New York City's high schools have failed to provide equal opportunities to female athletes, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

The federal decision was made in response to a complaint filed by the National Women's Law Center in 2010, which contended that girls were underrepresented in the city's athletics programs. The organization said the city would need to create an additional 3,862 places on girls' sports teams to make athletic opportunities equal to those of boys. 

The Office of Civil Rights outlined its findings in a Feb. 12 letter to Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. 

Education officials agreed to make changes, while denying they were in violation of Title IX of federal education law. The first task, to be completed by the end of June: a survey of unmet athletic interest among students. The department also will identify sports programs currently offered to girls and the participation rates in high school programs offered by the Public School Athletic League. 

"This agreement will enable us to add new girls’ teams, create athletic programs that are more responsive to students’ interests and expand opportunities for participation," said Jason Fink, a spokesman for the Department of Education. "We have been and remain deeply committed to ensuring that all of our students have access to our outstanding athletic programs.”

The city budgeted an additional $1 million for Public School Athletic League programs, which will allow for a total of 96 new girls' teams by fiscal year 2019.