Capitalist Media Ignore Inequity and Misleading Branding Concerns as “Themed” Schools Rise in Popularity

Attending a themed middle school does not ensure success, either, as Field shares data showing how several STEM-themed schools reported math scores below the citywide average on the state standardized test. Focus on one theme, too, may lead to a lack of time spent on other parts of the curriculum. Maud Abeel, a director at the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, notes how there is a fear that students in themed schools may feel they are missing opportunities available at mainstream middle schools, becoming alienated from peers, or pigeonholed by the pressure to “live up to the moniker.”

Whereas the Hechinger Report discusses the nuances of themed schools and the concerns raised related to their effectiveness and branding, establishment news coverage largely ignores the equity and misperception concerns. For example, in April 2023, the New York Times reported on the growing interest among New York charter networks for licenses for themed schools. While this article focused on future possibilities such as gender justice or STEM education, discourse addressing past cases of misleading themed schools was not addressed.

Meanwhile, the Hechinger Report expands on what the New York Times did not report: how students from poorer parts of the district may be drawn in by themed schools’ false promises, with misleading names when the school’s curriculum or values have shifted. As of March 2024, themed schools and the equitable factors and misleading branding that limit students’ opportunities have not been well covered by the corporate media.