Birmingham City Schools

[vezz77]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

I wouldn't count on it. Parents need something that shows a possible system change, at the least, which is why charter, magnet, and alternative schools can be even reasonably close to suburban schools. I'm pretty idealistic, but its totally understandable that parents don't want to send their kids to bad schools.

I completely agree. I wouldn't expect parents to send their kids to a bad school willingly. But, it is interesting that so many school aged children with caring parents are zoned for Avondale but end up going elsewhere. If all of these parents collectively decided to send kids to Avondale, my guess is that its ratings would improve and there would be more children in each class on grade level. I don't know that this would happen, but it could even create a domino effect, wherein motivated parents that want to stay in Birmingham see the improved ratings for Avondale and move into the district to send their kids there.

I would be all for trying out charter schools in Birmingham. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like anyone in Alabama will be trying out charter schools any time soon.

[jakabedy]

Originally Posted by vezz77

I completely agree. I wouldn't expect parents to send their kids to a bad school willingly. But, it is interesting that so many school aged children with caring parents are zoned for Avondale but end up going elsewhere. If all of these parents collectively decided to send kids to Avondale, my guess is that its ratings would improve and there would be more children in each class on grade level. I don't know that this would happen, but it could even create a domino effect, wherein motivated parents that want to stay in Birmingham see the improved ratings for Avondale and move into the district to send their kids there.

I've always thought that this is what it would take: a critical mass of private school parents enroll their kids all at once. Folks have done that at Avondale to a degree, but not in large enough numbers to effect a shift in the feel of the school. Actually, my thought was always that the city should reopen Comer School (I know there is a private school there now) in Crestwood, with an enrollment zone encompassing Crestwood and Forest Park. But that would take a committment from the neighborhoods to send the kids there, and it would likely be a tremendous political battle within the school system.