| Students are Fleeing Minneapolis Schools | | | | the African American community show that black |
| Minneapolis schools are being faced with the | | | | parents in general tend to be dissatisfied with the |
| prospect of empty school buildings as more and | | | | quality of education in Minneapolis public schools. |
| more students flee the system to charter schools | | | | Not that they have any reason to feel differently. |
| in the district. Minneapolis schools' enrollment | | | | In 2005, barely 29 % of black students in the |
| figures have plummeted to just 36,000 this year - | | | | eighth grades in Minneapolis schools managed to |
| that's almost half its capacity of 50,000 students. | | | | pass basic math tests and just 47% could |
| Schools in the north side have felt the pinch the | | | | manage to scrape through the reading tests. |
| hardest with a 44 percent drop in enrollment over | | | | Graduation rates for black students at Minneapolis |
| the past five years. All indications are that there is | | | | schools were some of the lowest at fifty percent. |
| no stemming this tide and Minneapolis schools | | | | Besides blacks, Asian students are joining the |
| have already announced plans to close 5 schools | | | | growing movement out of Minneapolis schools. |
| leaving more than 2000 students in the lurch, | | | | Moves to Stem the Tide at Minneapolis Schools |
| desperately scrambling to find new schools. | | | | The success of charter schools can be traced to |
| The Exodus of Blacks and Minorities from | | | | a number of factors. School sizes are smaller, and |
| Minneapolis Schools | | | | it is generally believed that teaching staff are |
| A bulk of the students that chose to leave | | | | more in tune with students' requirements and are |
| Minneapolis public schools belongs to high poverty | | | | better able to meet these needs. Minneapolis |
| black neighborhoods and other minority | | | | schools have begun to realize that immediate |
| communities. The statistics reveal a strong yet | | | | steps have to be taken to avoid the current |
| disturbing trend. In the '99-'00 academic year, | | | | migration of students. School authorities have |
| more than 48,000 black students sought | | | | proposed initiatives that require schools in the |
| admission in Minneapolis schools. Compare this to | | | | district to offer additional emphasis on music, arts, |
| the bleak picture painted for 2008 when | | | | and language besides improving their core |
| enrollment from black students is expected to | | | | academic curricula. It's hoped that raising the bar |
| touch barely 33,500. | | | | on academic learning will stem the growing tide. |
| Most black students prefer to enroll at charter | | | | Even if the schools do not succeed in attracting |
| schools in the district which have perceived higher | | | | students back to their fold, one hopes that at the |
| standards than public Minneapolis schools. This | | | | very least they will be able to stop students |
| problem of "black flight" is, authorities agree, a | | | | leaving in masses. |
| serious problem for Minneapolis schools. Surveys in | | | | |