School's Out in Williamsburg
Williamsburg and Greenpoint may be filling up with affluent families lured by the recent condo boom, but the well-heeled new residents are hardly beating a path to local schools. According to an article in this week’s Crain’s (sub. req’d), enrollment is plummeting in the neighborhoods’ public schools–it’s down 12 percent in elementary schools over the…
Williamsburg and Greenpoint may be filling up with affluent families lured by the recent condo boom, but the well-heeled new residents are hardly beating a path to local schools. According to an article in this week’s Crain’s (sub. req’d), enrollment is plummeting in the neighborhoods’ public schools–it’s down 12 percent in elementary schools over the past two years, with middle schools operating at 56 percent capacity, on average. The classrooms are emptying as older residents priced out of the neighborhoods are forced to leave and newer residents put off by what they consider to be conservative education practices decide to send their kids to schools farther afield. The trend is exposing chinks in the armor of the Bloomberg administration’s rezoning of northern Brooklyn, which was supposed to create a community where rich and poor (and their offspring) rubbed shoulders. On top of that, it could spell trouble ahead for developers who are marketing Williamsburg and Greenpoint buildings to young professionals with families. And developers are keenly aware of the areas’ lack of pull on the education front. “We have thought about it,” said Ron Moelis, a principal with L&M Equities, which is developing Schaefer Landing. “I don’t have an answer for you. There’s talk of a charter school, a new magnet school or maybe even a new private school. It would be great if that occurs.”
Photo by specmotors.
As I read the blog, It shames me to hear that individuals who have come from such various areas to reside in WIlliamsburg are not willing to improve the neighborhood they have gentrified; instead you prefer to segregate it further with the “haves and have nots”. It is upsetting to hear that this being NYC and BRooklyn that there are so many narrow minded and selfish individuals who only care about what benefits themselves and screw everyone else. How dare some of you assume that the “original” inhabitants of Williamsburg do not want better for their children. Why don’t you do your research and find out how much $$$ is spent in the Burg for education. You will all realize that this neighborhood was not inhabited by affluent NYorkers but hard working, blue collar individuals who before you guys arrived had to settle for the scraps that the good old NYC provided them and still provides. But excuse me!! When affluent “ANglos” shout they are always heard as you hear the Burg will be getting new schools that will definitely push out the remaining “original” inhabitants of course as always by Overpricing education (High tuitions). As per a previous mention,you should do your homework with regard to the #s of individuals who truly receive SSI and check out the racial breakdown and maybe you will rethink what you say next time.
We should think about what can benefit all not a few!!!! But who am I fooling the money talks!!!!
Public schools are the one area that puts liberal values in Brooklyn to the test. I am always shocked at the intensely judgemental and condescending comments I hear from supposedly liberal people when they talk about this topic. It’s gross. Justify it however you want, like “not wanting to sacrifice my child’s education” but it’s still gross. Slap me if I ever talk like that, sorry. I don’t know what we’ll decide ourselves, but I do know this – if I choose to send our kids to private schools I will certainly not turn my back in sneering derision on the public schools of my community. These are the schools some of my neighbors’ children attend. There’s nothing stopping me or anybody from donating supplies, or helping out in some way at the local public schools.
5:18 hit the nail on the head. There are plenty of “poor” kids attending schools and doing well. This is because their parents buy into the concept of the importance of education. Look at Community Roots in Fort Greene. Plenty of poor families along with families who are more well to do go a little out of their way to send their kids there. They all have one thing in common – a certain idea of education. I guess you can call that – “likemindedness”. Many parents have pulled their kids out of Williamsburg schools because there wasn’t enough of that “likemindedness”. I think that is the ultimate reason why people don’t just take what they are given and opt out of the local public schools in our neighborhood – to be in a place of “likemindedness”. Nothing wrong with that.
“We’re all trying to make ends meet”
Hate to break it to you doll, but people trying to make ends meet are not on brownstoner posting about where to send their child to school while sitting in their brand new million dollar condo in williamsburg.
Really? I thought charter schools were about making a profit in what shouldn’t be a for-profit industry. I also thought they were a nice way to get around offering teachers union benefits. Isn’t that also true?
3:35 my local public school doesnt stink because the population is poor
– my local public school stinks because there is unfortunately a large segment of the population who attend the school who have families who put no value on education, do nothing to prepare their children to learn, take no concern regarding their childrens prospects as adults and view teachers and school administrators in an adversarial manner (an attitude which they pass to their kids)
Poor education is definitely a cause for poverty yet in our wealthy society poverty is only a casually related to getting a poor education simply because if you are poor it is difficult to get your kids away from those whose detrimental attitudes and lifestyle destroy the learning environment. Thats what charter schools and such are all about – giving poor and middle income kids (who want an education) a fair shot at one.
But dont fool yourself no amount of $, no influx of rich kids, and no social program will provide any reasonable hope to kids who are entering an information based economy when their parents do nothing to even help insure literacy.
4:29, by a pat on the back I was responding to 4:10’s comment on garnering other people’s pats (appreciation), not my own. And yes, I truly believe that my child is getting a quality education right here in Williamsburg. While it may not be the fanciest, I believe it’s the best choice for achieving a good balance for my family. That’s not to say that work isn’t needed, but what public school is not lacking in one way or another? Why should this kind of thing be questioned by people like you?
4:33 how do you know that the local schools were operating just fine? which schools are you referring to exactly?
in any case, thousands and thousands of new people are coming to williamsburg. the new kids will enter the schools. it is going to happen. many of the poorer kids will leave when their families move because the rents go sky high or their buildings are torn down to be turned into condos, but the poor kids that stay in the area will benefit from the well educated parents who push the teachers and the administration to make the best possible school that it can be.
With all of the parents that have commented about pulling kids out of Williamsburg schools, not one has actually given us a reason why — except to allude vaguely that the “locals” — (and since I’ve spent most of my adult life in this neighborhood does that include me, by the way or not?) — were hostile.
Could you, please elaborate? Or give actual examples? I’m interested.