Are high school academies desired?

Information on these academies is available and known to to the public - junior high aged kids deciding on which high school to attend sign up to tour the high schools (they are informed through assemblies given by the counseling department). They take an excused day off from school, "shadow" an existing high school student, and indicate if they would like to check out any of the listed academies, programs, or classes. To answer #1 above, participation in these programs is free - to charge for a public education is illegal! My child graduated from one of these academies.. There was an application to complete and selection was performed by the director, or a committee comprised of the director and the teachers. To include parents in the selection process wouldn't be wise, in my opinion. Regarding test scores, I believe that there is too much emphasis placed here, as there is so much more to learn in life than what is bureaucratically mandated in a yearly exam. In addition, it takes a toll on student mental health. An academy (focused on the student's interest) paves a smoother path through these challenging years and prevents disengagement. It is pretty widely known that students of a higher socioeconomic status in general do well on standardized tests and students from poor families & second language learners, do not. This has always been a problem and school officials, the dept of education, etc., have always looked for solutions, for example free preschool, free breakfast/lunch for all, reducing segregation by eliminating the GATE program (they try!) making honors classes available to whomever wishes to take them, etc. Recently, the purpose of SBCC placement testing has become obsolete, as students can take any level of English/math they want, and support is available. This was designed to level the playing field, not to mention free community college for all through "the Promise."

Unbelievable that the U.S. is extremely low in the educational ranking list of developed countries worldwide. We have to get a grip on education. Maybe less for the military excesses and tax cuts for the wealthy; whatever it takes to properly teach our children. Good teachers need decent pay and smaller classes. Remember many years ago when a math teacher in a poor district taught his Hispanic students calculus? No one believed it, thought the kids weren't capable of such "high learning". Shut into a room by the disbelieving "educators", the students aced the calculus test they were given. Good teachers are worth their weight in gold!

1) Technically there is no extra charge to be in an Academy. Most all have some type of suggested additional VOLUNTARY contribution that is designed to cover the extra expenses of running the programs. Every type of solicitation for student/parent funding must include a very clear statement that it is voluntary. (I indicate "technically" as some students won't join simply because they don't feel comfortable having other sources fund the voluntary contribution.)
2) As I understand the process now it includes "blind" applications and the group of volunteers and staff who review the applications don't know who the applicant is. I believe, but could be wrong, that they actually have done away with letters of recommendations. Each year every Academy provides a detailed update to the School Board as to their programs and demographics and they are definitely grilled on the demographic status and results.
3) Any student is eligible to apply. The individual Academy raises extra funds from some generous parents, supporters and outside business and philanthropic organizations to help fund those who are "middle class" and "Poor"
Are Academies a valuable addition to public education? Absolutely. It is impossible to have the high level of expertise and experience they each offer at every High School. In Santa Barbara students can chose the High School which they desire to attend based on their desires especially as it relates to a particular interest and subject matter. In the past many students have gone to DPHS for the Engineering Academy, San Marcos for the Apple Academy and Santa Barbara for MAD and VADA. Now them have many other choices as listed in #1 above. They all serve a special need and as I indicated all High Schools can't provide them all. Students definitely benefit if they are willing to put in the extra effort called for in every Academy.

Those are low numbers. California is not doing well in education. We need to make sure the kids get a better education starting in elementary.

Good to learn what exactly is going on at SBUSD. Good questions. Whole point of local education is for the local community to be involved, run for school board positions, attend school board meetings and work as informed community members to expect better than the currently low achievement levels our schools continue to put out. SBCC will no longer offer remedial courses to make up for what they did not get by the time they graduated from SBUSD. Why have we tolerated dumbing down public education in this state? K-12 education is our biggest tax dollar expense by far. Nothing comes close, and all we get is #42 ranking nationwide? Major clean-up is necessary.

11:48 a.m. See: https://www.dpengineering.org/support-us.html

In a more crowded world parents are willing to cheat and push and fight for a better place for their children. Today's paper shows Stanford got $770,000 for accepting a Chinese kid who claimed to be an athlete. Parents with such resources are spending huge amounts to have their kids trained as athletes or musicians or given academic help while the less affluent try to compete on the level. Not a fair fight. "Academies" and charter schools are just the obvious point of this conflict. Student who are good in one sport immediately drop out of their local school and enroll at a place that promises them college. Etc. Not sure how to fight it but closing down public money subsidies to these private privilege institutions is a good start.

4. Not all of SB is thriving. There are a lot of people who barely scrape by living here, working multiple jobs and little to no time to parent, help with homework, and be involved in their child's education. It's a sad but true reality for a huge part of our local population.

1. I don't think SBUSD is basic aid anymore. I think we were basic aid for a year and are likely returning to the previous funding model (per student).
2. Some of the academies are "pay to play" I believe, but many are not. This means they are open to poor students. I've heard great things about the Computer academy at SBHS, as all of its classes are open to all students - whether or not they are in the academy.
3. Many if not all of the academies have parents on the selection committees. The process varies by academy. I expect that most, if not all, of the academies have far more qualified applicants than spots.
4. Why so much low achievement in a town with a lot of money? Poverty. The strongest correlation with achievement and test scores is socio-economic status. If you are poor, it's hard to learn. SB has money AND poverty. Our high schools' scores generally match statewide percentages.
5. Have you been to an SBUSD board meeting? Have you visited any of the schools? Gone to a PTA meeting? Volunteered at a school? The answers to many of these questions are out there - you just need to become involved to get the answers.

Closing the academies is certainly not the right answer. Giving our students the exposure to many different pathways is a GOOD thing.