reworked and resubmitted after additional feedback from parents, educators and community stakeholders. For now, city officials have signaled a pause to allow more time for public discussion about how — or whether — AI should be integrated into K–12 settings.
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