Transition Team 2016-17 Final Report

28 \ SCHOOL CHOICE, EQUITY & EXCELLENCE
SCHOOL
CHOICE,
EQUITY &
EXCELLENCE
BACKGROUND
The School Choice, Equity & Excellence
Committee was charged with
making recommendations regarding
choice in the district, including
recommendations to expand options
and access to innovative programming
to create equitable choices for all
families. In carrying out this charge,
the committee reviewed the district’s
policies, procedures, practices and
data regarding student assignment,
magnet schools and programs, Career
and Technology Education (CTE)
programs, student transfers, facilities
and diversity and equity.
For the 2016-17, the district has an
enrollment of approximately 73,306
students, PreK-12. The racial/ethnic
demographics of the district are:
40.77 percent African American; 6.32
percent Asian; 15.26 percent Latino/
Hispanic; .42 percent Native American;
.15 percent Pacific Islander 33.08
percent White; and 4.01 percent Multi-
Racial. Approximately 50 percent of the
students in the district are eligible for
Free- or Reduced-price Meals (FRM)
and 7.05 percent are English Language
Learners. When Community Eligibility
Provision (CEP) schools are included,
the percentage of students considered
economically disadvantaged increases
to 65.1 percent.
The district’s choice programs include
magnet schools, early/middle colleges,
academies and CTE programs.
Students also have the opportunity
to transfer from their home school
to another school pursuant to the
district’s transfer policy and the Board
approved mini-choice zones.
The district currently operates magnet
programs in 25 elementary and middle
schools. It also offers choice options in
21 high schools. The magnet themes/
programs include: STEM, International
Baccalaureate, Spanish immersion,
Montessori, visual and performing arts,
traditional, global studies, leadership,
middle and early college, advanced
academics, Advanced Placement and
career-themed high school academies.
The district offers
111 CTE courses
organized into
14 clusters at
the secondary
school level.
The district also operates several
mini-choice zones enacted by the
Board that allow students to transfer
to a designated school through the
reassignment process. This includes
certain streets within the attendance
zone and not the entire school district.
The current High Point Choice Zones
replaced an earlier larger High Point
Choice Plan, which was in effect for
two years from 2004 to 2006, and a
redistricting effort in 2006.
The district offers 111 CTE courses
organized into 14 clusters at the
secondary school level. These
clusters include agriculture and
natural resources; architecture
and construction; arts, audio/video
technology and communications;
business management and
administration; finance; health
sciences; hospitality and tourism;
human services; information
technology; law, public safety,
corrections and security;
manufacturing; marketing; science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics; and transportation,
distribution and logistics. At the middle
school level, courses focus on business
and information technology; career
development, family and consumer
science; and technology, engineering
and design.
CURRENT STATUS
In 2005, the Board of Education adopted
its Magnet or Option Schools and
Programs policy and accompanying
Administrative Procedures. The
magnet policy was last revised in 2010;
the administrative procedure was last
revised by the Board in 2016.
The district has implemented and
maintained the magnet policy which
directs the district to provide magnet
schools and programs “as deemed
necessary to meet the needs of
students enrolled in elementary,
middle and high school levels.”
According to the magnet policy, magnet
schools and programs are used by the
district “to fulfill its mission and to
meet three objectives:
1. Expanded, or additional education
opportunities that stimulate
student interests and foster
academic achievement;
2. Reduce minority group isolation
and support diverse populations
within schools; and,
3. Maximize use of existing school
facilities.”
The magnet board policy requires
the superintendent and staff “to
develop an administrative procedure
to include guidelines for the
initiation, operation, evaluation and
discontinuation of magnet or option
schools and programs.” In addition, the
administrative procedure is to include
an outline of the budget development
process, application/registration
procedures and time lines.
The current process for elementary
and magnet applications is managed
through an online database. Seats are
awarded through a lottery process.
The one exception to this practice is
at Brown Summit Middle which uses a
school-based selection process.