Intra-district choice has long been a type of school choice supported by many people who don’t really like school choice. Since neither students nor funding leave their boundaries, district officials have fewer problems allowing families to choose their schools. But intra-district choice is also complicated. A lack of quality information about available schools, the absence of a simple system-wide method of applying to those schools, and the added burden of transportation challenges can bring the potential of intra-district choice to a screeching halt. However, there are school districts that have taken these issues head-on and offered valuable, innovative solutions. Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) is a shining example.
During the 2013–14 school year, CPS made the transition to high schools that serve students between the seventh and twelfth grades. CPS offers some compelling academic reasons for the switch, but they also utilized the transition to create high schools of choice. Instead of assigning sixth graders to a high school based on their home addresses, CPS permits students to choose their high school. Each high school offers a variety of programs, classes, extracurriculars, and services that represent unique learning environments and opportunities. All schools offer college preparatory curriculum aligned to Ohio’s new graduation requirements, many offer specialized programs, and every school is open to students with disabilities. Let’s take a look at some of the best aspects of the CPS high schools of choice structure.
Solving the usual intra-district problems
For starters, CPS does a good job of sharing information about their high schools of choice. The High School Guide on the CPS website doesn’t just outline the nuts and bolts of the system, it also offers a summary of each of the fifteen high schools (it does need some additional work, such as listing school report card grades, but it’s a good start). This kind of information—in one easily accessible document—is revolutionary enough on its own. But CPS doesn’t stop there. The district also offers one application system for all fifteen high schools, which can be completed online. Students select one high school as their top choice and four others in order of preference. Seats are awarded via lottery. Students who are enrolled in charter schools or private schools within CPS boundaries are also free to apply, as are out-of-district students (although district residents receive priority). And as for transportation troubles, the district provides Metro bus passes to all students from grades seven through twelve who live 1.25 miles or more away from the school they attend. Bus passes might not solve all transportation issues, but they’re a giant step in the right direction.
Unique experiences
The most exciting part of the CPS high schools of choice model is that each of their high schools is truly unique. This is not a group of high schools that offer core classes and sports and claim to be special and different when they’re really not. Of the fifteen schools outlined in the High School Guide, there are two Montessori schools, a Paideia school, a STEM school, a digital/online school, a New Tech school, a blended learning school, a career technical school, and a school for creative and performing arts (which requires a live audition for entry). There are also schools that offer the Special College Preparatory Program (which requires passing an entrance exam), dual enrollment, paid internships, and immersion courses (some of which include traveling abroad), as well as programs in engineering, culinary arts, health sciences, nursing, software development, and plant and animal sciences. Each school offers its own set of athletics, clubs, and even community service.
Of course, lots of cities (like Columbus) have lots of high schools with similar focuses and offerings. What’s special about Cincinnati, though, is that every student in the district from seventh to twelfth grade has the opportunity to apply to go to any of these schools. In CPS, high school choice isn’t just a pretty phrase that only applies to certain families—it’s a reality for all families.
Career and academic planning
CPS actively seeks to aid students in planning for their futures by providing interactive career- and academic-planning tools. These tools help students identify their interests and skills, determine career matches to those interests and skills, and outline the level of education and training that each career requires. CPS utilizes several different systems: the Ohio Career and Information System (OCIS), the Kuder Career Planning System (KCPS), FunWorks, Naviance, and OhioMeansSuccess. The systems offer a combination of information and exploratory tools that allow students to investigate occupations, post-secondary options, and financial aid. A few even allow students to create their own portfolios, career plans, and resumés, or search for specific jobs. Perhaps the best part of the CPS model, though, is that these tools are used by students in an advisory setting— a small group of students who, under the leadership of a teacher, investigate their skills and talents, explore college and career possibilities, set and track goals, and develop close relationships with their advisor and peers.
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A recent community report card from the Strive Partnership shows that CPS has seen an eight-point jump in high school graduation since last year. While it’s too early to say that this is all because of expanded intra-district choice, continued increases will be a good indicator of success. The high schools of choice model isn’t perfect (the next step is getting school report card grades into the school guide), but it’s a phenomenal start that offers Cincinnati students and their families real choices. It’s about time all kids in Ohio were offered the same opportunities.
