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Even seen the movie “Lean on Me”? Not to be alarmist, but Wake County’s abandonment of its diversity policy, over time, will create the situation depicted in that movie.

Here’s an excerpt of a wonderful flyer written by a Conn Elementary PTA board member, that explains the possible consequences of WCPSS’ changes in policy in relation to the Wake County Magnet schools.

“What has the economic diversity policy done for Wake County?

Wake County’s diversity policy has earned us national acclaim. The quality of our schools has been one of the chief reasons Wake County is on the top of the various “best places to live” lists. This has brought us prosperity and jobs. Companies and families want to relocate here because they know we have a well-educated work force, and because they know they can live anywhere in the county and attend good public schools.

The Wake County schools are a tremendous bargain. Despite our low spending, our students consistently score among the highest in the state. Wake County’s spending per pupil ranked 85th among the 115 school systems in the state, but our 2009 SAT scores were the 4th highest among the 115 school systems. http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/reporting/sat/2009/satreport2009.pdf

Wake County Schools have the highest number of National Board Certified teachers of any school system in the country. Our diversity policy has contributed to the high quality of our faculty because teachers can apply to Wake County Schools and know they will not have to spend their first year teaching in a high-poverty school, with all its problems.

The Wake County schools have received $36 million in grants from the Federal government for its magnet schools, including the 2007-2010 grant of $8.5 million to SE Raleigh HS, Garner HS, and E. Garner MS. One of the essential purposes of the grants is the “elimination, reduction or prevention of minority group isolation.” Federal guidelines specify that only schools with over 50% minority student population are eligible. Upcoming grants could go to Brentwood ES, Smith ES, & Millbrook HS.

Lessons from Mecklenburg County

The data nationwide and in North Carolina supports that unless a school system makes a positive effort to integrate schools, the schools will segregate along racial and economic lines. The Mecklenburg school system abandoned its diversity policy eight years ago, and already some schools there have 95% students from low-income families. Many metropolitan areas have completely segregated schools because they have been allowed to gradually segregate over many years.
Most busing is not for diversity. Even though Mecklenburg County has abandoned busing for diversity, it spends more on busing than Wake County: Last year Mecklenburg spent $52.5 million, and Wake only spent $35.8 million. And Mecklenburg is a smaller county: Mecklenburg is 526 square miles; Wake is 832 square miles. http://www.wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/files/pdf/JohnDornanPresentation.pdf

Since Mecklenburg County has dismantled its diversity policy, it has had to pump a lot of extra money into its high-poverty schools to make up for their disadvantages. Last year Mecklenburg spent overall $8,595 per student, while Wake only spent $8,117 per student. That’s a difference of $478 per student. With 140,000 students, that adds up to over $68 million! http://www.wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/files/pdf/JohnDornanPresentation.pdf

Mecklenburg’s abandonment of its diversity policy has caused many middle-class families to leave the public schools. This year’s enrollment in Mecklenburg’s public schools is actually lower than last year’s, and is now lower than enrollment in Wake’s public schools. However, Mecklenburg has a much higher enrollment in its private schools than Wake County: 33% higher. From ncpublicschools.org

Segregation is a gradual process. Charlotte-Mecklenburg abolished its diversity policy eight years ago, and now has:
20 schools between 70 and 80% F&R
24 schools between 80 and 90% F&R
11 schools over 90% F&R ”

I highly recommend you read the complete flyer HERE.

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