SEED schools, thumbs up or down?

By Briana Booker

What is a SEED school? It is a public and urban boarding school for children in poverty. Southeast Washington DC has some of the worst public schools in America. Unfortunately, the demographics of the schools in Southeast are mostly poor, black, and perform horribly on standardized test.

But SEED schools open doors for not only the 'gifted and talented,' but those that society has given up on. Those children reading at a third grade level,but are juniors in high school finally have the opportunity to change the course of their futures through better education. It reminds me of Willy Wonka's golden ticket to the chocolate factory, numerous opportunities based on a lottery!

There are 200 children pooled into this lottery. A third of that number are selected to be placed in the SEED school. The prize of the lottery is $35,000 per year in education funds paid by private and government money. You can be the brightest light bulb or the dullest; there is still hope that no child is left behind, literally!

The SEED school started in 1998 and it has already shown exceptional results! Ninety-one percent of the students in the program finish high school and Ninety-five percent go on to college!

I think it is a great idea and program that should spread through out the public school system. An education is a powerful tool. I truly believe the seed school is a blessing in disguise and I look forward to see more of what is to come of this project! An abundance of roses from the concrete? I hope so.