WASHINGTON — A quality education can change a young person's future.
“We’re all different people and we all deserve the same education and we can all impact the world in different ways,” said Desmond Davis, a Roosevelt High School student.
Not every student in D.C. gets that chance.
“People’s mindsets change a lot because of the education system they’re in and it just opens a lot of opportunities,” said Derrick Hawkins, another Roosevelt High School student.
That's where equitable access comes in.
A new report by D.C. policy center, a non-partisan think tank, analyzed 25 schools out of 200 in the lottery system that prioritized applications from at-risk students or kids who are experiencing homelessness in foster care or receiving snap benefits.
According to the D.C. Policy Center report, equitable access changed enrollment patterns for some schools dramatically. In some cases, applications from at-risk students doubled.
"We’re always thinking about equity and access in our district, it’s a key part of our imperative," explained D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Louis Ferebee.
Here in D.C., students are guaranteed a spot in public schools that are in the neighborhood - but if they want to access to a higher performing school from another location, they have to enter the lottery system.
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“We want there to be a great school in every neighborhood that families have great confidence in,” Ferebee said.
The Deputy Mayor of Education is considering expanding equitable access to schools across the District.