The percentage of public schools where more than three quarters of students are eligible for free or reduced price lunch--a key indicator of poverty--has increased in the past decade, and children at these schools are less likely to attend college or be taught by teachers with advanced degrees.The findings come from a special report on high poverty schools included in the 2010 Condition of Education study, which reports on a broad range of academic indicators across K-12 and higher education.
The U.S. Department of Education report released Thursday found that the percent of high poverty schools rose from 12 to 17 percent between the 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 school years, even before the current recession was fully felt. By comparison, the overall poverty rate for children increased from 17 to 18 percent, leading researchers to believe that that a higher percentage of poor kids were signing up for the meal program.
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3 comments:
There is no doubt about it--this development is quite evident in Peoria, and the reason is quite obvious. Last night I was looking through the Peoria Academy yearbook. I believe two classes for every grade level--all kids that once would have gone to District 150 schools. Of course, it isn't the only school that has contributed to the economic changes in the make-up of 150 students. We have yet to learn to what extent the charter school has made things even worse for District 150. And we know that low income level seems to correlate with academic success. I don't know if any of you noticed the PJS insert with the pictures and info of all area top ten students. The 10th student at MHS had a 2.38 average--that would have been unheard of even 10 years ago. I think there were some lower percentages at some other schools. Strangely enough, grade points weren't listed for Richwoods' top ten. All this is a good reason for the board to follow Terry Knapp's advice at the last board meeting. Eliminating vocational education classes for this "new" majority of students is criminal. As Terry pointed out, all the schools around Peoria (Limestone, Pekin, East Peoria) still have a great offering of vocational and home ec classes. Eliminating these courses was the absolute worst thing that District 150 ever did to the high schools--and we are now seeing the results big time (discipline problems included). In the "old" days, students who took vocational classes still took the same basic academic classes that are now the sole offering in the district. The reason that students have to repeat failed courses during the regular school year is that there are not enough elective offerings for students. 150 is shortchanging students by not providing courses to suit the needs of students who do not go to college. We all know that many of these kids will never go to college and they leave high school with absolutely no workplace skills.
Absolutely! Dist. 150 should definitely be offering a strong vocational ed. program. Sharon, isn't that part of the long-term plan for PHS? Jim Stowell talked about it a length. I just thought they were waiting until the dust settled and the Woodruff students were transitioned before beginning this plan?? Surely they are adding on and reconfiguring PHS partly with this end in mind???
Sorry, though I can't agree other options such as Peoria Academy are the down fall of the District. Only the District and to some degree the City are responsible for not offering the educational environment and curriculum that families are seeking.
First, I don't think I said that Peoria Academy or the parents who send their children there are to blame for District 150's problems. I certainly meant to say that many of the areas most academically movitivated students who actually live in District 150's attendance area are now going to non 150 schools--and that does hurt the district. (I am certainly willing to make the assumption that District 150 hasn't done enough to convince these parents that 150 offers equal opportunities and maybe prestige is part of it, also). I know that Jim continually talks about vocational school (and I appreciate his stand); however, he is only one board member. Also, the district now has zero money with which to fund vocational education (all the equipment, etc.) I'm not sure that lost ground can be recouped--and much of the talk about a vocational school and/or an alternative schools seems to be just that--talk.
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