Seattle’s recent move to shutter its Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) schools, primarily due to their high proportion of white and Asian students, has sparked widespread anger among parents and community members. Newly surfaced footage from a January 2020 board meeting, where the decision was discussed, has only added fuel to the fire, revealing troubling behavior from board members.
The decision to close HCC schools, which cater to the top two percent of students, has left parents dismayed, fearing the loss of educational opportunities for bright but disadvantaged children of all races. Kiley Riffell, a parent with children in an HCC school, expressed disappointment in the replacement of these programs with what she perceives as inadequate alternatives.
Teachers now face the daunting task of managing classrooms with mixed-ability students, often without the necessary resources and support. The phased closure of HCC schools by 2024 has left many questioning the rationale behind the decision and its impact on student learning.
The unearthed footage from the board meeting depicts emotional pleas from parents, including Sara Jones, a successful black tech leader and former HCC student, who tearfully urged the board to reconsider. However, their appeals were abruptly cut short by former board member Zachary DeWolf, who diverted attention to a personal poem reading to mark his birthday, a move criticized as self-centered.
DeWolf and fellow board member Chandra Hampson faced subsequent accusations of racist bullying, although a formal investigation dismissed the racism allegations but upheld the bullying claims. Despite DeWolf’s departure from the board, the repercussions of the decision he influenced continue to reverberate throughout the community.
Hampson further incited controversy by suggesting that minority parents advocating for the retention of HCC schools were “tokenizing” their own children within a predominantly white and Asian student body. The racial dynamics of the debate have heightened tensions and exacerbated divisions within the community.
Meanwhile, concerns persist about the new Highly Capable Neighborhood School Model, which aims to provide individualized learning plans for all students but has been met with skepticism regarding its inclusivity and effectiveness. Critics argue that insufficient resources and support undermine the model’s purported benefits, raising doubts about its ability to meet the diverse needs of students.
As Seattle Public Schools forge ahead with their plans to phase out HCC schools and implement the new model, the debate over equity, representation, and educational excellence continues to roil the community, underscoring the complex challenges facing the education system.