News, Seattle attempting to revive South End schools. (Rainier: how much, middle school)

[70Ford]

Through the district's Southeast Initiative, however, an extra $7 million will be pumped into Rainier Beach and Cleveland high school and Aki Kurose Middle School during the next three years to boost enrollment and renew community confidence.

The schools' small sizes are largely the legacy of the district's school-choice system. Budgets are based on enrollment, meaning larger schools had funding to offer more electives, AP or honors classes, and extracurricular activities. Many Rainier Valley families sent their children to those bigger schools -- even if it meant a long bus ride to West Seattle or north of the Ship Canal.

Low test scores and long-held negative perceptions also hurt, and enrollment steadily dropped. For at least 10 years, Rainier Beach and Cleveland have been the district's two smallest comprehensive high schools -- smaller now than even some elementary schools -- and Aki Kurose, the second smallest middle school in the district, is slowly shrinking.

Initiative aims to revive schools

[sean98125]

Haven't they figured out yet that no matter how much money they throw at a school they are still going to have underperforming students when the parents don't honor and value education as important?