<p>As an actual NYC public school parent veteran who filled out the free lunch report for 13 years, I can tell you this: 4 or 5 years ago, the application added a box near the top for those who knew that they were not eligible, allowing them to submit the form without reporting their income. This made it much easier for schools to submit a much higher percentage of forms. Previously, parents who knew their kids didn’t qualify for the lunch benefit were reluctant to submit the form.</p>
<p>Here’s the state page listing 47 percent “economically disadvantaged” students in 2012-13:
<a href=“2013 | STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site”>2013 | STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site;
<p>Here is the definition of “economically disadvantaged”:
<a href=“Enrollment Glossary | NYSED Data Site”>Enrollment Glossary | NYSED Data Site;
<p>Comparison of other top NYC high schools:
Brooklyn Tech 61 percent
<a href=“2013 | BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HS - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site”>2013 | BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HS - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site;
Bronx High School of Science 49 percent
<a href=“2013 | BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site”>2013 | BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site;
<p>New York City schools total 81 percent
<a href=“2013 | NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site”>2013 | NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS - Enrollment Data | NYSED Data Site;
<p>(I couldn’t find the statistic for just high school students.)</p>