Sandra,
You have posted a number of concerns in various discussions about diversity, perceived unfairness in the SHS Houses, perceived "preferential treatment" for IB students, and other related issues. Rather than putting together multiple replies in different discussions, I'll put together my thoughts into one posting here:
You seem to have done plenty of research in your quest for answers.
Can you please provide some of the data you have uncovered rather than just generalities.
I'd love to see the actual results you've found. As they say, the truth is in the details!
Can you clarify what you mean by "diverse students"?
Do you strictly mean race? Or are you talking about other factors such as family situation (no/one/two parents etc.), socio-economic situation, etc..?
These certainly have as much impact as race.
As for some of the things you have mentioned as concerns.
Here are my thoughts on some, but certainly not all :
My son (10th Grader, White, MST House) has been on 1 (one) field trip at the SHS in 1 1/2 years - I don't know if this is too many or too few!
By the way, this was in a pre-IB connections class with kids from many/all Houses.
In my own opinion, time spent on field trips would be better spent at school. But this does vary for each child and parent.
You have mentioned an unbalancedness in the number IB students across Houses.
Isn't it not true that the kids get to choose a house of their own upon entering the High School) and that all are hopefully given their first choice.
This, then, would not seem to be an issue caused by the School or the Administration, rather it is a result of student choices/preferences and of chance!
What other inequities across the Houses are you aware of?
As for the diversity of PTSO Meetings;
My wife and I have been active participants on many PTO's, shared decision meetings, father's groups,...etc. throughout elementary, middle and now high school and I can tell you one thing that is common to every parent who attends - They care, have an interest, and participate in their children's education.
That is the common attribute across all participants. Race, Creed, Color, Family Situation, or Socio-Economic situation do not seperate this group of parents from the remaining parents - It is a "wanting to participate" that makes people attend these meeting on a regular basis.
I have been in groups that have tried to increase attendance by changing meeting times, offerring free food, or free babysitting and other incentives - but eventually the group returns to its normal size. I can almost guarantee you that as a parent of a 10th Grader, that if an important meeting was called for parents of 10th Graders today, that I could predict 90%+ of parents who would be there. That's because, I've already been thru countless meetings with the same "interested" people.
As for drop-outs, the numbers are alarming.
Everything that that the school can do to prevent kids from dropping out, should be done. I hope this is the case.
However, much responsibilty does, and should, fall on the parents of these kids and the kids themselves.
You seem to be an active and responsible parent - I am sure you are making sure that your kids understand the value of education and are ensuring that they do not slip thru the cracks. All parents should be this responsible!
Again, please let me know the statistics you have - I'd be interested in seeing them.
Thanks.