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Youth Radio: A Commentary on Atlanta’s High School Lottery

August 4th, 2012

The Atlanta Public Schools’ lottery system for high schools allows young people to attend high schools outside of their neighborhoods that offer specialized courses or a focus on a specific academic area.

While the program offers school choice for teenagers going into 9th grade, it can deliver disappointment too, according to Youth Radio’s Alexandria Wilson.

Commentary from Alexandria Wilson, as heard on Weekend Edition Saturday:

Those six numbers ran through my mind, as I scrolled and scrolled through the list of entries for the school lottery until… BAM. There they were: my numbers were at the bottom of list, meaning I did not get in to the high school I wanted.

My dreams were dead. My lottery number hadn’t been chosen to get into North Atlanta High School.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. There were nearly a hundred students hoping to fill 15 open spots. Each Atlanta Public High School has a different reputation, some better than others. Like me, some students don’t want to go the school in their district. That’s where the school lottery comes in. I’m told this new lottery gives students a fair chance to attend the school of their choice. But in my opinion, it’s preventing me from being in control of my education.

MOM: “You are the only child I have and its my job to fight for you, and that’s what I am going to do until the very end.”

She’s not happy that I didn’t get into the school I wanted, but she’s trying to find a way to get me into another school. She’s been writing letters to everyone she can think of, and she read aloud the response from one them.

MOM: “I think your daughter would have been a great addition to the student body. My recommendation is to look closely at some of the other high schools in particular, I might consider Coreta Scott King Young Women’s Academy…”

The school I am enrolled to attend, Mays high School, doesn’t have much of a fine arts program. It’s better known for math and science programs – which don’t really interest me. So, I’ll be missing out on some great acting programs, creative writing and even photography classes.

I know I sound overly dramatic, but now I’m taking an unknown detour not knowing where I’ll end up. I’m scared, mad, and I feel like crying…but I won’t because I have to keep my composure – for the next four years! Unless…. I am able to switch schools next year. My mom and I will keep trying:

MOM: “Never give up even if you get the door slammed in your face or someone tells you no.”

Although I’m disappointed, I don’t plan to switch to private school, or even drop out of high school. But the school lottery took all the excitement out of starting my high school career.

I’m Alexandria Wilson.

Alexandria Wilson is a reporter at Vox Newspaper. Joe Hirsch of Youth Radio’s Atlanta chapter produced this story.