The Department of Education says she “stepped down,” but longtime Upper West Side superintendent Ilene Altschul got pushed out because she’s white, sources told The Post.

“Carranza and his team targeted Ilene — among others — because she is white and Jewish,” said a veteran white DOE administrator who is close to Altschul.

“They wanted to replace her with one of their cronies, regardless of her work and commitment to advancing equity in her community.”

Altschul, the longtime leader of the District 3, which also includes Harlem, is the latest casualty of Carranza’s sweeping reorganization of the Department of Education.

In March, Carranza’s new executive superintendent of Manhattan schools, Marisol Bradbury, came to see Altschul — and told her to start thinking about another position, according to a source.

“What else do you see yourself doing?” Bradbury asked her, according to a source.

“I don’t see myself doing anything else,” she told Bradbury.

The question made her nervous, and she contacted the lawyer who reps three high-level female DOE administrators who have sued Carranza, alleging they were demoted and replaced because they are white. She never signed on as a plaintiff.

Plans to remove and replace Altschul, who is white and Jewish, were put on hold after the lawsuit was filed.

The DOE announced Friday that Altschul “is leaving her post” and “will step down” to take a new DOE job.

Altschul will serve as executive director the “mulit-tiered system of support,” a new team of administrators who help determine what schools need to improve instruction, said DOE spokeswoman Danielle Filson. She applied and interviewed for the new post.

Her salary remains the same, $177,249, Filson said.

“After seven years as a superintendent, Ilene has decided to take on a new role serving students across the city. We’re excited to have her in this new role and that’s what matters, not anonymous, made-up gossip,” Filson added.

DOE officials noted that Altschul’s interim replacement, Staten Island deputy superintendent Christine Loughlin, is also white.

Altschul did not return a call for comment Saturday, but the DOE provided a statement in which Altschul recalled the achievements under her leadership.

“I’m particularly proud to have launched the District 3 diversity plan together with our parents and principals,” she said.