Several new studies have raised questions about whether opening STEM-focused schools actually produces students who go on to specialize in these fields.

While the evidence was "insubstantial" when it came to student course-taking and achievement, Education Week reported that one study did, however, reveal special benefits for females, and even greater benefits for black and Hispanic students. Minority students performed better in STEM than non-STEM high schools, even after accounting for prior student achievement.

"While the literature might suggest that STEMs are characterized by a 'chilly environment,' where minorities and females can feel unwelcomed, our results suggest that, in contrast, these schools are doing something right for them," said one author of the study. 

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Article by Navindra Persaud, EducationWorld Contributor.