Making Chicago’s Neighborhood Schools Better is About More Than Just Money and Staff
It’s About Setting Up Students for Success from the Beginning
With a new school year under way in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration and the current Board of Education have begun the conversation about how to fix the inequities between neighborhood and selective-enrollment schools.
The exact actions remain unclear. But I saw those inequities firsthand when I left teaching in Chicago Public Schools neighborhood high schools and began teaching at a selective-enrollment high school.
And the inequities I saw weren’t merely in resources and staffing, which is what I hear in most media sound bites as the difference-makers for student success.
Set up for Success, Starting in Kindergarten
At the age of 4, children in Chicago can take a test for placement in a school for students deemed gifted and talented. Students from these schools are three times more likely to gain admittance, via another test, into a selective-enrollment high school.
So at Lindblom, I saw students whose educational experiences were super-positive from a very young age. It gave them a sense of self-efficacy and school pride missing in neighborhood schools. Getting into Lindblom gave them the feeling they were the “haves” in a have/have-not system.
Meanwhile, at Corliss and TEAM Englewood (another neighborhood school where I taught), students often said, “I couldn’t get into (name a selective enrollment school). So that’s why I’m here.” We teachers often had to work to change that mindset, to get students to see their neighborhood school should be a first choice, not a backup.
A Second Step: Offering More Support at Neighborhood Elementary Schools
A second step would be to offer more support at neighborhood elementary schools. To achieve equity, students in neighborhood elementary schools need to be in smaller classes with more faculty and high-quality resources geared to help them improve academically. They need extra learning time, year-round tutoring and summer break enrichment.
A Third Step: Providing a Rich Experience at Neighborhood High Schools
The district also needs neighborhood high schools that provide a rich, inspiring experience, with both collegiate and vocational options, to compete with elite, selective-enrollment schools.
Conclusion
Making Chicago’s neighborhood schools better is about more than just money and staff. It’s about setting up students for success from the beginning, providing support at neighborhood elementary schools, and offering a rich experience at neighborhood high schools. It’s a complex issue, but one that requires a multifaceted approach to achieve true equity in our education system.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of Chicago’s neighborhood schools?
A: Chicago’s neighborhood schools face significant challenges, including outdated resources, limited staff, and a lack of support for students.
Q: What is the solution to these challenges?
A: The solution is to provide more support at neighborhood elementary schools, offer a rich experience at neighborhood high schools, and dismantle the current gifted and selective-enrollment system.
Q: How can we achieve this?
A: We can achieve this by analyzing enrollment practices, offering more support at neighborhood elementary schools, and providing a rich experience at neighborhood high schools. It will require a multifaceted approach and a commitment to equity in our education system.
