Foster City Islander Article - 01-03-2007
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Charter Public |
Phyllis Moore, President, Foster City High School Foundation |
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Embracing Diversity
Since the Gold Rush, the Bay Area has attracted people from around the world. Over the last 30 years, our Asian and Latino populations have grown rapidly. By the time today’s preschoolers marry and have children, no single ethnic group will make up more than 50% of California’s population.
Our children can prosper if they learn to live and work in our diverse society. During their formative years when they shape their beliefs and attitudes, our children spend much of their time in school. When schools embrace diversity, children do, too. San Mateo County—where already no ethnic group comprises more than 50% of residents—provides the ideal place to learn this skill.
We are most fortunate that our local schools reflect our diversity. Most Foster City teenagers attend San Mateo or Hillsdale High School. They draw students from Bowditch and Bayside Middle Schools, which differ widely in their ethnic makeup and academic achievement. For example, based on Academic Performance Index scores, Bayside received a low ranking of 4 (API = 691), while Bowditch received the highest ranking of 10 (API = 871).
In education, truly embracing diversity involves finding ways to make sure that all students succeed, regardless of their backgrounds. High Tech High, which will operate the charter public high school in Foster City, has proven that all students can excel when they get excited about learning. In fact, many of HTH’s students performed poorly at low-ranked middle schools, yet nearly all of them meet HTH’s high academic standards and go on to college.
Consistent with its educational philosophy, HTH has a goal of recruiting 40% of its students from low-income families. This enlightened approach will benefit our Foster City high school, since it has enabled HTH to secure a major grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and to win the first statewide charter—both include the 40% target. While we probably cannot reach this goal in our community, we will embrace diversity by recruiting students from all local middle schools. At the same time, we expect most Foster City students who apply to be admitted.
