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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If the Hill middle schools improved, they woudl suddenly become overcrowded. People would stop trucking to faraway charters and Deal/Hardy. They would have to stop admitting OOB students. The net effect would be a much whiter and higher-income student body and the OOB kids would probably end up at worse schools (or maybe at okayish charters).

If they consolidated high-performing kids in one middle school, it would be so overcrowded that they would have to de-consolidate it after a few years. It's not a workable plan politically or logistically.

What can be done? Work on your elementary school's upper grade offering so that the middle schools of the city are receiving kids as well-prepared as possible. If you're at a feeder or attend a middle school, push for higher quality but with an understanding of the complex and sensitive politics and the budget constraints. This isn't an easy problem.[/quote]

I appreciate this post, and the post a few prior with regards to actually thinking about funding. For those on here saying 'just fund it/build it and they will come' have probably not participated on a school LSAT, gone to budget townhalls, met with council members, or followed how school funding is allocated. Principals have very limited control on what they can/can't fund, and this year (and the next few) are going to be tough with budget cuts. The city as a whole is having to rethink it's budget with less people working downtown post COVID, and the extra $$ schools got due to COVID running out. There is also a new funding model which provides more funds to schools with higher special education numbers and higher at risk numbers which I think is a good thing. I would also argue that spending money on new facilities (like Jefferson and EH) is an important investment - shows the kids and families they are valued, and also makes sure they have schools not just with up to date facilities for new course offerings, but also that they have schools with the bare minimum like plumbing/toilets that work, roofs that don't leak, etc. 
While funding and policy does not change overnight, enrollment can change quickly, which then impacts funding, staffing, etc. I just pulled up Eliot Hine data as an example (couldn't find it for this year) - and enrollment has grown significantly. I know many 5th grade families from the feeders (ourselves included) who did not lottery in 4th and will be at EH this fall, so I wouldn't be surprised if the enrollment continues to grow. 
2016-2017 - 200 students
2020-2021 - 291 students
2021-2022 - 317 students
All that to say, I appreciate the attention to how complex this is.[/quote]

Would be really great if there was more buy in to the local middle schools. I do think that there might be more buy in. I am worried about the weakening academics in some of the feeders and having a weak middle school doesn’t help either. [/quote]

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