Plan to Blend Predominantly Black and White DC Schools Leads to Tense Debate in Liberal Neighborhood

A plan to integrate two nearby Washington, D.C., schools with vastly different racial backgrounds is sparking fierce debate among parents in the predominantly liberal community.

Nearly 6 in 10 of the 500 children at Maury Elementary School are White. At Miner Elementary School, 80% of the kids are Black, many of whom are in foster care, receive public assistance or are homeless. Enrollment at the school has been declining, according to The Washington Post.

District officials have put together a plan where children would spend their early education at one school and later transfer to the other. Their goal is to improve diversity at both institutions by pairing previously separate demographics together.

{snip}

Some Maury parents admitted that they would consider leaving the area if the plan goes through.

The proposal has sparked in-person and online debate. Petitions for and against the plan have also cropped up, with typically liberal parents criticizing the impact integration could have on their child’s education journey,

Maury parents are concerned that the integration plan could bring down averages at a school that typically scores higher on standardized tests than Miner. Meanwhile, Miner parents are worried that the proposal could jeopardize programs that helped disadvantaged students, such as free eye exams and glasses.

“As we’ve shared in our citywide community engagements, racially and socioeconomically diverse schools are one of the guiding principles of the study,” the office of D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn said in a statement.

“We believe that all students and communities flourish when schools have diverse student bodies, provided that schools have, at a minimum, welcoming, affirming, and culturally and linguistically responsive environments for students and families.”

{snip}