This thread discusses the Content article: Does school choice lead to resegregation?

Thank you for an excellent, balanced article. One point that seems to be missing in the desegregtion conversation is the importance of neighborhood schools. Neighborhood schools provide, not only education, but a social anchor for students in their own neighborhood. If the neighborhood itself is predominantly minority, the school will naturally reflect that. That we have predominantly minority neighborhoods and that they are inevitably impoverished neighborhoods is a result of a long, ugly historical process that isn't going to be corrected with well-meaning desegregation mandates that merely address a symptom of a huge and profound problem that affects all our urban areas.
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The only way to reverse this process is radical, comprehensive and carefully orchestrated intervention that is itself anchored in neighborhood schools but which reaches out to encompass all the social issues in the neighborhood -- including parent-training, nutrition guidance, health intervention, housing issues and job traing along with effective community policing and job oportunities.
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The only place I see such a comprehensive approach being attempted, and doing so with measurable success, is Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children Zone. Our President, his Education Secretary, and educators and civic leaders all over the country our impressed with the Harlem Children Zone and want to replicate it in other cities. Sadly, though, the city of St. Louis and our public shool system don't seem to think this is worth looking into.

I must amend my comment of yesterday. There IS someone in St. Louis who cares and is interested in seeing the Harlem Children Zone model in this City: 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French told me last night (after the neighborhood revitalization discussion group he moderated at the Pulitzer) that he is excited about the possibility of making it happen here and he has been to New York to visit the Harlem Children Zone in person. One of the Panel members of that discussion group, Chris Kreymeyer of Beyond Housing, is also excited about it. In fact, when I asked him if he knew about it, he said, "Yes, I'm doing it!" Beyond Housing's big project right now is the Normandy Family Zone, based on the Harlem Children Zone. Any millionaires or billionairs reading this, they can use your help. And keep St. Louis in mind when we're finally ready to take the problem of poverty seriously.

Yes there is always a person that could really care about the importance of neighborhood schools. Maybe they are not telling everyone about it. They are just doing the right thing to make it better for the school.

I invite you to come visit City Garden Montessori Charter School in the Shaw neighborhood. It's charter states exactly that. It is being set up as a neighborhood school. Enrollment is intentionally small and from within the boundary area. We have parenting workshops etc. and would love to do more, but these things of course cost money. And as an intentionally small school, the funding is rather limited for us.

But please stop by and check us out! We are doing some amazing things!