Raleigh, N.C. mother Shemekka Coleman recently shared her thoughts about why she seeks quality educational options for her children:

 

My seven-year-old currently attends a magnet school and is on the IB (International Baccalaureate) track. He’s getting a good education but I still have to do things at home to supplement what he’s learning in school. His teachers aren’t able to pay attention to him because they have to focus on 25-30 other kids, which also makes it difficult for them to form relationships with parents. It’s also challenging to gauge individual success with standardized tests. Even with class tests, if you’re learning to the test, then that doesn’t really determine progress.

I believe that with private school, I’m able to establish a stronger relationship with my son’s teachers due to smaller classrooms. Partnerships work better in smaller environments. In private school, teachers have the opportunity to create a specialized track for each child, which makes it easier to implement learning at home.

My inability to pay (private school tuition) does not equate to the passion and interest I have for the quality of education my child receives. It has been a challenge to afford an intimate learning environment for my son and we’re lucky that he’s able to be in a magnet school.

Where the quality schools are, they’re in astute neighborhoods where people can afford private school. Even where magnet schools are, they’re in areas where people who need them can’t afford to live near them. The only reason he was able to go to a magnet school is because we were able to move near the school.

A child’s academic success should not come down to a lottery or any other forms of chance.