We are members of the Charles Barrett Elementary School community who are concerned that the redistricting efforts by the Alexandria City Public Schools will result in an inequitable education for our students. 

Currently, the distribution of students across the district leads to classrooms with varying levels of resources and attention. There is an inequity among the socioeconomic backgrounds of the students in the different schools, which creates disparities in educational experiences. Studies consistently show that schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students tend to have lower academic outcomes compared to schools with more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. This disparity is linked to various factors, including reduced resources, poorer school conditions, and disparities in student readiness. The Commonwealth Institute has even specifically recommended that local authorities in Virginia ensure balanced and diverse public schools to reduce the disparities faced by high poverty schools, including the schools in Alexandria.

We respectfully request that the school board produce a new map that balances the socioeconomic backgrounds of the population of Charles Barrett Elementary School with its neighboring elementary schools, such as George Mason and Mount Vernon Elementary Schools. We believe that this can be done without major disruptions to students or neighborhoods. We urge Alexandria City Public Schools to consider a more equitable redistricting plan that balances the student population more evenly across all schools in the district. This action can help to create an environment where every child, regardless of their economic background, has access to the same quality education and resources necessary to succeed. None of the maps that have been proposed balance the populations of the elementary schools. In fact, the proposed redistricting plans reduce the percentage of economically disadvantaged students at many schools across the district while dramatically increasing the percentage at Charles Barrett. While Triangle 2 and 3 maps attempted to increase the diversity at Charles Barrett and George Mason Elementary Schools, it only decreased the percentage of economically disadvantaged students from 80% to 63%, which is still much higher than its current population. Much more could be done to balance the populations between the schools. 

There are successful models of redistricting in many school districts nationwide. A well-thought-out redistricting plan can foster diversity and inclusion, leading to enriched educational experiences. Our goal is to advocate for a plan that will provide a better learning environment for all students at Charles Barrett Elementary. We appreciate the school board's efforts to support our community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please sign this petition to gain support for Charles Barrett Elementary School!  No donation is needed. And please pass this petition around to as many people as possible so that we can let the school board know how important this issue is for us. 

We also need as many people as possible to attend the June 5th public hearing and provide comments to support Charles Barrett! More info about the hearing can be found here. You must sign up to speak, which can be done here. 

For additional information or questions about the redistricting plans and maps, please contact ASK ACPS at ask@acps.k12.va.us.