GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

The one thing I never fully understand or sympathize with in articles of this nature — about “applying” to middle & high schools — is how everybody always forgets that CHOICE has both its upsides and its downsides.
People tend to forget that school choice is a privilege, not a right. The articles always rant on and on about how difficult things are, how competitive and nerve-wracking the process is, etc., but at the end of the day the author (or parent) typically forgets that engaging in the process itself is a decision one must make.
The vast majority of students (and their parents) nationwide have absolutely NO choice over which high school to attend. Instead, they are assigned to the nearest local high school. So for all of those like Clara Hemphill and Allison Snyder fretting about their decisions and the entire process, I respond, “At least be grateful that you get to have some say in the matter!”
That’s more than most of us got.

I am well aware that my child is very lucky and has better options than most, but that misses the point of the story. If I have trouble navigating this system, what hope is there for a new immigrant who doesn’t speak English, a parent who cannot take off time for work to tour schools, a child with special needs, or one who doesn’t make the cut-off for selective schools?

I recently spoke to a former student who is currently attending 9th grade at a subpar high school in the Bronx. She reported that high school was unchallenging and that she was repeating work she had done in middle school When I attended her eighth grade graduation I was sad to discover that this excellent student would be attending a vocational school. When I asked her why she said her father liked the idea of his daughter being able to get a certificate for doing hair as well as a regents diploma. She also said that she accidently put it down as her first choice. Of course this school wanted her as she is performing above grade level in math and English.

The point of my story is that currently there isn’t enough information being provided to low income parents. This child had an involved father who celebrated her triumphs and did his best to provide her with academic experiences outside of school as well. And yet he still didn’t know enough about the schools his daughter had to pick through. The high school book has an inordinate number of schools. How do we expect students and parents to figure out the best schools for their children to attend? And adding to the whole situation is the fact that so many schools are new and have no proven track record.

Choice is great in theory but it doesn’t work without an active effort to provide parents with as much information as possible. Currently most low income parents are not empowered to be active consumers for their children. Whose job is it to educate these parents? The single guidance counselor who is simply trying to make sure each student hands in their top ten choices? The seventh grade teachers who may know very little about NYC High Schools?