When Cristian arrived from El Salvador this fall he had not attended school since the 6th grade. He was enrolled according to MCS policy, which means he was placed as a 15 year old sophomore. His entire 9th grade year was taken from him, not just robbing him of a year of academic and linguistic development, but also ensuring he will not graduate with his four year cohort. The district was quoted as keeping "the best interests of students" in mind. Cristian was stripped of a year of education and guaranteed to become a statistical drop out. Davis High was set up to fail due to his lack of opportunity to get the four years of high school instruction graduation data is set up to measure. Exactly who is benefitted from this policy? If Cristian had been placed as a 9th grader from the beginning he'd still graduate at age 18. Age is being used as a smoke screen for some deeper issues. That is why we must stand up and demand EQUITY, ACCESS, and JUSTICE- now!