Elected officials who prefer not to discuss the fact that New York City has one of the most segregated school systems in the United States could soon have no choice. At the same time, in Brooklyn, a public school district that covers both poor and affluent neighborhoods has shown it is possible to integrate schools — without rancor or a mass exodus of white families — when parents and school officials value integration as a benefit in itself. As my colleague Troy Closson explained last week, the remaking of Brooklyn’s District 15 began several years ago, when parents expressed a desire to integrate middle schools that were among the most homogeneous in the city. Schools adopted targets to admit certain numbers of disadvantaged children.” Middle schools set aside seats for students who were from low-income families, living in temporary housing or still learning English. Crucially, the schools fill incoming classes through a lottery, instead of using metrics like grades or attendance.

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Persons: Troy Closson, ” Closson, “ Organizations: New, ” Locations: New York City, United States, York, Brooklyn, Brooklyn’s