Berkmar Students, Parents Learn About Public School Choice

Berkmar High School students and parents attended a Public School Choice informational meeting Monday evening to help decide if transferring to another school would be ideal for them. 

Parents of Berkmar students recently received a mailed letter stating that they have the option of transferring to either Mountain View or Archer high school, both fairly new Lawrenceville schools that are in considered to be in good standing according to the Adequate Yearly Progress standards.

The reason for the option is because Berkmar did not pass the AYP minimums, which, under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formerly known as No Child Left Behind Act), gives students the ability to transfer to certain good-standing schools that haven't reached student body capacity yet.

Lisa Carr-Dixon, a specialist for the Public School Choice program, said at the meeting that the deadline to submit a transfer request is 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, so that they can be approved to start the new school Aug. 8, the first day for Gwinnett County schools. 

Even with the choices, some parents still expressed unhappiness at the meeting. 

"I don't like the schools that they're offering," said mother Marilyn Williams, whose junior son has been at Berkmar since his freshman year and "just wasn't happy" there. "My first choice is Shiloh, and they're not offering it. So I'll probably try to see if I can get a permission transfer for Shiloh." Williams also said that she may even move back to Decatur.  

Another mother said that she's already done research on Archer and will be signing up her sophomore son for it.

"When he came to Berkmar, he was having a hard time adjusting," she said. Her son had been attending Hopewell Christian Academy in Norcross, but because of financial issues, she had to pull him out to attend Berkmar. She said if Archer doesn’t work, she'll put him back in Hopewell.  

According to Berkmar Principal Ken Johnson, about 50 to 75 students have transferred out of Berkmar each year the Public School Choice program has been offered. However, Carr-Dixon said at least a third of those students have come back to Berkmar the following year. 

"Students establish relationships with their teachers, they establish relationships with their peers, and sometimes they're just not happy [at the new school]," said Carr-Dixon. 

In the meeting, certain benefits were also explained. Under the Public School Choice program, transportation services are offered to transfer students. Several options are available, including a van that will pick up and drop off students at their homes for free, and a voucher program if public transportation is available and preferred. Even if parents decide to drop off and pick up their child themselves, they're also reimbursed at 55 cents per mile, currently.  

However, Carr-Dixon explained that if Berkmar becomes a good-standing school again (it takes two years of passing the AYP standards to get out of Needs Improvement), those reimbursements and options wouldn't be available anymore, but if the student wishes, he or she can still attend the transfer school. 

Johnson explained to attendees why Berkmar is still an exceeding school. Berkmar was named in the top 5 percent among the best high schools in America in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Newsweek, in addition to making The Washington Post's top 5 percent list, too. It excels in AP education, has taught other schools about its programs on challenging its students in college-prep courses and has had multiple students win Broad Prize Scholarships. 

Additionally, free supplemental tutoring through Sylvan Learning Center and other providers are available to Berkmar students who are using the Free and Reduced Lunch Price Policy. Of course, the free tutoring would not be available to them if they transferred out of Berkmar. 

Johnson said there are some flaws in the AYP system, including the fact that those who graduate in the summer as opposed to spring are AYP approved for the graduation standard, but those numbers aren't released until September. Additionally, those with Individualized Education Program diplomas aren't a part of the AYP system at all, so those can actually count against schools. 

This is the third year in a row that Berkmar has been deemed as a Need Improvement school, which also means its the third year the Public School Choice option has been available for Berkmar students. 

Public School Choice meetings will also be held at the two Berkmar transfer schools: Archer High School is having a meeting Tuesday, July 26, at 6 p.m.; and Mountain View Highway School is having its meeting Wednesday, July 27, at 6 p.m. 

For more information or for transfer school forms, call Title I Program Specialist Lisa Carr-Dixon at 678-301-7064.