immigrant/minority parents - does a school's student demographics affect your decision?

[Anonymous]

We attend one of those Benetton charter schools and LOVE it, wouldn't even consider moving to the suburbs now. Too bad there aren't more of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AA parent here. We chose diversity over academics. I would be lying if I said finances weren't also an issue ... the house in the "diverse" area was cheaper, although we could have afforded a house in the other neighborhood. In making this decision, we were looking more at high school though than the lower grades. I think times have improved, but I'm willing to bet that it can still be tough for a minority teen in a predominantly white environment. I'm more willing to risk the lower academics (that are still pretty good) than to risk the social/emotional ramifications of a painful experience as a teen. I think lower academics, to the extent it is a barrier, will be an easier one to overcome. This was just based on my own relatively happy experience in DCPS and comparing it to some friends that went the private school route. I also wanted our children to have more experience with economic diversity, and they wouldn't have gotten that going to the schools with the better academic reputations.

I'm an earlier poster who would choose academics over diversity (at least I think I would). My high school was considered one of the "bad schools" in my MD county and I do agree to an extent, that lower academics is a barrier that one can overcome. But, I'm wondering if your local high school is diverse throughout the academic ability levels. Are minority students succeeding as well as their white counterparts in this school? My fear in choosing a school with diverse (on paper) numbers is that my child may still be one of the few AA's in her classes and potentially ostracized by other AA children in the school. I still remember the hurt of being told I was "acting white" or wasn't "down" simply because I spoke correct English and got good grades. I don't want DD to experience such nonsense.

It really sucks that we even have to choose between academics and diverstiy...

I'm the poster you're replying to ... and I share your concern that, assuming DD makes it into the academically challenging track, that DD will be one of the few AAs in her classes and potentially ostracized. It's so hard to tell based on the school statistics. My main hope is that I know the area we're in has a decent population of middle class AA families, who hopefully will have the same academic expectations of their children that we will have for ours. I was ostracized a little bit in high school for being smart, but there was enough of a small population of other academically succesful black students that the nonsense wasn't too troubling to us. If it became a big problem for DD, I obviously would be open to shifting courses, but to me, the advantages to be gained from a diverse social experience in HS are worth the risk of potential disadvantages. I'm only basing this on my own HS experiences, as those of my peers, but I feel as a parent, that's the best I can do.

[Anonymous]

"It depends what the options really are. A school with great academics/test scores that is 90% or more white will only have 1 or 2 kids of color per kindergarten class. Been there, done that, not doing it to my child."

Yet when white parents make similar comments they are called racists. IMHO, I think all parents -- regardless of race or socioeconomic status -- want the best for their kids. And most of us define the best as a healthy mix of diversity coupled with strong academics and a safe environment where kids can thrive, right? So white parents aren't racist when they opt not to send their kid to a school that is 90% minority and majority FARMS b/c they don't want their kid to be the only (or one of two or three only) white kids in the class -- just like the previous minority poster stated in the quote.

[Anonymous]

I notice that every one is talking about race diversity. We need to talk about class diversity. My son will be attending a charter school next year. The school is very diverse in terms of race, but not class. I am a middle class AA, and where ever I go, I run into the same people. Most of the kids at the school are from middle class families. I went to a High school that was mostly white. So I decided to go to a HBCU. I was shocked when I got there, because they were all like me!!!!!! There was no diversity, just a bunch of middle class African Americans grouped together. In a perfect world, the best schools would have race and class diversity. White children from more affluent families will have a different life experience from white children from low income families. The same goes for African American, Asian Americans, Latinos. etc.. But this is not a perfect world...so I am stuck in Benetton land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"It depends what the options really are. A school with great academics/test scores that is 90% or more white will only have 1 or 2 kids of color per kindergarten class. Been there, done that, not doing it to my child."

Yet when white parents make similar comments they are called racists. IMHO, I think all parents -- regardless of race or socioeconomic status -- want the best for their kids. And most of us define the best as a healthy mix of diversity coupled with strong academics and a safe environment where kids can thrive, right? So white parents aren't racist when they opt not to send their kid to a school that is 90% minority and majority FARMS b/c they don't want their kid to be the only (or one of two or three only) white kids in the class -- just like the previous minority poster stated in the quote.

Many charter parents at the Benetton schools mentioned above wanted an interesting and diverse experience and ALSO wanted the very best for their child as all parents protectively do...as PP states. A lot of them took a chance on very uncertain 'starter schools' that is now paying off as the schools are stabilized, growing, and hopefully finding acceptance and support in DC. However, there are no guarantees--when you don't make the 'safe' choice, the pay-off can be exponential but so can the risks....
Where am I going here? Yes, I totally agree with PP above; I would not want my child to be the 'only one'. I also feel for parents searching for something more, something that sometimes it seems like the decks are stacked against. That's why I completely support choice in urban schools (public, charter, private), so I feel like I am not politically taking away options from others to find the best fit for their child that I choose to exercise myself.

[Anonymous]

Diversity definitely matters to us. We live in a part of Montgomery County that is very diverse and has really good schools, so I don't see it as an either/or (now that is not true in some parts of the county). We will not live somewhere that requires us to make such an "either/or" choice. I am a person of color who went to all white "good" public schools until high school and it was miserable. I switched to a top notch private school that was also more diverse. A non-diverse school is not an accurate representation of society for any student. Kids learn just as much from cultural diversity as they do from math class, and for most of them it's probably a lot more useful when they grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I notice that every one is talking about race diversity. We need to talk about class diversity. My son will be attending a charter school next year. The school is very diverse in terms of race, but not class. I am a middle class AA, and where ever I go, I run into the same people. Most of the kids at the school are from middle class families. I went to a High school that was mostly white. So I decided to go to a HBCU. I was shocked when I got there, because they were all like me!!!!!! There was no diversity, just a bunch of middle class African Americans grouped together. In a perfect world, the best schools would have race and class diversity. White children from more affluent families will have a different life experience from white children from low income families. The same goes for African American, Asian Americans, Latinos. etc.. But this is not a perfect world...so I am stuck in Benetton land.

I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but there's only so high a percentage of FARMs I can see in DCs school before I just don't want DC to attend. Racial/religious diversity? Love it. But a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture? No thank you! If that makes us a Benetton family at a Benetton school, so be it.

[Anonymous]

PP here. BTW, I love Benetton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I notice that every one is talking about race diversity. We need to talk about class diversity. My son will be attending a charter school next year. The school is very diverse in terms of race, but not class. I am a middle class AA, and where ever I go, I run into the same people. Most of the kids at the school are from middle class families. I went to a High school that was mostly white. So I decided to go to a HBCU. I was shocked when I got there, because they were all like me!!!!!! There was no diversity, just a bunch of middle class African Americans grouped together. In a perfect world, the best schools would have race and class diversity. White children from more affluent families will have a different life experience from white children from low income families. The same goes for African American, Asian Americans, Latinos. etc.. But this is not a perfect world...so I am stuck in Benetton land.

I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but there's only so high a percentage of FARMs I can see in DCs school before I just don't want DC to attend. Racial/religious diversity? Love it. But a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture? No thank you! If that makes us a Benetton family at a Benetton school, so be it.

I think a lot of people agree, but it's not PC to admit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Less diversity, better academics, hands down.

I was one of only a handful of minority kids from K through high school, and I had no problem with it. Of course, YMMV.

Same here.

My AA kids attend prep schools with less diversity (AA), they have friends who are international, of different economic, racial and religious backgrounds. They attract friends with similar personalities, abilities, and interests. They're not being ostracized, they enjoy their schools and friendships. Their schools have not groomed them to feel uncomfortable about or hate their race.

OP, it's all about finding a school that's a good fit for your child. Rigorous academics is a priority for my children. DC is a diverse town period, no worries on that count for us.

[Anonymous]

what does FARM (as in ... a percentage of FARMs...) stand for?

[Anonymous]

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but there's only so high a percentage of FARMs I can see in DCs school before I just don't want DC to attend. Racial/religious diversity? Love it. But a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture? No thank you! If that makes us a Benetton family at a Benetton school, so be it.

So, in your opinion, at what percentage of FARMs would make it "a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture"? IOW, how high is too high? I think it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diversity definitely matters to us. We live in a part of Montgomery County that is very diverse and has really good schools, so I don't see it as an either/or (now that is not true in some parts of the county). We will not live somewhere that requires us to make such an "either/or" choice. I am a person of color who went to all white "good" public schools until high school and it was miserable. I switched to a top notch private school that was also more diverse. A non-diverse school is not an accurate representation of society for any student. Kids learn just as much from cultural diversity as they do from math class, and for most of them it's probably a lot more useful when they grow up.

I'm curious ... where do you live? Maybe I need to move there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but there's only so high a percentage of FARMs I can see in DCs school before I just don't want DC to attend. Racial/religious diversity? Love it. But a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture? No thank you! If that makes us a Benetton family at a Benetton school, so be it.

So, in your opinion, at what percentage of FARMs would make it "a poverty-stricken school where a sizable (enough to be influential) minority of the students come in disruptive, unprepared to learn, and without the middle-class values to assimilate to the dominant (academic!) culture"? IOW, how high is too high? I think it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction?

So how are they supose to get middle class values if they are not around middle class families?