A month ago in a Policy Brief we wrote the following in regards to a possible Wilkinsburg-Pittsburgh Public Schools agreement to send Wilkinsburg’s 7-12th graders to the Pittsburgh Public School District:
Now Wilkinsburg is talking to Pittsburgh about some arrangement whereby middle and high school students can attend Pittsburgh schools. Setting aside cultural and possibly territorial issues that might arise, which schools would these students attend? The best Pittsburgh schools are the magnet schools, and they are full. It is unlikely Pittsburgh school officials would put Wilkinsburg students ahead of Pittsburgh students waiting to get into those schools. That would be a political nightmare for the District. And what would be the point of transporting students several miles to attend Westinghouse Academy or Milliones for example. The academic performance at those schools is almost as bad as Wilkinsburg—and this despite district spending of over $22,000 per pupil. If Pittsburgh officials decide to place Wilkinsburg students in better performing non-magnet schools, the question immediately arises: If the district can put transported Wilkinsburg students in the better Pittsburgh schools, why can’t Pittsburgh students, stuck in bad situations, be shifted to a better school?
Based on an article today, in which the PA Department of Education is quoted and indicated its support for the plan, Wilkinsburg’s students will be primarily sent to Westinghouse and will have the opportunity to attend a high school magnet program, but only after Pittsburgh students have been placed. An article earlier this week cited proximity, space, and the fact that, although a low performer, the school will offer more than is being offered to Wilkinsburg students currently.
Unlike the current arrangement with the Duquesne School District, where students from grades 7-12 attend either East Allegheny or West Mifflin school districts by formula and there is no magnet component or even multiple high schools within those districts from which to choose.
