How ATL millennials see themselves (schools, income, vacations)

[arjay57]

Many of the Gen X folks I know have kids in middle school or high school who will be out of here in a few more years.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

"Cockroach-esque rate"? Do you have any idea what the average number of children per family is these days? It is less than the replacement rate the last time I checked.

Do you have any idea what previous generations means?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Dkeating

I have to disagree with the idea that "hard work" is that important. I know that's a popular affluent-parent buzzword in gentrifying/gentrified neighborhoods, but I think it's overemphasized.

Candler Park schools didn't get "good" because people worked hard at improving them, they got "good" because affluent students (who don't have much trouble passing standardized tests) were sent there in large numbers and the numbers of poor students (who do have trouble passing standardized tests) dwindled. The same is slowly happening in SE Atlanta schools, and "hard work" and "parental involvement" don't have much to do with it. It's true that affluent parents are more involved in schools (in America at least PTAs and bake sales: Why volunteering at your kid’s school does not make her smarter.), but you could ban all parental involvement at Oakhurst or Mary Lin Elementaries, and the test scores are still going to be sky-high.

I agree that demographics are important but the "hard work" element counts, too.

However, that involves a lot more than just going to PTA. You've got to to make the whole community stronger. That means more parks, more civic engagement, better policing, fostering economic growth, youth sports, getting rid of debris and trash, traffic control, the whole shebang.

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by JPD

Do you have any idea what previous generations means?

Then what is your point? How does the birth rate of prior generations have anything to do with today?

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Many of the Gen X folks I know have kids in middle school or high school who will be out of here in a few more years.

True. I'd go further and say that many Gen-Xers who are in their late 40s and beyond have grown children who are in college or even past that. Younger (mid-late 30s) Xer parents tend to have kids in elementary and middle school.

Again, if the Millennials aren't having kids by the time they're in their late 30s, the odds are unlikely that they will be having them. Thus, schools may be closing or consolidating in another 15-20 years.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

True. I'd go further and say that many Gen-Xers who are in their late 40s and beyond have grown children who are in college or even past that. Younger (mid-late 30s) Xer parents tend to have kids in elementary and middle school.

Again, if the Millennials aren't having kids by the time they're in their late 30s, the odds are unlikely that they will be having them. Thus, schools may be closing or consolidating in another 15-20 years.

Yep. If the millennials don't have children they may find themselves dealing with all kinds of complex issues.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

True. I'd go further and say that many Gen-Xers who are in their late 40s and beyond have grown children who are in college or even past that. Younger (mid-late 30s) Xer parents tend to have kids in elementary and middle school.

Again, if the Millennials aren't having kids by the time they're in their late 30s, the odds are unlikely that they will be having them. Thus, schools may be closing or consolidating in another 15-20 years.

My neighborhood is literally crawling with babies right now. I'm not sure if I'm noticing it more than in the past because I also have a baby, or if there is a baby boom among Millenials in this area right now. Either way, all of these babies will be growing up, and the majority will be entering SE Atlanta's public schools (since the Charter school can only take so many kids). I agree that the Jackson cluster is currently and will continue to drastically improve, and a big part of that (unfortunately) is going to be attributable to demographic shifts. Although even now, when schools in the cluster are predominantly lower income, the investment in terms of money, resources, and community involvement is having noticeable positive results.

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by CCATL

My neighborhood is literally crawling with babies right now. I'm not sure if I'm noticing it more than in the past because I also have a baby, or if there is a baby boom among Millenials in this area right now. Either way, all of these babies will be growing up, and the majority will be entering SE Atlanta's public schools (since the Charter school can only take so many kids). I agree that the Jackson cluster is currently and will continue to drastically improve, and a big part of that (unfortunately) is going to be attributable to demographic shifts. Although even now, when schools in the cluster are predominantly lower income, the investment in terms of money, resources, and community involvement is having noticeable positive results.

You do tend to notice babies and kids more when you are actually a parent yourself, so there may be something there. As gentrification continues, any public schools in those affected areas will continue to improve, no doubt. However, there will likely be a number of parents who choose not to wait it out or hope for the best, and they will move elsewhere, where the schools are already "good." There will also be some who stay there and will see how the schools serve their kids before making a decision. This issue really seems to come to a head after the elementary years.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

Then what is your point? How does the birth rate of prior generations have anything to do with today?

You seem to be suggesting that it's a problem that there aren't as many children being born as there were at other times in the past. I disagree. I see this as a positive development that will be much easier to adapt to than if the opposite were occurring.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Yep. If the millennials don't have children they may find themselves dealing with all kinds of complex issues.

Like what? Too many vacations and dinners out? Early retirement?