Today’s report notes a 16% increase since 2009 in students getting into our quality magnet schools and an 85% increase in families accepted in calendar choice schools. Many low-income minority families who were previously discriminated against from the old policy are finding new opportunity with our leadership to provide their children with access to some of our best programs. More of our families are finding our leadership is providing them with the stability, calendar, and continuity they needed.

“The trend of more Wake County families getting into magnet schools since the end of the old diversity policy is continuing.”

“Overall, Wake has seen sharp increases in both the number and percentage of magnet acceptances since the school board eliminated the use of socioeconomic diversity from the selection criteria last year. This change freed up hundreds of seats that weren’t filled for diversity reasons”

“In terms of the calendar-application schools, Wake accepted 2,510 out of the 2,966 year-round applicants, or 85 percent.Wake also accepted 1,415 out of the 1,660 traditional-calendar applicants. But school officials say the 15 percent who were not placed were all offered seats at magnet schools so they don’t have to stay at a year-round school this fall.”

Five academies will have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) theme.

This will line up well with our new partnership school opening next year as the Wake NC State STEM Early College where High School students will attend while earning college credits.

Five academies will have a Global Learning theme with expanded foreign language and cultural learning opportunities.

Those are in addition to our 4 new Renaissance Schools providing strategic resources to aiding some of our most underserved students and underperforming schools – You know, the “high poverty” schools that already existed for years under the old policy that they pretended didn’t exist.

Added FYI bonus – In Tuesday’s meeting, Attorney, Ann Majestic declared our efforts to reform the discipline code and suspension practices, “the most comprehensive reform of student discipline policies in 30 years“. As we continue to make our schools safer and work to close the school-to-prison pipeline we took several key initiatives this year, such as the creation of a discipline review team, a new leveling system sanctions and expanded alternative seats.

Staff announced Tuesday that the efforts are working. Although the school year is NOT over yet; year to date under these new strategies we have seen a 70% reduction in long term suspensions.

We continue to move forward for our children and our community. Keep us in your prayers as we continue our efforts to transform our schools from good to great.

The best is yet to come.

—
John Tedesco
Wake County School Board District 2

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
– Jackie Robinson