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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Rich kids are not drama-free and middle class kids are not more likely to have social issues. [/quote]

I suspect we're using similar vocabulary, but are not actually talking about the same sets of issues. I love and an involved in my neighborhood, but there are significant issues with substance abuse and household instability in my immediate community, which also translates into children not having the support and structure they need. These things absolutely increase the more impoverished a community is. Also, there are significant differences in the way that different communities think about and value education.

I don't think people are comfortable expressing it in these terms, which is probably good, but the truth is that they like the end product admissions provides them. Admissions sets up a fairly elaborate process for applying - essays, financial forms, multiple visits (during work hours), interviews. The are innumerable opportunities in that process to hand select families who "fit" the school. The financial barrier is the biggest and most obvious tool for producing elite self-selection, as well as the fastest way to pick very carefully one's FA candidates.

I'm insanely happy with my child's school, but frankly, if you think that process was designed with even minimal interest in helping parents of lesser means apply and gain admission, parents like my immediate neighbors, then you need to break down just how many separate steps are involved in just completing the initial school research and application process. Keep in mind that a lot parents in my community want good things for their kids, but many of them have never filled out their own college essay - let alone writing a reflective, well-edited piece on the kindergartener. I know how to do it because I'm just affluent enough to find the cash and have been over-educated for the social position I occupy. If you make things hard for me, I just come back next year with a better essay. But anyone who works with American working class communities knows this is not the typical result with most people.

Nobody wakes up every morning and says, "Hey, let's make a super exclusive school where there are not any poor kids with unfamiliar challenges." At least I hope not. But I do think that if schools placed a very high priority on being inclusive, they'd do things like hold workshops in particular neighborhoods and walk people through the process. And, of course, they'd have a few fully funded or mostly funded spots, which they would advertise in lower income communities as they search for the next years special scholarships fellows.[/quote]

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