The Guilford County school system implemented a choice-based assignment plan three of its high schools for the 2004-05 school year. Officials were hoping to redistribute students to employ the capacity of the three schools better while also improving socioeconomic balance. The move was controversial, with parents and others attending forums and threatening legal and political action.
Then the school system operated the process for the first time. About 95 percent of students got their first choice, though a good number did not participate in the initial choice ranking and were consequently assigned to the closest high school (essentially what neighborhood-school advocates had pushed for anyway). A few dozen students are actually switching schools as a result.
Of course, the controversy will continue.
