Comments on: A Spanish-English high school proves learning in two languages can boost graduation rates https://hechingerreport.org/one-kind-boston-public-high-school-students-learn-calculus-spanish/ Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education Mon, 30 Mar 2020 18:27:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dania Vázquez https://hechingerreport.org/one-kind-boston-public-high-school-students-learn-calculus-spanish/comment-page-1/#comment-16060 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 17:06:09 +0000 http://hechingerreport.org/?p=35562#comment-16060 Dear Editor,
We are appreciative of the article about Muñiz Academy and the focus on new approaches and opportunities for educating all students. We host many visitors throughout the year in an effort to mutually share our learning and ideas with others in the field.

Our work is unique in many ways and yet we have worked hard to create a replicable model. In a recent letter to the Editor in response to this article, the writer stated that we select our student. We want to clarify the record. We do not and have never selected our students. In fact, all students are assigned to us by Boston Public Schools. We do not have a separate application process. No Interview is required before acceptance. All students can apply. We only ask that students and families embrace a dual language approach and be ready to work hard!

In the same letter to the Editor, it was mentioned that we ‘cherry-picked the Level 3 and 4 students from English High School’. Muñiz Academy opened with 80 students in grade 9 in September 2012 – all who were assigned to us by Boston Public
Schools. Finally, as a district school, we work hard to engage all our students with the goal towards graduation and post graduation plans. We invite the writer to visit and learn more about our program.

Our collective work in all high schools across Boston is incredibly complex and important – we are an important bridge to college and careers. While Boston has a wide variety of opportunities for students and families, we all share a common goal to offer meaningful learning experiences and supports for our young people. At Muñiz Academy, we welcome the continued dialogue about our work as a school, our collective work as community of high schools, and our shared efforts as a city. We learn by sharing best practice through honest dialogue.

Dania Vázquez,
Headmaster Muñiz Academy

]]> By: JShore https://hechingerreport.org/one-kind-boston-public-high-school-students-learn-calculus-spanish/comment-page-1/#comment-16055 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 01:56:19 +0000 http://hechingerreport.org/?p=35562#comment-16055 This article about the Margarita Muñiz Academy has some glaring sins of omission. The Muñiz has a “selected” population of students. An interview is required before acceptance. In addition, they have the Hernandez, a 2-way bilingual k-8 feeder school.
Muñiz is also located a block away from The English High School an underperforming turnaround school who, at the time Muñiz opened, had an ELL population of 66%, the highest in the state! Muñiz cherry picked the Level 3 & 4 students from English High when they first opened up. Leaving English with Level 1 & 2 students and no chance of ending the “achievement gap” and increasing their PPI Level and getting out from Turnaround status. Unlike English High School, the Muñiz does not educate the severe Special Education Students.
Finally, there needs to be more transparency on the Muñiz attrition rate. They regularly evict students who are found “not to be the right fit.””Innovations schools” like Margarita Muñiz Academy show success by gaming the system, and it is nothing to feel good about!

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