STOP Charleston School Board from Inhibiting Low income Kids in Applying to Magnet Schools
The Issue
The Charleston County School Board has approved a proposal to make the application for Academic Magnet High School and other local Magnet Schools completely online for the 2016-2017 school year. There will no longer be a physical/paper option to apply to the school. Academic Magnet High School, located in North Charleston, SC is the #7 ranked high school in the nation, but has one major flaw... DIVERSITY. Of over 600 students at the school, fewer than 30 are African American or Hispanic and even fewer receive free or reduced lunch (in a district comprised of over a 50% minority student population).
This move, would make the hard task as a low income (likely minority) student to gain admittance into this school even harder. By making the application completely online, the CCSD School Board is basically saying that "we expect a certain type of student to apply this school". If you do not have access to a computer or a guidance counselor who will advocate for you an ensure that you are able to apply (as many do not), you will miss out on an opportunity to receive an education from this great public school.
In addition, the date for enrollment was changed to align more succinctly with the admissions acceptance timeline of private schools, with magnet admissions letters being released one week before private schools. Why would a public school system be concerned with aligning with private schools much less notifying potential applicants of admissions a week ahead of their private school acceptances?
This would further eliminate many young students' opportunities to aspire for a more rigorous education simply because of their socioeconomic state. It will add to keeping a segment of our population "below" while making it easier for those at the top to remain there.
"You will only be as great as your experiences allow you to be". Education, is one of these "experiences".
The application for this school should be available in both online and paper format. Sign this petition and help us make the application process accessible for ALL, not just the privileged. Show that you support diversity and quality education for ALL students. Sign this petition and show the Charleston County School Board that their actions do not reflect the will of the people in which they represent.
The Issue
The Charleston County School Board has approved a proposal to make the application for Academic Magnet High School and other local Magnet Schools completely online for the 2016-2017 school year. There will no longer be a physical/paper option to apply to the school. Academic Magnet High School, located in North Charleston, SC is the #7 ranked high school in the nation, but has one major flaw... DIVERSITY. Of over 600 students at the school, fewer than 30 are African American or Hispanic and even fewer receive free or reduced lunch (in a district comprised of over a 50% minority student population).
This move, would make the hard task as a low income (likely minority) student to gain admittance into this school even harder. By making the application completely online, the CCSD School Board is basically saying that "we expect a certain type of student to apply this school". If you do not have access to a computer or a guidance counselor who will advocate for you an ensure that you are able to apply (as many do not), you will miss out on an opportunity to receive an education from this great public school.
In addition, the date for enrollment was changed to align more succinctly with the admissions acceptance timeline of private schools, with magnet admissions letters being released one week before private schools. Why would a public school system be concerned with aligning with private schools much less notifying potential applicants of admissions a week ahead of their private school acceptances?
This would further eliminate many young students' opportunities to aspire for a more rigorous education simply because of their socioeconomic state. It will add to keeping a segment of our population "below" while making it easier for those at the top to remain there.
"You will only be as great as your experiences allow you to be". Education, is one of these "experiences".
The application for this school should be available in both online and paper format. Sign this petition and help us make the application process accessible for ALL, not just the privileged. Show that you support diversity and quality education for ALL students. Sign this petition and show the Charleston County School Board that their actions do not reflect the will of the people in which they represent.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on November 17, 2015