?Poverty, flight hit urban schools? Observer article sounds as if Charlotte/Mecklenburg School System?s ?bright flight? began in 2002, the end of court-ordered busing. Trends already occurring simply continued. During 1995?2001 the white percentage of students dropped from 53.3% to 46.2%. In 1998 the system?s white percentage grew only by .3 percent, and in 2000 began to recede. During this time Hispanic and ?other? racial groups significantly increased, and also the percentage of lower income students.
Remember, in 2000 the School Board voted for school choice only to rescind the decision less than 12 hours before the ?Showcase of Schools.?
Indecisiveness, misplaced personal agendas, and a lack of attentiveness cause insecurity and families to leave CMS. Neither giving parents educational options for their children, nor the removal of a 30-year-old court order should be blamed for poor decisions of a School Board. The Board simple ignores data! Watch out Wake, it is happening to you!
