Weighing the Options More CPS Students Are Choosing Schools Outside Their Neighborhood, Especially New Renaissance 2010 Schools

Vol. XX Number 2

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

Weighing the options More CPS students are choosing schools outside their neighborhood, especially new Renaissance 2010 schools. But a significant number of black students are attending schools no better than the ones in their community—just one of the challenges to ensuring equity in school choice.

A Publication of the Community Renewal Society www.catalyst-chicago.org From the Editors

School choice no guarantee of equal education for kids

By Lorraine Forte and Research Editor John Myers found. Deputy Editor CHOOSING BETWEEN SCHOOLS CPS is trying to create better schools under its Renaissance 2010 initiative. But too Dorian Sylvan, who lives in South orian Sylvan wasn’t looking for Chicago, had to choose between her many communities, like South Chicago and anything extraordinary in a neighborhood school, Horace Mann, South Shore, are still without good options. school. What parent wouldn’t and other options for her sons. Here’s Other communities that are not considered Dwant the qualities she ticks off— how Mann compares to the school top priorities, like West Town, have reaped strong academics, art and music programs, she chose, Franklin Fine Arts Center. some of the benefit of Renaissance. diversity and involved parents? To their credit, school officials have tak- HORACE MANN, SOUTH CHICAGO But like many other Chicago parents, en steps to balance the equation. In com- Sylvan decided her neighborhood school, Students meeting or exceeding state standards munities where schools are needed most, Horace Mann, couldn’t provide the kind of Reading: 54% for instance, the district is committed to resources she wanted. Instead, she chose to Math: 54% locating facilities, typically a difficult task send her three sons to higher-performing Enrollment for school operators who otherwise might Murray Language Academy in Hyde Park. plant stakes in a middle-class community 757 students Murray, a kindergarten through 6th-grade because a building is available. 99% African American magnet school, fit the bill until her oldest Seeking community buy-in, CPS created son was ready for 7th grade. So the hunt for 77% low-income advisory councils to vet new school propos- a school began anew. FRANKLIN FINE ARTS, NEAR NORTH SIDE als, a move that should help stem backlash Sylvan sifted through a number of reminiscent of what happened when Austin options before settling on a friend’s recom- Students meeting or exceeding state standards High School was shut down. The ripple mendation, Franklin Fine Arts Center on Reading: 89% effect of that closure bred widespread mis- the Near North Side. Sylvan loved the Math: 94% trust, and the small high schools now oper- school, but to her dismay, found out busing Enrollment ating at the Austin campus have not been wasn’t an option. The district provides bus- 352 students wildly popular. As education organizer Vir- ing only for children who live between one- 36% African American, 31% white, 12% gil Crawford says: “I don’t think that we in and-a-half to six miles away from selective Latino, 11% Asian the community should settle for piecemeal and magnet schools. Sylvan lives 15 miles 40% low-income solutions. Smaller schools are not the from Franklin in South Chicago—coinci- answer in a community the size of Austin.” dentally, a neighborhood deemed one of Crawford’s West Side Health Authority the 25 Chicago communities most in need students travel shorter distances to schools has teamed up with local public officials to of good elementary schools. outside of their communities. keep the pressure on CPS to build a new, Sylvan chose Franklin despite the dis- This dearth of good schools forces par- comprehensive high school in Austin. tance, even though it meant juggling her ents to play a game of choice, whether Still, new schools alone won’t provide work schedule and making twice-a-day they want to or not. These parents tap the seats needed to serve children now in trips to drop off and pick up her sons. into networks of friends and friends-of- low-performing schools, something CPS “That was another level of frustration for friends, sifting through tips on which has acknowledged. These schools need me,” says Sylvan, who grew up in South schools offer the best teachers, fine arts or more resources to improve performance. Shore and remembers walking to a neigh- other specialty programs, high test scores As Sylvan points out, the real issue is borhood school as a child. “It’s a shame that and some level of diversity that reflects opportunity, not choice. At Franklin, her of the dozen schools I pass to get to the real world. The prize: a spot in schools oldest son got the academic rigor he need- Franklin, none of them meet the criteria I like Murray and Franklin. ed to win a spot at selective Whitney Young wanted. So I bit the bullet to get them to the Parents with some resources can—as Syl- High School. Students who don’t get into school regardless.” van did—set their minds to doing what it the Franklins, Murrays, Skinner Classicals Stories like these aren’t hard to find in takes to get their children across town to and other top elementary schools may not Chicago, where high-performing public better schools. But those who don’t have get that chance. schools are still few and far between. A Cat- flexible job schedules, or lack informed “It just perpetuates the cycle of poverty,” alyst analysis of student commuting data social networks, lose out. In some cases, stu- Sylvan says. “School is the one place where found that some 10,000 high school students land in schools that may be no better you can really impact a child’s life, but the dents and 6,000 elementary students travel than the ones they left. This is particularly kids that get educated in these [neighbor- as far as six miles or more to school. More true for African Americans, as Catalyst Data hood] schools end up behind the 8-ball.”

2 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 Table of Contents

The mission of Catalyst Chicago is to improve the education of all children through authoritative journalism and leadership of a constructive dialogue among students, parents, educators, community leaders and policy makers.

Publisher & Founder Contributing Editor Linda Lenz Alexander Russo

Editor-In-Chief Copy Editor Veronica Anderson Charles Whitaker

Deputy Editor Interns Lorraine Forte Hope Evans Data & Research Editor Amy Weiss John Myers Photographers Associate Editors John Booz Sarah Karp Joe Gallo Debra Williams Jason Reblando Cristina Rutter Presentation Editor Christine Wachter

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Carlos Azcoitia Peter Martinez Ray Boyer Julia McEvoy Joyce Bristow Dea Meyer Warren Chapman Barbara Radner Joan Dameron Crisler Penny Bender Sebring Marvin Hoffman Maria Vargas John Paul Jones Sara Spurlark Tim King Steve Zemelman Robert Lee Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan announced his support for another 20 Renaissance schools at an Oct. 8 press conference at the Ellison campus of Chicago International Charter School. The district’s 75 new schools have added small, specialized options to the school choice menu. [Photo by Jason Reblando] Catalyst Chicago is an editorially independent news service of Community Renewal Society—Dr. Calvin S. Morris, executive director. Catalyst In Depth is published five times a year. The opinions expressed in DATA GUIDE Catalyst are not necessarily those of CRS. Catalyst is a The challenges of choice trademark of the Community Renewal Society. PAGE 7 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500 New schools less diverse Chicago, Illinois 60604 t the heart of Renaissance 2010 is the belief Most parents bypass low- www.catalyst-chicago.org that families and students should have a (312) 427-4830, Fax: (312) 427-6130 performing schools range of good educational options in their [email protected] A PAGE 8 communities. But the neediest neighborhoods are OUR SUPPORTERS: Catalyst is made possible by Charters not enrolling top kids grants from The Chicago Community Trust, Lloyd A. still lagging behind, and a Catalyst analysis finds Charter, neighborhood grad rates Fry Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, John D. & that a surprising number of black students are Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, McCormick PAGE 10 Foundation, McDougal Family Foundation, fleeing one low-performing school only to land at Blacks, whites travel farthest Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Polk Bros. another one. The district’s free-for-all system for Latinos least likely to commute Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, The Spencer applying to schools makes it harder for families to Foundation and Woods Fund of Chicago, and by PAGE 11 subscriptions and contributions from individuals. make good choices. COVER STORY: PAGE 4 More students commute to charters SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SERVICES 10 Trekking to better high schools Circulation and advertising: (312) 673-3826 Most CPS high school students bypass their neighborhood schools ON THE WEB Or sign up online at www.catalyst-chicago.org. for other options. A growing number of those who travel farthest E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS Free. Receive a table of are choosing charters. Go to www.catalyst-chicago.org contents when issues are posted to the Web, plus for sound clips and photos of students, breaking news and special alerts from time to time. 11 Staying on point community and school choice advocates. ON THE WEB Community Calendar, back issues, a Popular charters are drawing students from across the city and timeline history of school reform, citywide education prompting communities to demand that local kids go to the head statistics, school improvement resources, phone ON THE COVER: Zuriel Gallo catches directories and more. of the line for seats. an early morning bus in Hermosa, the first leg in his long journey to ACE Tech “CITY VOICES” Deputy Editor Lorraine Forte hosts Specialties not a big draw this public affairs program at 6:30 a.m. the second 12 charter high school in Washington Sunday of the month on WNUA-FM, 95.5. The district’s magnet cluster program gives schools a specialty, but Park. Like Gallo, who believes he is principals say it’s not enough to draw in new families. attending a better school than the one LETTERS TO THE EDITOR in his neighborhood, some 16,000 Include the writer’s full name, title and contact Losing diversity information for verification. Letters should be limited 14 Chicago students make daily school to 200 words and may be edited for space and clarity. Black and Latino enrollment is down in Chicago’s premier commutes that exceed six miles. Send them to the attention of the Editor. elementary magnet schools. [Photo by Joe Gallo]

www.catalyst-chicago.org 3 School Choice

4 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 The challenges of choice

By John Myers

At the heart of ith the end of 8th grade in view for James Bak- er, three of Chicago’s top public high schools Renaissance 2010 is the turned him away—rejections that caught the belief that opening new straight-A student and his family off-guard. His test scores fell just shy of cut-offs at WHY THIS MATTERS schools will benefit Lane Tech and Walter Payton, two elite col- CPS and school choice Wlege prep high schools. He lost out in the lottery for Von advocates are banking on families and students. Steuben, a popular magnet school on the North Side. Renaissance 2010 to create But a Catalyst Chicago Baker, an African American, had a major advantage over better-performing schools thousands of other minority students, since he lives in Lincoln and spur improvement analysis finds that a Park and was guaranteed a seat in that neighborhood’s top high across the district. But school. But Baker and his mother, a well-informed parent who these challenges have surprising number of was active in the PTA at his elementary school, felt Lincoln emerged: black students are Park’s basic classes wouldn’t be challenging enough. He tried African-American out for the school’s premier music program, but didn’t make it. students are more likely choosing lackluster “I got there and kind of froze up because I forgot my scales,” to choose lower- performing schools. says Baker, who plays the piano. schools. And in some Parents need help With his choices narrowing, Baker and his mother took the navigating the South and West Side advice of family friends involved with a West Side charter complicated network of school, who suggested he apply to ACE (Architecture, Construc- schools of choice. neighborhoods, the new tion and Engineering) Tech, a charter 50 minutes south on the Conflict is simmering in Red Line train. Baker was interested, but the application was some neighborhoods schools have made barely over the question of due immediately, so he had to scramble. community access to a dent in the need for “That night I was tired and my handwriting was kind of slop- new schools. py, so my mom had to type it,” Baker says. He wrote about Lego Research on the benefits better options. toys and drawing, and got in. of choice is inconclusive.

The district’s annual high school fair—the main event for public school choice in Chicago—drew some 50,000 parents and students to a cavernous room at McCormick Place on Oct. 11. Representatives from the city’s various high schools gave their best sales pitches over the din of marching bands and screaming kids. [Photo by John Booz]

www.catalyst-chicago.org 5 School Choice

James Baker boards the Red Line train headed south to Washington Park, where he attends ACE Tech. The charter posts significantly lower average test scores than Baker’s neighborhood high school— Lincoln Park. But he likes the small, tight- knit school and its focus on construction trade classes. [Photo by Joe Gallo]

Every winter, thousands of students like Baker But a Catalyst Chicago analysis shows the sys- About 23 percent—almost one in four—of all reject their neighborhood high school and go in tem of choice doesn’t serve all children equally. A black high school students who attend schools search of a better option. They send applications surprisingly high percentage of black students more than 2.5 miles away (an approximate cut- crisscrossing the city to what the district calls end up at another lackluster school rather than a off for neighborhood boundaries) are attending schools of choice: selective and magnet schools, better one. Even Baker, a higher-performing stu- schools that score in the bottom 25 percent on as well as a growing number of new, niche schools dent, turned down a top neighborhood school for the ACT college admissions test. A Consortium like ACE Tech that have opened under Renais- a much lower-scoring charter, although, by all study now underway underscores the finding. sance 2010. Overall, 50 percent of high school stu- accounts, he has flourished in the small, family- dents and nearly a third of elementary students like environment at ACE Tech. Among all students who travel to these low- opt out of their neighborhood schools. In African- Catalyst’s analysis of 2007 data from the Con- performing high schools, more than 90 American neighborhoods, the opt-out rates are sortium on Chicago School Research on student percent are African American. About 5 percent higher, at 62 percent and 38 percent respectively. commuting found that: are Latino, and just 1 percent are white.

6 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 MORE CHOICE, LESS DIVERSITY About 30 percent—one in three—of black need good information for decision making. (See One argument in favor of the district’s continued expan- elementary students who travel more than 1.5 sidebar on page 9.) sion of school choice is that it increases the percentage miles are enrolled in schools that do not meet Confusion about the high school application of students who opt for public schools. There’s some evi- achievement targets set by the federal No Child process has clearly emerged as a problem for stu- dence the effort is working. James Dispensa, chief demographer for CPS, tracks enrollment trends at the Left Behind Act. Fewer than 1 percent of white dents, says Elaine Allensworth of the Consortium. city’s private schools and suggests the percentage of stu- elementary commuters and 9 percent of Allensworth is chief researcher for a study now dents enrolled in public schools has inched up in recent Latinos who travel attend these low- underway on high school transition, and this year years. In those years, the district began adding more performing schools. is following 9th-graders who were interviewed as new schools, many of them charters, which are the least 8th-graders about their high school plans. likely to be diverse. In some cases, students may, in effect, be The study has also found that black students forced to choose a low-performing school. One on the South Side tend to have more negative CITYWIDE ENROLLMENT example is Christopher Collins, who was turned impressions about the safety and academic quali- 2002 85% Public away from his neighborhood school, Hyde Park ty of their local schools. Some of these students 2006 87% Private Academy, where he was looking forward to play- started their summer break before 9th grade with- ing football. out clear plans for high school and often ended up CPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Antonio Ross, Hyde Park’s disciplinarian, says at schools with academic track records similar to Black Charter Selective/Magnet Neighborhood he directed Collins to enroll at Robeson High in their neighborhood schools—a finding in line Latino Englewood because Collins and his friends with Catalyst’s analysis. 27% White 68% 49% 44% attacked another student during summer school. Students typically pick such schools, Other 25% 42% Ross says he often splits up “factions” of students Allensworth says, because they have small, special through transfers, but never without reaching a programs or because family members or friends Free/reduced lunch 73% 64% 87% consensus with the student, parent and receiving are enrolled. Integrated 0 of 41 11 of 56 44 of 439 school. His mother says she never reached con- “You may know the reputation of your local Racially mixed 1 of 41 12 of 56 20 of 439 sensus with Ross. school,” she suggests, “but you may not be aware of CPS HIGH SCHOOLS She and her son tried unsuccessfully to get the reputation of a school outside your community.” Charter Selective/Magnet* Neighborhood Ross to transfer Collins to Kenwood Academy. Black Latino Eventually, Collins chose to go to lower-perform- ACROSS THE CITY, FAMILIES ARE CLAMORING to take White 28% 65% 33% 49% ing South Shore School of Leadership, because his advantage of choice, with charter applications on 38% Other 32% brother had attended the school. the rise and more students traveling long distances to enroll in new Renaissance schools. (See Free/reduced lunch 70% 60% 82% CATALYST’S FINDINGS ARE PART of a complex picture map on page 10 and story on page 11.) Integrated 0 of 26 5 of 13 3 of 61 that raises questions about the equity of Chicago’s But the lopsided distribution of new schools is Racially mixed 1 of 26 3 of 13 2 of 61 dramatic expansion of school choice under Ren- evident, and has done little to make a dent in the * Does not include the five military high schools. aissance 2010, which has so far created 75 new citywide need. Note: CPS defines integrated schools as those with white enrollment of schools and drawn the attention of national More than a third—33—of the 75 Renaissance more than 30 percent. Racially mixed schools are between 15 and 30 experts because of its ambition and scope. schools have opened in 18 communities that are not percent white. Yet experts note the lack of conclusive research considered top priorities by the district, which chose Source: Catalyst analysis of CPS 2007 Racial Ethnic Survey that would back up the central premise of Renais- those communities based on a 2004 Illinois Facili- sance: that opening new schools will spur compe- ties Fund study that measured the need for better tition and force traditional schools to improve. A schools on a community-by-community basis. LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS BYPASSED recent report by the RAND Corporation, often cit- Most of the 33 are in West Town, the Near West Families who live inside the attendance boundaries of low- ed by charter advocates as evidence of the benefit Side and several Southwest Side Latino communi- performing schools are less likely to send their children to to students, suggests mixed achievement gains. ties that have overcrowded schools. The remaining those schools. Yet at the same time, parents tended to opt (See sidebar on page 15.) 42 schools are spread among 15 priority communi- out of low-achieving schools where children make the Other pieces of the choice puzzle: Some under- ties. Ten communities have gotten no new schools. most progress, suggesting that families place a premium on a school’s overall performance rather than students’ served communities are still waiting for new The study calculated that, citywide, 88,500 year-to-year improvement. schools. The question of access—whether neigh- seats were needed in high schools and 139,400 in borhood students will have preference in admis- elementary schools—creating what the report STUDENTS ATTENDING NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS sions—has emerged. (See story on page 11.) More- calls a “service gap” of 227,900 slots in high-per- over, diversity is down in magnet schools, the dis- forming schools. Elementary 78% trict’s most-established schools of choice. (See But so far, new Renaissance schools have created High School 61% 61% story on page 14.) only 15,300 additional seats: 7,000 in elementary One pressing need for families, however, is help schools and 8,300 in high schools, filling just 9 per- 33% to make sense of a complex system with selective cent of the need. (For a story on Austin, the city’s schools that students must test into, magnets and largest community and the neighborhood with the magnet cluster schools that don’t require tests but biggest service gap, go to www.catalyst-chicago.org.) do require applications and charters and contract Jill Levine, director of school services for IFF, Lowest-scoring schools Highest-scoring schools schools with different application deadlines. The believes CPS has nevertheless done a good job Note: Low-scoring schools are in the bottom 25 percent on elementary district may adopt a centralized student assign- opening new schools in high-needs areas. Before reading tests and the high school ACT; high-scoring schools are in the ment system to streamline the application the group’s report was issued, she notes, charters top 25 percent in those categories. process, but experts note that families will still were located just about anywhere, without much Source: Catalyst analysis of 2007 Chicago Public Schools data

www.catalyst-chicago.org 7 School Choice

CHARTERS NOT ENROLLING TOP KIDS Latino students, who are least likely to commute long distances to school, are underrepresented in Charter schools promote a take-all-comers philosophy, selective, magnet and charter schools. Even Orozco but in reality, their student populations reflect recruiting Elementary, which offers busing to its regional strategies. Some charters focus recruiting efforts on gifted center for bilingual students, only draws a nearby schools, while others make pitches throughout quarter of its students from afar. [Photo by the city. There is evidence that charters are attracting Cristina Rutter] slightly better-performing students, but not to a great extent. Charter elementary schools have fewer 3rd- graders who score at the bottom on achievement tests. However, the higher scores could be due to progress made by students during their first years at the charter. Among high schools, scores for freshmen are only slightly higher at charters than neighborhood high schools.

3RD-GRADE ISAT PASS RATES Neighborhood Charter Selective/Magnet 45% 42% 29% 28% 25% 19% 21%22% 20% 16% 14% 13%

Reading Math Reading Math Low scorers Top scorers

AVG. 8TH-GRADE SCORES FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN Math Reading 287.2 Selective 262.2 Charter 256.6 240.3 Neighborhood 256.6 239.2

Note: Third-grade top scorers were in the top 25 percent citywide; bottom scorers, in the lowest 25 percent. Source: Catalyst analysis of 2007 Illinois Standards Achievement Test data and Consortium on Chicago School Research data

HOW CHARTER GRADUATION RATES STACK UP Students in charter high schools, even students who are high-performing, are less likely to graduate than students in selective schools. However, charter students are more likely to graduate than students in neighborhood high schools. A host of reasons may explain the results, from the longer regard to need. (The IFF provides charters and South Shore, South Chicago and East and West school days to the smaller learning environments at most other nonprofit groups with loans and technical Garfield Park—to vet proposals from school oper- charters. But charters also require students to apply, and the assistance in obtaining facilities.) ators. CPS also sought to lure prospective opera- simple act of committing to one school may signal personal qualities that are not captured on standardized tests. Levine also notes that new schools alone won’t tors to the communities by promising to find provide enough better options for kids. CPS needs to facilities for them. 2006 GRADUATES BY 8TH-GRADE TEST SCORES fix its traditional schools, too. “Charters are not the In East and West Garfield Park, both among the Graduated Dropped out Still active only people who can solve the problem,” she says. top 10 communities in need of better elementary Joshua Edelman, director of CPS’ Office of New schools, the councils were headed up by long- High scorers Schools, says the district’s expansion of the “turn- time West Side activist Mildred Wiley of Bethel Selective 91% around” program, in which operators take over New Life. The councils approved three schools: a Charter 80% underperforming schools, will help fill some of new campus of the all-boys Urban Prep Academy Neighborhood 76% the gap. He says the biggest pinch for would-be and an elementary school operated by the Chica- Low scorers school operators is finding school facilities, which go School of Professional Psychology, both in East poses no problem under the turnaround Garfield Park; and in West Garfield Park, the Selective 60% approach. In many cases, he contends, new Chicago Talent Development High School, backed Charter 52% schools have gone into non-prioritized areas by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Neighborhood 43% because they found their own buildings. Service Employees International Union Local 73. Note: High scorers were in the top 25 percent on the Illinois Standards In South Shore, the neighborhood at the top of Achievement Test; low scorers were in the bottom 25 percent. TO GET COMMUNITY BUY-IN on new schools, CPS cre- IFF’s list of those that need better elementary Source: Consortium on Chicago School Research ated advisory councils in four communities— schools, activists have long been skeptical of Ren-

8 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 Assigning students to schools of choice he district’s free-for-all system of school choice may be on its way out, but there’s no guarantee Tthat families will be better able to navigate through the maze of options. James Dispensa, director of school demographics and planning for CPS, is researching how best to set up a central admissions system, which would dramatically simplify choice by allowing families to fill out just one application and then rank their school choices. New York, Seattle, Boston and Miami-Dade County are among the districts that already have such systems. But Dan Kramer, director of education at ACE Tech Charter, worries that kids may check off specialized schools like his on a whim, without any knowledge of or commitment to the school’s overall mission. ACE offers classes in the building trades, along with a focus on character development in a small school setting, and Kramer says it’s critical to counsel students on appropriate choices. Robin Lake, associate director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Wash- ington, is neutral on centralized admissions. Families still have to be savvy enough to make wise choices about ranking their preferences, she notes, since in the end, they get just one school assignment. If you pick the wrong school as your top preference, Lake notes, you’re stuck. Paul Teske, an expert on school choice at the Uni- versity of Colorado at Denver, says it’s important to get information to parents, especially lower-income families who might not have access to the same information networks as middle-class parents. Making schools more open is also crucial. “Parents clearly want to visit schools. Making that more friendly and easier is important,” Teske adds. Districts can level the playing field by taking aggressive steps to inform people through on-the-ground information campaigns. Teske points to Washington, D.C., as an example: There, the district pays “trusted advocates,” such as social workers, to spread the word about choice—in this case, private school vouchers—by talking directly to families. Phyllis Lockett, president and chief executive officer aissance. The council still faces challenges to win- child who attended Renaissance schools and both of the private Renaissance Schools Fund, says a student ning solid buy-in out in the community. have worked the supermarkets, coffee houses and assignment system would “force engagement” by parents. She also favors streamlining admissions—for Last month, the South Shore council decided to community meetings trying to inform parents instance, with one deadline for all charter applications. back the first Renaissance schools in the commu- about the choices under Renaissance. Chicago’s Parents for School Choice campaign, paid nity: a new branch of the all-boys Urban Prep Suggesting council members study up on the for by Lockett’s group, fits Teske’s recommended model charter school in Englewood, which draws some proposals and “know the pulse of the communi- neatly. But the group is small, with just two part-time students from South Shore, and a school modeled ty,” Ambrose warns of rough going. “It’s not easy,” staff members, and relies on a cadre of parents who vol- on high-performing South Loop Elementary. (The she says. “We’ve had people slam doors in our unteer at special events like the New Schools Expo. Last School Board has already approved the new ele- faces. Going around with Renaissance 2010 flyers, year, nearly 70 parents helped out at the event, which mentary school and will vote on the high school in people treat you like you have the plague.” introduced about 750 people to Renaissance schools. November.) Valencia Rias, an organizer with Designs for The fund hopes to attract 1,000 people to an indoor An August meeting of the advisory council, how- Change and a council member, asks a bevy of venue at Soldier Field on January 31 next year. ever, underscores the lingering skepticism about questions about parent engagement. Local school Kim Ambrose, one of the organizers, says she hands out fliers and visits churches, laundromats, beauty Renaissance. Phyllis Lockett, president and chief councils give parents legal authority in traditional shops, community meetings and other public venues executive officer of the Renaissance Schools Fund, schools, and Rias worries that the proliferation of in communities that have been underserved by tradi- and two parent activists from Parents for School charter and contract schools will slowly sap par- tional schools. Choice field questions and give advice on spreading ents’ ability to have meaningful input at their chil- Ambrose says the volunteers talk to parents about the the word about the new schools. dren’s schools. Charter governing boards typically need to understand their children, and to recognize that Activists Adrienne Leonard and Kim Ambrose do not include parent members; contract schools “every child can learn, but they might learn differently.” bring a measure of street credibility. Ambrose has a Continued on page 15 John Myers

www.catalyst-chicago.org 9 Commuter Kids BLACKS, WHITES TRAVEL FARTHEST TO SCHOOL Trekking to better high schools Although CPS provides limited busing to facilitate school choice throughout the district, More than half of CPS high school students do not attend their neighbor- more elementary students, especially African Americans, are opting to attend schools hood schools. Among those, about 10,000 travel six miles or more to school. outside their neighborhood, according to an analysis by the Consortium on Chicago Charters enroll 16 percent of these long-distance commuters, up 10 per- School Research. In high schools—for which CPS provides no busing—the percentage of centage points since 2002. Another 56 percent attend selective or magnet white and black students who travel a significant distance to school has increased. schools; most of the remaining 28 percent attend regular schools that have special programs. Students make the long trek for a variety of reasons, from STUDENTS COMMUTING FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD the pull of strong academic programs to the appeals of diversity and safety. Black White Latino 41% 41% 37%

>10% of students 29% attending high 23% 24% schools in these 20% areas commute 15% 15% six miles or more 5 14% 12% 11% Home School 1997 2007 1997 2007 Lake Michigan Elementary students commuting 1.5 miles or more High school students commuting 2.5 miles or more

Note: CPS provides busing only to elementary students who live between 1.5 and 6 miles away from magnet and selective programs. Catalyst and the Consortium on Chicago School Research used that measure as the cutoff for analyzing elementary commuting patterns. The cutoff was expanded to 2.5 miles for high schools. Source: 2007 Consortium on Chicago School Research data

CHARTERS DRAWING LONG-DISTANCE STUDENTS As the district creates more charters, a significant number of families who live outside the surrounding community are choosing them: Charters are running neck-and-neck with magnets when it comes to drawing in students. Among neighborhood high schools, five with magnet and International Baccalaureate programs—which also qualify as choice programs, since students must apply—enroll more than 100 long-distance commuters: Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Kenwood, Sullivan and Morgan Park.

STUDENTS COMMUTING TO CHOICE PROGRAMS 1.5 to 5.9 miles 6+ miles Less than 1.5 miles 2.5 to 5.9 miles 6+ miles Less than 2.5 miles

Selective 39% 13% College Prep 46% 28% Charter 41% 11% Charter 37% 11% Magnet 47% 6% Magnet 35% 8% Neighborhood 9% 1% Neighborhood 18% 3% Note: Alternative and special education schools not included. Elementary High School Students’ routes are approximate. Source: Catalyst analysis of Consortium on Chicago School Research Data Source: Catalyst analysis of 2007 Consortium on Chicago School Research data

ZURIEL GALLO relies on two alarms—one at 5 a.m., the second at 5:30—to rouse him for LATINOS STAY CLOSE TO HOME the trip from Hermosa to Washington Park, where he attends ACE Tech Charter. He opted For a variety of reasons, Latino students are less likely than their peers to make long against his neighborhood high school, Schurz, because of safety concerns. Gallo loves working treks to school. Some observers say the district does little to reach out and explain to with his hands, and ACE Tech, which focuses on the building trades, has helped him hone skills Spanish-speaking families about school options. In some cases, new immigrants worry and prepare for a career as an electrician. His family drove around Washington Park and con- about their status when filling out school applications. Proximity may also play a role, sulted with a friend in law enforcement to allay fears about safety in the area around ACE. since many Latinos live on the edge of the city where public transportation is scarce. ALEXIS CONTRERAS gets up every morning at 4:30 a.m. and travels 90 minutes by bus ELEMENTARY STUDENTS COMMUTING SIX MILES OR MORE and then an el train from Back of the Yards to Edgewater, where she is a senior at Rickover Naval Academy. She chose Rickover over her neighborhood high school, Richards, because Charter Selective Magnet Neighborhood “the teachers there don’t care,” she says. Rickover, in contrast, offers plenty of one-on-one Of black students attending... Of white students attending... Of Latino students attending... time with her teachers, who have helped prepare her well for college, Contreras says. 13% 24% 4% BRIAN CURTIS takes a Metra train from West Pullman to the Loop, to avoid what he 14% 15% 10% 8% 4% 5% believes to be a violent neighborhood school, Fenger, right across West Pullman’s borders in 2% 1% 1% Roseland. “I didn’t want to go there and get hurt. I’m not a fighter,” Curtis says. He also likes Jones’ central location and academic offerings. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMMUTING SIX MILES OR MORE ANDREW MCASKILL lives in Calumet Heights near the Bowen campus, which houses Charter College Prep Magnet Neighborhood four small schools that are open to students in the area, although applications are required. Of black students attending... Of white students attending... Of Latino students attending... But McAskill says the schools’ reputations aren’t great, so he opted instead for Jones College 14% 3% 6% Prep, a 45-minute bus trip away in the Loop. Jones, a selective-admissions school, offers 33% 30% 25% 16% 4% 2% something he wanted: a better academic reputation and diversity. “If you’re going to be in 5% 4% 2% business or something like that you need to be around all races and not just your own race,” says McAskill, who is African American. Source: Catalyst analysis of 2007 Consortium on Chicago School Research data

10 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 Charter Schools

SETTING BOUNDARIES A 2004 state law permits up to 10 Staying on point attendance boundaries for charters, assuring some preference for neighborhood children in admissions. So far, Popular charters are attracting a growing pool of students from outside the boundaries have been set for: University of Chicago, Donoghue neighborhood, which may not match the school’s original mission and Woodson campuses in Douglas (the schools share one boundary) boundaries that ensure preference in community organizations to recruit ASPIRA, Haugan Middle in Albany By John Myers Park admissions to neighborhood stu- students solely in Auburn Gresham UNO Charter, Fuentes campus in n its first year, Urban Prep Acad- dents. While these attendance zones and ensure that at least 70 percent of Avondale emy for Young Men received resolve the problem of neighbor- all students are from nearby. UNO Charter, Tamayo campus in 280 applications for 150 fresh- hood access, they fly in the face of In Douglas, where the charter Gage Park Imen slots. As word has spread school choice orthodoxy, which calls recently opened its new IIT campus, Chicago International Charter, about the city’s only all-boys public for citywide schools that spur com- Thompson says the same concerns Northtown campus in Forest Glen school, applications to the Engle- petition and ensure all students have are being hashed out. By word-of- Chicago International Charter, wood charter have risen apace, to an equal shot at enrolling. Charter mouth, the new campus drew in stu- Wrightwood campus in Ashburn 422 in 2007 and 583 this year. advocates say the rising demand is a dents from several neighborhoods University of Chicago Charter High To meet the growing demand, Ur- signal that more charters, not atten- away. Thompson says a group of par- School, Wadsworth campus in Woodlawn ban Prep is ramping up quickly, re- dance zones, are needed. ents at Perspective’s South Loop-Joslin Chicago International Charter, cently winning approval to add new Greg Richmond, former head of campus told friends at Murray Lan- Ellison campus in Auburn Gresham campuses in two of the district’s high- the district’s Office of New Schools guage Academy—a well-regarded Noble Street Charter, Comer needs communities—East Garfield and now president of the National magnet school in Hyde Park—to con- campus in Greater Grand Crossing Park and South Shore. School offi- Association of Charter School sider the new IIT school. cials hope the new schools will help Authorizers, says boundaries are Perspectives has reached out to CHARTERS BECOMING ‘MAGNETS’ address a vexing concern at the orig- exceedingly rare nationwide. But in Stateway Community Partners, an Some charter operators are reporting inal Englewood campus: an influx of Chicago, neighborhood pressure organization that helps families who an increase in the percentage of stu- students from outside the neighbor- sparked a change to the state’s char- have moved back into renovated dents who apply from outside their hood, threatening to divert the school’s ter law in 2004 to allow for up to 10 public housing at the Park Boulevard school’s immediate area. For some community-oriented mission. attendance zones. The issue flared complex across from the new char- schools, the change is a sign of success, As part of his pitch for new up, Richmond recalls, when charters ter, to begin recruiting students. as a rising reputation attracts students schools, in fact, Executive Director opened in overcrowded Latino com- from across the city. For other schools, Tim King noted that the new cam- munities that demanded access. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO charter an increase in students who commute puses would allow Urban Prep to schools, just one campus, North poses a challenge to the mission of serve more children within their own ALTHOUGH ITS MISSION is to serve Kenwood/Oakland, is without an serving neighborhood students. communities. (King is a member of Englewood students first, King says attendance zone. At the other cam- COMMUTES TO CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLS the Catalyst Chicago editorial board.) the school should remain open puses, the aldermen and communi- < 2.5 miles 2.5 to 6 miles > 6 miles Although data from the state do citywide. “We’re the only option in ty activists demanded boundaries. not indicate whether charter applica- town if you want to send your son to Recruiting may become more 2004 10% tions are from inside or outside the an all-boys school and you want to important for North Kenwood/Oak- 2007 15% community, a Catalyst analysis of stu- do it for free,” King says. Still, student land, since the mix of students at the Note: Includes only schools open all four years. dent commuting data for 2007 found recruiting is strictly limited to Engle- charter needs to mirror that of the Source: Catalyst analysis of Consortium on evidence that charters are attracting wood and nearby parts of Washing- regular schools that are part of its Chicago School Research data more outside families. Among char- ton Park, Greater Grand Crossing professional development network. ters opened since 2004, when Renais- and Auburn Gresham. Gentrification may eventually sance 2010 was launched, the per- During the community planning make that mission harder to fulfill. dren who live with their grandmoth- centage of students who commute to process for Urban Prep’s new “[Expensive] condos are going up er because their parents are unable school from 6 miles away or more has schools, King says the issue of access and, unfortunately, they will weed to take care of them. But the char- increased—to 13 percent for elemen- came up repeatedly. “In every single out some people. That’s an issue on ter’s goal is to serve children in the tary students, up from 9 percent; and meeting and every single interview, the horizon, but right now, most of community and ensure that families 15 percent for high school students, at least one person brought it up,” he the school is African American and understand the application process. up from 10 percent. notes. But the details of how to guar- low-income,” says Michael Lee Yow, Yow agrees that the University of Some charters have begun to antee community access at the new the charter’s new director of family Chicago name is a draw for middle- restrict their recruiting, and in some schools are still being worked out. and community engagement. class, stable families from elsewhere. cases negotiate community set- At Perspectives Charter Schools on Yow notes that North Kenwood But, he adds, “all we can do is make asides, to ensure that the original the Calumet High campus, Director prides itself on the ability to teach sure we get applications in the hands charter mission—serving a particu- of Community Relations Ray Thomp- children from a wide range of back- of those who need it most.” lar neighborhood—remains in focus. son says the school has struck an grounds, from homeless students to So far, 10 charter campuses have agreement with the alderman and kids from two-parent homes to chil- [email protected]

www.catalyst-chicago.org 11 Magnet Schools

Specialties not a big draw Schools with small-scale magnet programs attract This year, Dase is trying to keep magnet schools so successful,” she the school viable by latching onto says. few students from outside the neighborhood and and stepping up its involvement in With the district aiming to get out the magnet cluster program. The of its federal desegregation consent lose just as many local kids as regular schools initiative, essentially a shadow of decree, the future of magnet schools, the district’s full-fledged magnet as well as the cluster program, is By Sarah Karp had lost about 40 percent of its stu- program, aims to give students hazy. Even so, the district is pushing dents since 2000 and was struggling high-quality neighborhood options cluster schools to do more to distin- oming into Coles Elemen- to raise its academic performance. by providing extra resources and guish themselves and promote their tary in South Chicago, Prin- Other forces were adding pres- giving schools a specialty that programs to parents as good choices. cipal Jeffrey Dase knew he sure. With new charters and magnets might draw folks in, says Abigayil But critics say the cluster program Cneeded a game-changer. opening up yearly, all offering at least Joseph, the head of CPS’ Office of is all over the place, with uneven qual- Once an overcrowded school that a promise of something better, the Academic Enhancement. ity and academic performance, mea- needed mobile classrooms, Coles school faced stiff competition. “We want to model what makes ger resources—only one extra staff

12 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 score below the district average in One weekend, Mester attended reading, according to 2007 data. services held by a Polish church in the “They are a joke,” says Wanda auditorium to pass out flyers about Hopkins, assistant director of Parents the school. Many families were recep- United for Responsible Education. tive. But without busing, she says, Dase says before he was hired at they wouldn’t move their children. Coles, most parents had no idea that Indeed, Mester says she receives his school was part of the magnet about 100 applications each year cluster program. His predecessor used and accepts all the children. But only an extra teacher to help lower class two or three of them usually show sizes. Kindergarten through 6th- up, once their parents realize that no graders took Spanish just once a week. transportation is provided. Last year, Dase decided to Having a cluster specialty “is just embrace the cluster program and not enough to make people want to added his own discretionary funds to drive their children every day,” hire three enthusiastic young Span- Mester says. ish teachers. Starting in kinder- Principal Deborah Heath of Fer- garten, all Coles students will have nwood Elementary in Washington Spanish four times a week. Heights agrees that quality aca- “Our goal is that by the time stu- demics, rather than the school’s dents leave here, they are as fluent writing and literature specialty, has as a junior in high school,” Dase kept her enrollment stable. In fact, says. He and his teachers have put she’s not even sure parents realize up flags from Spanish-speaking that the school has a specialty and countries and clocks set to their plans to buy a banner announcing time in the front hallway. The full it for the front foyer. name of the school has changed, At Fernwood, the percentage of from Coles Model for Excellence to students meeting or exceeding stan- Coles Model for Excellence World dards in reading has doubled since Language Academy. 2000 to nearly 64 percent. “Once we get you, you will be happy with the MOST PRINCIPALS AGREE that having a quality of the environment,” she says. magnet cluster program is not enough Sandra Lewis, principal of to keep families in the fold if the Harold Washington in Burnside, has school is failing otherwise. Improving to write grants and stretch her own overall learning is their top priority. discretionary budget to make sure West Town is an example. Antu- that teachers have what they need, anette Mester, principal of Chopin from colored pencils to violins, for School, says the demographic the school’s fine arts specialty. changes brought by gentrification Inside, there’s an entire museum dramatically affected her school, devoted to the school’s namesake, With art on every wall, a museum dedicated to the school’s namesake (which includes driving down enrollment by 55 per- the late Mayor Harold Washing- the former mayor’s actual car) and a choir and band, Harold Washington School’s focus cent since 2000 and leaving her ton—including his old Cadillac. on fine and performing arts is obvious. Principal Sandra Lewis says the magnet cluster entire 3rd floor empty. The school’s Every wall has pictures, every stair- program provides resources to enrich the school’s atmosphere, although she writes grants to augment her programs. [Photos by Jason Reblando] cluster specialty is math and science. well a mural and every floor a “The new people don’t have chil- theme. The second floor is devoted dren, they have pets,” Mester says. “I to Chicago high schools named member and a small grant—and little magnet cluster school offers a dou- have to tell them not to have them after famous African Americans. success drawing in families. Just 14 ble period of hands-on science; poop in our garden.” Dean Thornton, a soft-spoken percent of students at cluster schools another one doesn’t even have a lab. But the community is also ripe man who is the school’s choir live more than one and a half miles Given that the district does not with other options, so Chopin must teacher, gets excited as he talks away, similar to the figure at neighbor- provide busing, most principals say fight to draw in families and keep about participating in citywide hood schools. Elementary cluster it is nearly impossible to convince students. Indeed, 64 percent of chil- music and choir competitions. But schools and neighborhood schools parents outside of the attendance dren living in the attendance area schools shouldn’t have to have a spe- both lose about a third of students, area to choose their schools. Anoth- don’t attend Chopin—one of the cialty to get well-rounded programs. who opt to attend schools elsewhere, er factor that plays into the decision highest percentages in the city. The “Top suburban schools have it according to data from CPS. is quality: There’s no connection neighborhood’s other school options all—language, music, band, drama, Meanwhile, there is little over- between having a magnet cluster include two charters and a brand- the core subjects,” Thornton says. “In sight from the district or continuity program and high academic per- new “franchise” magnet school, CPS, we see it as special.” in offerings among schools. For formance. In fact, two-thirds of the LaSalle II. Other neighborhood example, one math and science 229 schools with cluster programs schools are high-performers. [email protected]

www.catalyst-chicago.org 13 Magnet Schools Losing diversity Black and Latino enrollment has declined in the city’s premier magnet schools, the oldest and most sought-after schools of choice

By Sarah Karp among them, and has just one seat having to ask for everything to be students in a foreign language, available for every 14 applications. translated into Spanish, Green though the languages offered at the enneth Green knew he want- But in the top 10 high-demand recalls, and eventually moved their two schools are different. ed to send his daughter to a magnet schools, the share of black daughter back to a neighborhood “LaSalle has a very good name,” magnet school, Chicago’s old- and Latino students has fallen over school from Franklin. she says. “A lot of the new families Kest schools of choice. He spent the past two decades, to 45 percent There are other pressures that have young children, and they seem hours enveloped in research and tour- from 65 percent. Only 40 percent of might make families uncomfortable. very interested in LaSalle II. I think ing campuses, trying to find the right students in these high-demand mag- For example, parents at Franklin set a we can attract them.” combination of high academic expec- nets are low-income, compared to 83 goal this year of raising $70,000, asking Some magnets that CPS has cre- tations and a diverse racial mix. percent districtwide. A similar phe- parents to support fundraisers and ated in minority communities have He found what he wanted in nomenon is taking place in the city’s donate cash—cash that, as Green yet to show substantial achieve- Franklin Fine Arts Academy on the magnet and selective high schools. observes, some families may not have. ment gains. Near North Side. “I liked the feel of (See Catalyst, November 2007.) CPS used part of a $9 million feder- the building, the fact it was set back Latinos are especially underrepre- AN ADDITIONAL NINE magnet schools al magnet schools grant to transform from the street and that it was a sented in magnet schools, a phenom- have opened up in the past two struggling Smyth Elementary on the small school,” Green says. enon that was first noted in a 2000 years. This year, to create new Near West Side into a magnet with Along with strong academics and report by the Consortium on Chicago schools of choice and attract par- International Baccalaureate pro- a good climate, a school’s diversity School Research. Since then, while ents, CPS sought to capitalize on the grams. Principal Ronald Whitmore can be a powerful draw for parents the percentage of Latinos in all ele- popularity of some of the most says the cash has been a boon to help like Green, who want their children mentary schools has risen to 42 per- sought-after magnets by “franchis- improve the school. Teachers are to attend multi-racial, multi-ethnic cent, the percentage in magnets has ing” them. Two of the franchises, undergoing training in the rigorous IB schools that mirror the real world. remained at just under 30 percent. however, opened in gentrifying, curriculum as they prepare for the These parents are more likely to opt These schools are the crown jew- increasingly white neighborhoods. A accreditation process. Events and out- for an integrated school when els of what CPS has to offer, says third never opened at all. side speakers are brought in to infuse choosing among several options. Ricardo Meza, midwest regional CPS opened Disney II, named an international feel into the school. Green, whose wife is Latina, rejected counsel for the Mexican-American after the city’s oldest magnet and And Smyth now has two technology Sabin Elementary, a mostly Latino labs and two science labs. magnet school closer to his home in “These schools are popular, and the biggest problem we face as Although students do Humboldt Park. not have to take an But many magnets, like Franklin, a community is that, though we are large in number, our admissions test (the are becoming less diverse. And mag- International Baccalaure- nets are becoming lower-performing resources and our access are limited.” ate Organization, stresses in general. Ricardo Meza, Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund equal access for all stu- Twenty years ago, in the heyday of dents), and Smyth enrolls the magnet program, 25 of 28 ele- children from the neigh- mentary magnets were racially Legal Defense and Educational Fund. featuring an open-space environ- borhood, the school is considered a mixed (with no predominant racial It frustrates him that so few Latinos ment and team teaching, on the magnet and will take students from group) and 22 of the 28 ranked win spots in them. campus of under-utilized Irving Park outside its attendance boundary. But among the top 100 elementary Finding these schools and under- Middle School. LaSalle II, which gets Whitmore says few have applied so schools. But now, in 2008, just 10 of standing how to get into them is com- its name from a foreign language far, although he has put ads in local 27 magnets are racially mixed and plicated for any parent, especially school on the Gold Coast, opened up newspapers and talked to real estate among the top 100 schools. The those who don’t speak English well in another underused school, Ander- developers about the school, offering remaining 17 are either predomi- and are poorly educated, Meza says. sen in Wicker Park. to take new residents on tours. nantly black or Latino, and just five of “These schools are popular, and LaSalle II took in the students who Smyth remains one of the lower- them are among the top 100 schools. the biggest problem we face as a would have otherwise gone to Ander- performing schools in the district, (Nine magnets have been creat- community is that, though we are sen, and still has a mostly Latino with only 38 percent of students ed in the past two years, but are not large in number, our resources and enrollment. But Principal Suzanne meeting or exceeding standards in included in the analysis because our access are limited,” he says. Velasquez-Sheehy theorizes that in reading in 2007. Despite the tidy new they do not have complete data.) Green believes that for some Lati- the future, the ‘franchise’ will be a mixed-income condos and town- There still exists a cadre of 15 no families, especially new immi- draw for the changing neighbor- homes that have replaced the public high-performing sought-after ele- grants, magnets may be intimidating. hood. LaSalle II, like the original housing project that used to surround mentary magnet schools. Franklin is One Latino family he knew didn’t like LaSalle, provides daily instruction for Continued on next page

14 Catalyst In Depth November/December 2008 No consensus on choice tional is slated to take over a troubled, but still CHOICE continued from page 9 here is a growing body of research on school unidentified, traditional school as a turnaround choice but little hard evidence that it benefits stu- are not required to have LSCs. operator, and is also opening a new school in Alt- Tdents or spurs school improvement. Lockett replies that new schools are finding geld Gardens. Noble Street plans to open three “There is an enormous amount that we still don’t innovative ways to increase parent leadership, new campuses in the Loop and Near West Side know. It is pretty hard to study and the evidence is encour- from parent advisory councils to representation (which are not priority communities). aging but not definitive,” says Brian Gill, co-author of “Rhetoric vs. Reality: What We Know and What We Need on school boards. But she draws the line at grant- With no other elementary school operators sur- to Know about Vouchers and Charter Schools.” Gill is a ing hiring power over principals, one of three facing, the council tried to convince the operators of senior researcher at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. powers granted to LSCs. EPIC (Expeditionary Path to Innovative Change) Gill contributed to a 2007 RAND Corporation Later, Rias says she’s worried about how the Academy to expand its proposal to include elemen- report that found promising student outcomes in Chica- new high school will affect the existing four small tary grades. The effort failed, but the council never- go and Florida charter schools. The report, often cited by schools at the South Shore campus. But the com- theless decided to back EPIC’s high school proposal. charter enthusiasts, also found little evidence that top munity simply needs better options. She says the The EPIC Academy, run in partnership with students are funneled into Chicago’s budding crop of next issue will be housing for the new schools. Expeditionary Learning School/Outward Bound, small, specialized schools of choice—a major issue that South Shore is getting a new high school build- plans to introduce long-term projects and college has surfaced in other reports. A Catalyst analysis had ing in 2009 and two new buildings for Bouchet prep courses in a small high school of 500 stu- similar findings. (See chart on page 8.) and Powell elementary schools, paid for through dents. Similar schools are run in Boston, New York Some researchers, like Caroline Hoxby at Stanford University’s Hoover Institute, contend that school choice the Modern Schools Across Chicago initiative. and Baltimore. even improves traditional schools by forcing them to com- At this point, district planners indicate that Matthew King, associate director of education at pete for kids. But Gill says the jury is still out on that front. Urban Prep will take up space at the old South ACE Tech charter, formed a team with three col- More studied—but no less mixed—is the impact that Shore campus and the new high school will house leagues from Dunbar and Corliss high schools two school choice has on individual students. the four existing small schools. years ago to put together the EPIC proposal. The Research by Julie Berry Cullen, Brian Jacob and year before, the team proposed a similar school for Steven Levitt, for example, tracked students who won THE DAY BEFORE VISITING South Shore, Lockett had the Englewood community, but never made the cut. and lost lotteries for Chicago’s magnet schools and pitched the new schools initiative to another advi- King, slated to be EPIC’s principal, says he start- found little difference in their subsequent academic sory council, then provided training on how to vet ed making calls to community and business groups achievement. On the other hand, Gill’s report shows a school proposals. The meeting took place in the in the areas where advisory councils were formed to clear increase in graduation and college enrollment rates first-floor offices of the local chamber of com- gauge the level of possible interest in EPIC. among students who attended charter schools that spanned the elementary and high school grades. (Char- merce in South Chicago. The tight-knit council “South Chicago returned calls,” he says. The ters, like magnets, use lotteries for admission.) had been organizing since April, even generating a decision was cemented early and King started Gill says it’s unclear if the benefits he found are a reflec- 49-point wish list for school operators to consider. attending community meetings of all stripes. tion of charter schools or a grade structure that kept kids The wish list covered a number of areas, King and the EPIC design team have decided to from having to transition into a new school at 9th grade. including student mentoring, character building, push for an attendance boundary that awards pri- Much of the confusion boils down to the different services for special needs students and a strong ority seat placements to neighborhood kids. But ways that researchers account for students’ backgrounds literacy program. The council wanted to reach they can’t promise it. Until the district officially and academic abilities. Choice is simply hard to study, Gill youngsters at an early age to stem the dropout tide approves plans for the school, King says the negoti- says, because students who opt out of traditional schools and hoped to receive a suitable plan for an ele- ations over a new boundary will be on hold. What’s may have qualities that test scores can’t illuminate. mentary or middle school, says member Neil more, EPIC and the community remain in the dark Gill’s report matches others that show a significant Bosanko, president of the South Chicago Cham- about where the new school will be housed. negative effect on student learning in newly opened charters. More research on Renaissance 2010 schools is due ber of Commerce. (The community is among “It’s almost a deal breaker for us,” says Zebedee out next year when Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach at the those needing better elementary schools, but is Rivera, a local artist who took an active role on the University of Chicago publishes a much-anticipated report. not on the district’s priority list for high schools.) council. “We would not be able to live with our- John Easton, director of the Consortium on Chicago South Chicago also requested proposals from selves if we opened a school and our kids couldn’t School Research, sums it up: “It all comes down to the two established charter operators, Chicago Inter- go there.” quality of the education program.” national and Noble Street. But both bailed, for fear John Myers of overstretching their resources. Chicago Interna- [email protected]

Smyth, the school is still 98 percent schools operate. In January, U.S. Dis- neighborhood, is likely to become Green’s daughter, Xiomara, graduat- black and 93 percent low-income. trict Judge Charles Kocoras will again all-white if the decree is lifted. ed from Franklin Fine Arts in June. Whitmore is quick to say that the consider whether to let CPS out of Already, Green observes, the Like elementary magnets, competi- quality of education is on the rise. “I the decree; he has indicated that he opportunities for black and Latino stu- tion to get into high-performing high don’t care if we have black, orange or is open to doing so. Magnet pro- dents in the best of the magnet schools schools is intense. purple children,” he says. grams are funded with cash set aside are too few and far between. After sub- So this time, Green took a different because of the desegregation order. mitting an application to at least a route, abandoning the oldest of the THIS FALL, GREEN was among about 50 The session was organized by dozen schools and losing all those lot- district’s choices for one of the the parents who attended an informa- parents from Drummond, a magnet teries, Green won a spot for his daugh- newest ones: He enrolled his daugh- tional session about CPS’ bid to have school with a Montessori curricu- ter at Franklin by making daily calls to ter in a charter school, the University the desegregation consent decree lum that opened in Logan Square. Arne Duncan, who was the head of of Illinois at Chicago College Prep. lifted, a move that could have a sub- Drummond parents are concerned academic enhancement at the time. stantial impact on how magnets that the school, in a gentrifying That was nine years ago, and [email protected]

www.catalyst-chicago.org 15 Is Great Teaching Enough? FREE! FREE! FREE! The impact of school-community connections on the achievement gap

10th Anniversary Check out the 2008 Chicago Schools Policy Luncheon Series all-new Catalyst 10.29.08 THE EVIDENCE It was standing-room only for the Oct. 29 luncheon featuring Charles Payne, author of “So Much Reform, So Little Change,” and Penny Bender Sebring, Community founding co-director of the Consortium on Chicago School Research.

12.03.08 SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND KEEPING THE PEACE Calendar University of Chicago Professor Michael Woolley and students and staff from the Mikva Challenge. Promote your event 01.21.09 WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A VILLAGE Paul Tough, author of “Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change among Catalyst online Harlem and America;” Nancy Aardema, executive director of the Logan Square readers. Go to Neighborhood Association; and Chris Brown, director of education at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation / Chicago. www.catalyst-chicago.org All luncheons are at the and click on “see all” Union League Club of Chicago 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Crystal Room on the calendar.

To register, go to www.bpichicago.org or call (312) 641-5570, ext. 241.

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