Five years after a major school-choice overhaul, St. Paul Public Schools will re-examine whether its network of magnet and community schools is working for families throughout the city.
School board member Steve Marchese during Tuesday evening’s board meeting suggested a task force for attendance Area E, in the city’s northwest corner, to discover what families are looking for. Elementary schools in that area include St. Anthony Park, which is due for an addition with 89 students on a waiting list, and Galtier, which is on track to close in fall 2017 due to low enrollment.
A former science, math and technology magnet, Galtier is one of several community schools that have struggled to attract families from their neighborhoods. Despite significant upgrades to the school building, it has just 156 students in grades K-5.
Board members said they liked Marchese’s idea but wanted to do the same for all seven of the city’s attendance areas.
Jean O’Connell cited Como Park Elementary as another example of a community school that has not caught on with area residents.
Chue Vue said he assumed the school district had plans to strengthen its community schools.
“We have to figure out what we can do differently,” he said.
Superintendent Valeria Silva’s strategic plan, Strong Schools Strong Communities, converted several magnet schools, which drew students from throughout the city and beyond, into community schools in 2011 and 2012. She also expanded popular school options like language immersion and Montessori and set out to create K-12 pathways for the arts and other specialties.
The plan has worked in many places, but the reputations of the city’s public schools range widely today.
Board member Zuki Ellis said that when she was signing her child up for preschool, she knew only that J.J. Hill Montessori was “the strongest school in the area.” She made the school both her first and second choice on the enrollment form and was lucky to get in.
This year, J.J. Hill has 107 students waiting to get in.
Marchese said that in order to keep more St. Paul students in the public school district, it must have strong schools throughout the city.
The number of school-age children in St. Paul is growing, he said, but “those families are making other choices.”
The board will discuss the concept again in June.