The case for Integration

WHY SHOULD RICH KIDS GO TO SCHOOL WITH POOR KIDS?

THE ANSWER ISN’T JUST SKIN DEEP

STORY BY KERI MITCHELL

PHOTOS BY RASY RAN

No neighborhood in Dallas has as many school choices as Preston Hollow. The lion’s share of the city’s private schools is located within easy driving distance and most homeowners have the means to send their children to one.

For many families, public school isn’t even a consideration. And that’s how Dallas winds up with a school like Preston Hollow Elementary, which is situated in one of the city’s wealthiest areas and even has a prestigious International Baccalaureate program, but more than 80 percent of its students come from families who make less than $44,123 a year the line that defines poverty, according to the state of Texas.

Perhaps this actually benefits Dallas ISD. Homeowner families pay property taxes to the district on top of the tens of thousands they shell out for private school, so it’s a winwin, right? Rich families can send their children to whatever school the Public School Choice page and watched by relatively few. The video was titled “The Case for Socioeconomic Diversity” and created by the district’s Office of Transformation and Innovation (a fancy description of choice schools). It argued that the merits of socioeconomic diversity are “almost entirely overlooked, despite decades of strong evidence that it’s one of the most powerful strategies available to us to improve student achievement.”

In other words, if we mix rich kids and poor kids in schools and classrooms, the poor kids perform better, studies show, and rich kids fare just as well — and both benefit from attending school with each other.

The man at the helm of the choice school movement is Mike Koprowski, who was hired by former Supt. Mike Miles two years ago. Koprowski didn’t need his Harvard graduate school degree to realize “we have a very economically segregated school district. No matter what map you borhood inequality.

In other words, here in Dallas, the rich are much more likely to live among the rich and the poor among the poor.

But as Koprowski’s data shows, our school district is even more segregated than our city. Despite the sky-high median incomes in Preston Hollow and North Dallas, only two neighborhood schools can be labeled “socioeconomically diverse,” meaning their student body make-up is right around 50/50 rich and poor. One is DeGolyer Elementary next to Webb Chapel Park; the other is Dealey Montessori on Royal near Hillcrest, whose magnet status requires admission to students in various regions of the district.

A couple of other neighborhood schools are close — Withers Elementary next to Northaven Park, Kramer Elementary near Hillcrest and Northaven, and Hillcrest and W.T. White high schools are right around 40/60 rich and poor.

In the rest of our schools, however, and across most of the district, more than 80 percent of students live below the $44,123 poverty line.

“We’re silo-ed off,” Koprowski says. “Those who have means have largely opted out of the district, and those without means are largely in the district.” they deem best and the school district can still educate poor kids on these families’ dimes.

But if that’s the case, then why is DISD spending so much time and effort creating more educational options for parents who are opting out?

The key lies in a seven-minute YouTube video that appeared on Dallas ISD’s website early last fall, somewhat hidden in a drop-down menu on look at, it tells the same story.”

Much of the segregation in our schools can be attributed to the segregation in our neighborhoods. When the Pew Research Center analyzed the concentration of low-income and upper-income residences in the nation’s metro areas, Dallas ranked near the top in both categories. The Urban Institute also named Dallas the worst offender in terms of neigh-

To learn how this happened, he leaned on Dallas Observer columnist Jim Schutze’s 1987 book “The Accommodation,” which tells the story of Dallas ISD’s desegregation in the ’70s. Around the same time, he read “All Together Now” by Richard Kahlenberg, which focuses on bringing together kids from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

“I thought, ‘This can be a core component of school choice,’” Koprowski says. It hasn’t been featured prominently in the effort, but “I kept it in the back of my mind,” he says.

Integration is a more succinct

Continued on page 22

March 31

‘SEUSSICAL JR.’

The little thespians at Aaron Family Jewish Community Center have been working hard for the past couple of months on “Seussical Jr.” Catch what the JCC describes as a “pop musical caper” based on characters from Dr. Seuss stories on opening night.

GFECC at Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven, 214.239.7157, jccdallas.org

March 6 SPICY TIMES

The Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-Off celebrates its 23rd birthday this month. An estimated 50 teams will collectively prepare 940 gallons of chili under rabbinic supervision. If sweets are more your thing, you’ll find those too. Plus there will be games, carnival rides, live music and more. Proceeds benefit the Dallas Holocaust Museum and the Abuse Support Group for Women at Jewish Family Services of Greater Dallas. Tiferet Israel, 10909 Hillcrest, 214.691.3611, kosherchilicookoff.us, free

March 9

What A Hoot

Hootybee, who looks to be an orange tiger with pink pig ears, is the star of this puppet show, presented by The Brothers Gromm. He has a habit of enlisting the help of audience members, so arrive at 10:30 a.m. ready to participate. Bookmarks in NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214.671.1381, northparkcenter.com, free

March 11

Bernice Lewis

This singer-songwriter has nearly three decades of performing experience. She’s studied vocal improvisation with Bobby McFerrin, guitar with Alex DeGrassi and Guy van Duser and songwriting with Rosanne Cash and Cris Williamson. Noel Tardy opens the show at 8 p.m. Uncle Calvin’s Coffee Shop, 9555 N. Central Expressway, 214.363.0044, unclecalvins.org, $15-18

March 18

In The Garden

See what’s new in the Gallery at North Haven Gardens — and enjoy some complimentary sips and snacks while you’re at it. This month’s reception begins at 5 p.m. Expect the walls to be filled with works by local artists. North Haven Gardens, 770 Northaven, 214.363.5316, nhg.com, free

March 23-27

Flying High

The National Wings of Freedom Tour brings four World War II aircrafts to our neighborhood this month — a Boeing B-17G, a Consolidated B-24J, a North American B-25J and a North American P-51C. Tour the planes for a small fee or ride in one for $400 to $450. Want the full experience? Buy a flying lesson. Half an hour will cost you $2,200 while 60 minutes will run you $3,200, but you’ll actually get to fly the P-51C. Don’t worry; it’s dual-controlled and the flight instructor will serve as your co-pilot. Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemon, 214.350.3600, flightmuseum.com, the basic tour is $12 for adults and $7 for kids

Through June 5

Between Paris And Texas

The Meadows Museum hosts two exhibits this spring. “Between Paris and Texas” features the work of Marie Cronin. The Texas-bred artist studied in Paris and then returned to the Lone Star State in the early 1900s to paint portraits of Texas statesmen that now hang in the Capitol. The other exhibit, “Process and Innovation,” shows the work of two mid-20th century Texas artists, Carlotta Corpron and Janet Turner. Meadows museum, 5900 Bishop, 214.768.2516, meadowsmuseumdallas.org, $4-$10

Through April 15

Tax Assistance

Tax returns can be tricky. Get help from AARP Tax-Aide and the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program on Mondays from noon to 4 p.m. Make sure to bring your W-2, a photo I.D., last year’s tax return and Social Security cards for all dependents. Hey, it might not be fun, but it’s useful. Preston Royal Library, 3421 Forest Lane, 214.670.6333, dallaslibrary.org, free

March 22

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

First African-American Female U.S Combat Pilot and Author of Zero to Breakthrough

VERNICE “FLYGIRL” ARMOUR went from beat cop to pilot in three years. Within months of earning her wings, she was flying over Iraqi deserts in her missile-equipped attack helicopter. She completed two tours overseas as America’s first African American female pilot. Now, Armour shares her breakthrough mentality message based on her own warp-speed success.

April 28

Keith Jenkins

General Manager, Digital and Social Media National Geographic Society

Award-winning producer, photographer and designer, KEITH JENKINS calls upon his experiences at NPR.org, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe in his current role as general manager of National Geographic Digital. Discover the behind-the-scenes strategy that has transformed National Geographic’s website into a truly digital organization and home to the Society’s global community.

Visit utdallas.edu/lectureseries for tickets and more information.

The Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology building was dedicated on Nov. 7, 2013. The 55,000-square-foot facility is home to the ATEC program and has been described as “one of the most innovative 21st century programs in The University of Texas System.”

Hosted by UT Dallas’ Arts and Technology (ATEC) program, the series features speakers from a wide range of backgrounds in science, technology and art. They present public lectures on topics aimed at exploring the evolving relationships among art, technology, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences.