After two years of lottery-based admissions at all middle schools due to the pandemic, some schools will once again admit students based on their academic grades.

But the academic screens will be in place at fewer middle schools than before the pandemic began, based on decisions made by district superintendents after weeks of engagement with their communities.

“These were not easy decisions to say the least but I know when we work with the community on behalf of what the community desires of their kids, we do our best to make the right call,” Schools Chancellor David Banks said during a roundtable with reporters at the Education Department’s headquarters.

There are 478 public middle schools in the city, but there will only be a total of 59 screened middle school programs.

The programs will include 24 middle schools that will screen all students, while the remaining 35 middle schools will screen students only for specific programs.

In 2020, which was the last time screens were used for middle schools, there were 196 screened middle school programs, including 112 middle schools that screened all students.

“These results recognize the desire of parents to have access to unique middle school options close to home, while continuing to provide accelerated learning options citywide and in communities where there is more demand,” Banks said.

How students are screened will also change. Schools can no longer consider state test scores, lateness, or attendance.

“Previously, each middle school could create their own screen, which made applying very complicated for families. This year and moving forward we are using the same screen for all middle schools, based on fourth grade academic grades,” Banks said.

The engagement process lasted several weeks and included public meetings and surveys, but Banks acknowledged that not every parent will be happy with the results.

“But that doesn’t mean that we didn’t hear you or that we didn’t honor you or that you didn’t have a seat at the table,” he said.