The middle income schools also have less parent-backed (PTA) fundraising than the Hills & less OUSD funding than the Flatlands. This makes it harder for these schools to both support the lower income families who Option in, while also building the academic support & high quality facilities that retain and attract families.

It’s great that so much building is happening at the Hills schools (that Hills parents attend), but it’s time for it to be extended to schools that get equally less attention from OUSD + have less resources than the Hills schools.

Re. Hills schools that don’t have the upper income/high neighborhood enrollment, they’re in the same camp as these middle income/slope schools.

Can you describe the “comparatively more support” that ‘Hills’ schools receive from OUSD? I understand that many schools in the flatlands DO get more funding due to their student populations, however, I recall Katy publishing a list of the per pupil funding rates a few years back and many of the top performing ‘Hills’ schools received the least money (my vague recollection so it could be hazy). Yes, I understand that the ‘Hills’ schools often supplement with volunteer hours and parental donations, but I specifically want to know about the financial support that you say they are receiving from OUSD. BTW, I am not trying to prove you wrong, I truly just want to get a handle on this. In fact, I’d be interested in seeing the stats again about per pupil spending for our schools if Katy has any current data.

All I’m saying is that Hills schools (like Flatland schools) have received comparatively more support from OUSD than the “between” or “Slope” schools. Importantly those Hills schools that pull from their neighborhoods (which I’ve acknowledged is not all) also have a higher income base to supplement their missing services with (just as any other wealthier school district does). So as low a bar as OUSD has in helping, these schools have more resources to help them deal with it.

I agree that ALL schools, including Hills schools (even the comparatively wealthy ones) need assistance. Why? Because we need to retain those children and families to keep OUSD scores growing and help the tax base. We need a true “ecosystem” like other Communities & School Districts have. Helping one helps all.

By the same token, pointing out that the schools in the Middle do not have the same resources is not “attacking” anybody. It’s acknowledging a reality (with certain exceptions) that need to be addressed.

I agree with you on every point you’ve made. To back that up, I’ve repeatedly stressed that OUSD does not support the “middle tier”. In line with your comments, I think if they did they’d find a lot more retention and start turning around the #’s of departing families (also helping their financial base).

OUSD has done a lot of emphasis on the Hills schools. More might need to be done, but that’s where the retention has increased & funding is going. As OUSD gets that settled it’s time to expand that to the “middle tier” schools, families & students who don’t have the same level of public OR private funding…