Schoolsearch2000: Diversity played big role in their choice

Diversity played big role in their choice

By KIBRET MARKOS

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rev. Dee Graham and her three children have moved six times in the past five years -- from Manatee County in Florida to El Cerrito, Calif., to Knoxville, Tenn., to Kernersville, N.C., and finally here.

Everywhere she goes, Graham's first question about a school is: How multi-racial is it?

Her two daughters, Austin and Charlotte, are multi-racial. They are now 10th-graders at Gibbs High School. Graham's son, Asaph, graduated from Gibbs this year and goes to St. Petersburg Junior College.

"My children went to the Castro Elementary School in El Cerrito. That was a very diverse school," said Graham. "And we were looking for that here."

Graham began to review the zoned schools in Pinellas County while she was still in Kernersville, N.C. With no particular school in mind, she randomly picked Clearview Elementary School and called the principal.

She was impressed after her conversation with the administrators and teachers. Most of all, she found the racial diversity at the school to her liking.

She decided to make Clearview her zoned school. In 1995, Graham moved here and bought a house at 4599 36th Ave. N, in a neighborhood zoned to Clearview Elementary School. Austin and Charlotte went to fifth grade there. Asaph went to eighth grade at John Hopkins Middle School.

Like Castro Elementary, Clearview had dedicated teachers, Graham said. "They are not there because it's some step in their careers. They are there because they love the kids."

Asaph, Austin and Charlotte were interested in the arts, Graham said. They were zoned to John Hopkins for middle school, a magnet for the arts. Gibbs High School also offers an arts program.

Graham said the racial mix in both schools was good enough although it wasn't as diverse as in Clearview.

Besides the racial standard, Graham said she was also decided about choosing a public school.

"I believe in the public school system. I feel we have to support it because it is what makes our community stronger. And schools will be strong as long as parents remain supportive and involved."

With a son in college and two daughters going to Gibbs, Graham believes her choices have worked out well.

"My children are ahead in academics, but they have also learned to be compassionate and how to be good citizens."