With a two and a half-year old soon to start preschool and another little one on the way, Boss and I have finally started to discuss a very important topic we’ve consciously avoided since moving here.
Where will we send our children to school?
Sure, call us irresponsible for not tackling this before we settled into a neighborhood, but there are reasons we did not get into the meat of the matter until now. (And yes, we were well aware of the state of Birmingham’s school system from the beginning.)
A – With another mortgage in Charleston, our real estate options were limited.
B – We wanted to live in the City.
C – We had that newcomer’s optimism… Surely, we thought, there are other families like ours and certainly they have found a situation they are happy with.
Now as we get cozy and settled and begin to look at our five-year plan, we are considering options that never entered conversation before: private school, homeschooling…moving. I don’t have to tell you what the state of Birmingham City schools look like, but I do have to wonder why?
Background Check: When the City of Birmingham was formally organized in 1871 no formal school was set up. Education of the children was left up to the parents. Several pioneers of the city were teachers and schoolmasters, so those children that were financially able to attend this early school setting did so. There were many children left out and, basically, left unschooled. A cholera epidemic that led to a financial panic eventually ignited the community’s plea for a free school. Powell School was opened in 1874, although it was not really a free school as students and their families were expected to pay monthly fees. New leadership took hold and new schools were built. By 1887 there were seven schools in Birmingham.
In 1910, the Alabama State Legislature passed a bill creating Greater Birmingham that allowed the City to annex the surrounding municipalities. Forty schools were annexed and many of those were operating under substandard conditions. Throw in white flight a few decades later and the evolution of Birmingham schools continued. More schools, fewer resources, poorer communities…it reads like a sad book.
Today Birmingham has 56 schools: 29 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, seven K-8 schools, seven high schools, and one alternative school. On average, dropout rates are high, a number of campuses are unsafe, academic scores are low. In a nutshell, parents like us fear the worst. We don’t at all feel comfortable with the notion of sending our children to public school. And that’s a shame… *Update: According to education.com, Birmingham now has over 80 schools: http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/alabama/district/birmingham-city-school-district.
Why are Birmingham's city schools failing to impress?
So, here we are. The future of our family depends greatly on accessible education.
Tell me there’s a silver lining that I’m simply missing. Where on earth do we begin?
14 Comments
A couple recently signed a lease in the Phoenix Building downtown, in order to conveniently send their youngest child to Phillips Academy, and their eldest can continue at Ramsay High (a magnet school in Five Points). There are definitely bright spots in the City school constellation, but I know it takes dedication and a real commitment to get the best out of it. My impression is this particular couple has the means to live anywhere, but is committed to City Schools.
I know Epic Elementary used to be considered an excellent magnet school, but I don’t think its reputation is as stellar any more. I could be wrong.
bhamarchitect: I will continue to look for these bright spots and fellow City-commiters. (And wish for charter schools, too.) Thanks for the post!
I recommend private school. I would not place my child in Birmingham city schools.
You sound like many others, Cythia. We realize that we’ll have to strongly consider private school, although that is not our ideal. Wish there were charter schools in Birmingham.
As I began reading this post my thoughts immediately turned to a conversation I overheard at the zoo about 2 months ago about a group of parents in the Avondale/Foreset Park determined to commit to send their elementary-aged kids to public school and turn the place around, only to give up/chicken out in the end.
…and then I got to the graf above the photo..I wonder if you were in that group of moms at the zoo that day??
Anyway, as a fellow-recent-mover-to-Magic-City (and, I believe, the same neighborhood) with school-age kids, I sympathize – although I admit that I’m not personally invested in the issue because my kids (for religious reasons) go to Catholic schools. That doesn’t stop me from believing that quality public schools for everyone are important, in every neighborhood. To the point, one of my neighbors (who works in another school system, not Birmingham City) told me of the dynamic he had observed in the neighborhood – young couples moving in, have kids…and once those kids get to school-age…they move out.
Amy, thank you for posting.
No, I was not a part of that conversation at the zoo, although I would have liked to have heard what they had to say. I’ve been asking around for more insight into that situation and hope that I will find someone who was directly involved. Why didn’t it work? What were the main challenges? Where are there kids now?
We have noticed that in our neighborhood many of our neighbors are either empty-nesters or young couples with no children. Yes, there are families here, but I’ve met only private school and homeschooled children… and there aren’t many. What’s been plaguing my husband and I is that we, too, are beginning to have those feelings of “maybe we should move in a few years”. To us, this feels like defeat in a way because as I stated in my post – we made a conscious decision to move into the City. We like it here.
I’m not completely sold on the idea that change is impossible. I’ve only just stepped my foot in to this dilemna and want much more information before we make any drastic changes. Perhaps the timing wasn’t right with the Forest Park/Avondale movement. Perhaps they needed a few more bodies. Perhaps there are other places where change may be welcome.
Again, thank you for your post and I hope you are enjoying The Magic City as much as we are. Hope to run into you in the neighborhood soon!
When we first moved here (in February) there were actually 4 other kids within a five-house radius, all between 3-9. All went to the public school at that time. Since then, 2 (brother and sister) have moved – and one of the others is now going to private school.
Once when I was talking to the Mom of the last child, she had been in the private (Catholic) school for six weeks and was amazed at the difference, and she focused on communication with the home and teacher accessibility and accountability. She was astonished that the Catholic school actually gave you teacher email addresses and encouraged you to contact them with questions, astonished at the frequent communications sent home from the school – nothing like this had or ever would happen at the particular public school her son had previously attended.
Of course, I’m used to it and am actually at the point where I want LESS communication, as in – PLEASE, do I REALLY need ALL these reams of very informative paper?
But I was surprised at her accounting of her experience – what she described was a culture in which leadership was basically trying to get by and get through the day and go home. Just her experience, but there it is.
I know another couple with a school-age child in the neighborhood, a couple who came totally committed to the neighborhood, whose child is in private school and who are now toying with the temptation…”wouldn’t it be easier if we just moved to Vestavia or Hoover….”
The high school situation…worse, in my opinion, since there are far fewer private options and they are more expensive as well. My daughter was in the IB program at Shades Valley, but I don’t know if I would repeat that experience, for various reasons.
I don’t think the public school system’s problems are unique to Birmingham. How often do we read the paper or watch the news or seek out some new documentary that details the many problems that exists within our country’s educational system? It’s disturbing, yes, and at least there is a substantial amount of exposure surfacing. Knowledge is power, right?
Just this morning I picked up The News and read about the recent debacle involving the Excelsior Program (a program that allows high school dropouts to earn a general degree). Not even six months into the start of the program and already it is failing, for many reasons. Here’s the link if you want to read more: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/12/birmingham_school_board_ends_c.html
I’ll spare you my opinions on this one, as it has little to do with my own challenge of finding suitable, accessible public education for my children who are not yet even of school age. I hope to continue the dialogue because I’m not ready to concede to Vestavia or Hoover. Not even close… And I want better for my children. I demand it. Time will tell…
Even though I dont have children, I understand your problem. I am in love with The City of Birmingham and hope with all of my heart that some of its problems will get fixed eventually; especially this one. I have never lived in the city (I grew up in Vestavia), but I attended UAB. I was not allowed to live in Southside or even the dorms for that matter due to my parent’s safety concerns. Both of my parents were police officers and my mother was a Birmingham Police Officer until the mid 90′s. I would still love to live in the City of Birmingham, but due to financial reasons (i.e., the economy) I’m still living with my parents.
But, I would not put my children through the Birmingham City School System (if I had any, that is lol). As I said, I graduated from Vestavia Hills High School, and even though it has it’s problems, they are no where near the same level as Birmingham. I have friends that graduated from Ramsay High School around the same time that I did and I’d help them with their homework. After comparing their’s to mine, I can honestly tell you that Vestavia, Hoover, Homewood, Mountain Brook, or Private Schools will offer your children a better, more-rounded education than the Birmingham City School System.
Ashley – Vestavia schools seem to rank quite well, as does Ramsay. I’d be interested ot observe a typical day in both schools…
Interestingly enough, safety is a runner-up concern to Birmingham city schools, in my opinion. Quality of education and teachers is my primary concern (I know it all blends together to make a whole) and the quality is just not there. I will be so bold as to say that teacher’s unions play a big role here, as does a myriad of other factors (local economy, white flight, socioecomonic disparities, etc.).
What’s most disappointing is the face of every child that is neglected/forgotten/caught up in the politic of our city/state/national public school system. What this has shown me is that poor education and unsafe school environments are not found just in Birmingham. They are in every state and the impact is growing. I’m overwhelmed a bit at the complexity of the situation and am just desperate for answers, for insight, for hope.
Thank you for posting!
I’d definitely like to hear more about the Forest Park/Avondale episode. I definitely think it could and should work. There are enough kids living in this area going to private schools, and if everyone made a push to enhance the public schools in this district and send their children there, it would make a huge difference.
Me, too, bhamnewcomer! I want more insight into what happened here… It astounds both me and my husband that that area (rich with affluent/middle class families) will not/can not send their children to the neighborhood school. It just doesn’t add up.
I’ll post some numbers and ratings later today. I can see why Avondale Elementary is an unideal choice when compared to private institutions and I can’t help but wonder what exactly the problems are…teachers? principal? parents? You live in that area, yes? Start asking questions and let me know!
LK, I have just read a few of your blogs and felt like I was reading mine. One of the biggest differences is my little one is 4 1/2. And I have NO idea what we r going to do. When he was about 2, I too began asking the Crestwood/neighborhood groups about school options & I was told the same thing. I was unaware of the Corner Stone(?) until reading this. Unfortunately we r not able to move and have no idea on what to do. Literally. after reading the stats on Avondale (2 years ago & now), I CANNOT let my son go there. I as well you do not understand, with all the families in are neighborhood, there is not a public school to attend and only private. I would be so appreciative if you would keep me in the know and pass on any info that you may have. My son is currently not in school but will have to return for kindergarten. I need all the info and guidance I can get. Thank you very much and am glad I came across your post and blog.
TB, I’m thrilled to meet another neighbor who is facing similar questions. Do mark your calendar for January 31, 6:30 p.m., when Dr. Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of B’ham City Schools, will take questions from our neighborhood. (The meeting will be held at Girl’s, Inc.)
Witherspoon has been in his position for less than a year and it’s been a wild ride… I’ll have a list of questions ready and will save you a seat! Also, if you are interested in learning more about Cornerstone (as I am myself), I’d be happy to offer you contact information for someone who currently has two children in their program.
Please keep me posted, as well, as you your little one nears the start of Kindergarten!