Judge throws out case alleging race-based admissions in Philly School District

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A federal judge throws out a lawsuit that claimed the way students are admitted to magnet schools in the Philadelphia School District was unconstitutionally based on race. The district three years ago changed its admissions process for criteria-based schools from one where principals had some influence over who got in, to a lottery for qualified students. Parents of three students then sued in federal court, saying the lottery gave preferential treatment to underrepresented zip codes and effectively kept their children out of their first choice of schools. Judge Chad Kenney dismisses the suit, saying qualified applicants within the preferred zip codes were automatically admitted – and those outside had an equal opportunity through the lottery.