School Integration By Economic Class--Raleigh (N.C.) Rocks!
The Wake County, North Carolina school system (which includes all of Raleigh, N.C.) decided that it wanted to make sure that none of the schools in its system had a poverty rate of more than 40%. Extensive busing of up to 4% of the district's kids (as well as attractive magnet schools to lure suburbanites to the city) has allowed the city to come very close to their goal.
The results?
1) Students have increased their academic performance--91% of students in grades 3 through 8 scored at grade level on state tests, an increase of 12% in the past decade.
2) Property values in both the city and suburbs have maintained or increased their value.
3) Most students that are forced to bus long distances to school are from low-income families. These parents hate the busing, but believe in the quality of their children's new schools.
4) Most parents complaining about a lack of choice are white and suspicious of the districts attempts at what they refer to as social engineering.
The problem with replicating this here--no Onondaga County-wide school system. Most families moved out to the suburbs to get away from the city school district and its kids. How do you replicate the sense of academic promise and achievement of a suburban school in a city where up to 50% of the kids drop out, parents do not have the skills or dedication to help their children succeed academically and schools are starved for the talented teachers, supplies and infrastructure that the city can no longer afford?
The results?
1) Students have increased their academic performance--91% of students in grades 3 through 8 scored at grade level on state tests, an increase of 12% in the past decade.
2) Property values in both the city and suburbs have maintained or increased their value.
3) Most students that are forced to bus long distances to school are from low-income families. These parents hate the busing, but believe in the quality of their children's new schools.
4) Most parents complaining about a lack of choice are white and suspicious of the districts attempts at what they refer to as social engineering.
The problem with replicating this here--no Onondaga County-wide school system. Most families moved out to the suburbs to get away from the city school district and its kids. How do you replicate the sense of academic promise and achievement of a suburban school in a city where up to 50% of the kids drop out, parents do not have the skills or dedication to help their children succeed academically and schools are starved for the talented teachers, supplies and infrastructure that the city can no longer afford?
