The Black Appendix

    We should look to see why students are doing better in the Magnet School system.  As one who attended both Magnet and Neighborhood public schools, I saw a difference at the Magnet schools.  While many in DC feel that a magnet school’s success is driven by the fact that students from all over a larger area attend a particular school, in typical DC style, the real fact of student success making the school successful is lost. While at a neighborhood school, students moved in and out of the district, students came into and left our class, the class was constantly changing.  At the magnet school student told the teacher they had moved, but stayed in our class, little changed for any of us. By having the larger district many poorer students were able to stay in the same class - something that only the middle class and rich student did in the neighborhood district system.