State Orders Mamaroneck to Enroll Immigrant Student in High School

MAMARONECK, NY — A 16-year-old immigrant student must be allowed to enroll in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District without paying tuition.

The state Commissioner of Education issued the decision Wednesday that the child, identified as C.M., has the right to enroll at Mamaroneck High School after moving with his family from New Rochelle to Larchmont earlier this year.

The district had denied C.M. tuition-free access to the high school, saying that his middle school education in Guatemala was the highest level of compulsory education offered in that country, and therefore was not eligible to attend the high school for free.

“All children in New York have a right to learn and pursue the American dream,” said NYCLU Staff Attorney Jordan Wells. “Districts across the state should heed the commissioner’s decision and recognize that immigrant children have the same right to attend school as all other children.”

Patch reached out to the Mamaroneck school district for comment, but a response was not immediately forthcoming.

In her decision, the commissioner cited state education law which says that “[a] person over 5 and under 21 years of age who has not received a high school diploma is entitled to attend the public schools maintained in the district in which such person resides without the payment of tuition.”

In May, the state education commissioner issued an interim order requiring the district to enroll the student.

At the time, the district complied and the student was enrolled but said it was awaiting a final determination.

C.M.’s mother, Aura Melgar said the process has been difficult for her family.

“But this decision will help very much because my son’s education has a great impact on his future,” she said.

“Hopefully this decision will make the district rethink its actions and provide education to all students without discriminating,” Melgar said.

Photo credit: Patch file photo.