Ladies and Gentleman of the Board,
The fate of Quest Middle School of West Little Rock is now in your hands. As a parent of a West Little Rock elementary student who will be directly affected by your decision, I wanted to share with you why the approval of Quest is important our family.
My husband and I are graduates of the public school system. We are firm supporters of public schools. However, we cannot in good conscience send our child to our zoned public middle school which is performing so poorly. What parent could allow their child to leave the fifth highest-performing elementary school in Arkansas for a middle school which performs among the bottom 2.5 percent of schools in Arkansas in math, and bottom 3 percent in literacy?
It has been suggested that if 300 of the “white, affluent products” of Roberts Elementary would attend Henderson Middle School that its test scores would improve. However, in the same article, it is acknowledged that this and other “failing inner city schools” very likely have some of the “most disengaged, poorest families that have been neglected in supervision and staffing.” This is truly unfortunate and hopefully the LRSD can make changes that will turn those schools around. However, I fail to see how sending our child there will encourage its student and teacher population to suddenly become engaged and attentive. More than likely those who arrive performing above average would see a drop in their performance as classes are usually taught toward the middle.
The data shows there has been a mass exodus of students in the LRSD after elementary school for years, an average of 800 per year (based on the LRSD annual reports). The school district has allowed this to happen. Until these issues are addressed, but most importantly, corrected, it will likely continue. Can it turn around? We certainly hope so and even feel the latest changes proposed are a step in the right direction. However, these changes could take years to turn things around, years our daughter does not have to wait.
I have personally spoken to families who intend to sell their homes in Zone 4 with plans to move to other zones, perhaps even outside the LRSD so their kids will have better middle and high school choices. Others are looking into private schools for their children after they leave Roberts.
The “affluent, white” brush the Roberts parents are painted with isn’t accurate. I suggest those who think that go visit Roberts. It’s a great school with a diverse student and staff population and I assume the same would be true for Quest Middle School.
Personally, we may be white, but upper class we are not, not even close. I might add that many of our neighbors are not affluent, nor white for that matter. There is an enormous difference between affluent and working middle class. Contrary to popular belief, the cost of private school makes it prohibitive for our family and many others we know. Regardless, I would hope that education is the state board’s focus rather than parent color and ability to pay.
I can assure you, if the new WLR middle school was built already, it would be full, just as Roberts is (overflowing actually). If you build it, they will come. We fully support a new public middle school in WLR and would send our daughter there without hesitation. However, in all likelihood it will be 5+ years before its doors are open.
If there is a proven, experienced group willing to take on the task of a charter middle school to help the parents in WLR, I support that. Choice will make Little Rock more attractive which, in turn, will attract good-paying jobs and well-educated workers now and in the future.
I ask you to please vote to support the unanimous decision of the Authorizing Panel which thoroughly and thoughtfully reviewed the QuestMiddle School application and allow it to proceed.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Lora and William Brown
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If you have not contacted the Board yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. It’s important for the Board to know how we feel and how their decision affects us.