Summit+Preparatory+Charter+High+School+Redwood+City,+Calif.

Status: NOT a miracle school Main Reason(s): Does not have high poverty.

The link below is to the original Newsweek article that identified these schools as "Miracle School." http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/21/ten-miracle-high-schools/summit-preparatory-charter-high-school-redwood-city-calif.html

In the case of Summit, you have to ask why a complex four-step application process which includes extensive site visits, meetings, and shadowing, is required for admission. We can also ask why the application form itself is ONLY available in person, and wonder what questions might be asked on the form. In other words, by creating a complex process a school such as Summit can reduce the likelihood that less-motivated students and less engaged parents are likely to apply. As for the fiscal resources, if one were to examine carefully the money going to district schools you will likely find that much of it goes to legacy costs and other mandated program that are required, but do not directly serve to fund the education of the students in the schools. The illusion is created of charters having fewer dollars, when in most, but not all cases, there is actually more money available in a Charter School than in comparison schools with similar student bodies. We should point out that Summit actually has the lowest percent of students qualifying for free or reduced meal prices in the District (and, in what is certainly an anomaly, a higher percentage are qualifying for reduced meal prices than free meal prices, indicating a significantly higher median income for the families of students in this school)ithe school). Let's see... the claims we are challenging are: "Low-income students, paltry funding, dated facilities – that didn’t stop some schools from doing more with less." The truth: lowest percent of low-income students, beautiful new facility that many schools would love to have, and as for the funding, we think that a deep exploration would find that funding per student is significantly higher than for similarly situated students that aren't there in that beautiful building at 890 Broadway. This is no way takes away from your school... but the claims in the article, like the claims in "Waiting for Superman" are bogus claims.. designed to prove a political point that defies all evidence. Lot's of money is being spent to keep the myth alive.... some of us are challenging it... and the facts appear to be on our side!