Over the past two plus years we’ve heard the accusations probably over a hundred times: Efforts by the Republican-led Wake County School Board to eliminate the board’s student assignment policy have harmed the system and lead to diminished educational opportunities for low income and minority students and resulted in a segregated and unequal educational system.
How are minority students faring in WCPSS? Recent results from the state’s ABC testing system don’t support such accusations. The percentage of elementary school minority students performing at grade level actually increased 4 percentage points, compared to a percentage increase of 1.9 percent for the district as a whole. Further review shows similar improvements were observed at high minority middle and high schools.
Of course overall performance by low income and minority students still lagged significantly behind that middle income and higher income students… Still it’s worth noting when students, teachers and parents do a good job…It’s also worth noting when political and media leaders get it wrong.
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