Last week's New York Times article takes a look at how public schools in Harlem are trying to compete with charter schools to increase enrollment. An example was P.S 125 on 123rd Street which saw its elementary school class size drop in half from five years ago. Seeing that marketing might be the key to attracting more students, many of the public schools are allocating parts of their budget now to having open houses and printing out brochures. The city uses low enrollment as one of the criteria to close a school down so many public schools are actively campaigning to stabilize their student population. Read more about in the NY Times piece: LINK. Photo by Ulysses
Monday, March 15, 2010
☞ READ: Marketing Harlem Public Schools
Last week's New York Times article takes a look at how public schools in Harlem are trying to compete with charter schools to increase enrollment. An example was P.S 125 on 123rd Street which saw its elementary school class size drop in half from five years ago. Seeing that marketing might be the key to attracting more students, many of the public schools are allocating parts of their budget now to having open houses and printing out brochures. The city uses low enrollment as one of the criteria to close a school down so many public schools are actively campaigning to stabilize their student population. Read more about in the NY Times piece: LINK. Photo by Ulysses
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I've always found it disappointing that improving the public schools in Harlem was not prioritized equally as the blanket term "gentrification". The real estate industrial complex has basically marketed focusing on Harlem Real Estate, convincing the market pervasive gentrification is coming, yet failing explain how this can happen without some decent public schools. It's as if no one has ever mentioned that it's a lot easier to sell and justify a 2 or 3 bedrooom $1M condo when the parents know a decent elementary school is just blocks away. Pervasive gentrification is not possible, it's dead in its tracks sans some decent public schools.
ReplyDeleteI know lots of Manhattan parents who gladly, willingly, are pleased to pay $4,000/Mo rent for a 2 bedroom apt. as opposed to $2,500/Mo rent in Harlem, based entirely on access to decent public schools. The truth that's unspoken and unrecognized is Harlem is more expensive than most of below 96th Manhattan for the responsible parent concerned about this children's education.
Manhattan has good public schools, just not in Harlem. For those without kids, a decent Catholic school starts at $20K+/year + materials, clothes, etc. per child for the 1st Grade, this is the cheapest route. Private school is going to be at the low end $25K+ a myriad of other cost, for K, 1st, 2nd grade, etc.
Picture yourself as a young couple with 2 elementary school aged kids. A low end private school is going to cost you $60K+ per year for 1st grade, which is what you would if you lived in Harlem ( in most cases ). I don't know a single young professional couple that would send their kids to Harlem public schools. This is how and why it's far cheaper for young couples to rent or buy in other areas of Manhattan, as they have access to decent public schools and do not have to budget for private school education.
It's a shame, how the need for decent public schools and gentrification are treated as separate issues, when in fact they are not.
Anon, great post mate. We bought our place in Harlem back in October 2009 and whilst there is a laundry list of things that I love about the neighborhood (122nd & Lenox), there are certain grass roots elements that I feel have been completely ignored. Yes, it is wonderful to have Best Yet on 119th & FDB, two excellent parks Morningside & Mount Morris, great transportation etc. I just wish, however, similar attention was given to the public schools. I went to state school in the UK and wouldn't change it for the world. I don't, however, feel as comfortable about the schools in Harlem.
ReplyDeleteMy wife gave birth to our first child a month ago and as a firm believer in state education (or at least the ideal) I would love for him to go to a state school. Problem is, you don't want to base your decision on hope alone.
Harlem Success Academy, Harlem Village Academy
ReplyDeleteThis school was the original location of The Lincoln Horace Mann School. The Original PS 125 was located on LaSalle Street between Amsterdam and Morningside Aves.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanou's Mum! Slowly learning about Charter schools (don't have such a thing in the UK!). Although, having been in NYC for 9 years I ought to know a lot more than I do. Living on 122nd & ACP, will we have access to these schools? Thanks.
ReplyDelete