Everything about Urban Schools in US

Education is the domino effect that unlocks the key to freedom. Through education, the world has achieved milestones that may have taken a millennium and illuminated a path to excellence. In the 21st century, academic education is available to almost every child worldwide, with schools being made as available and accessible as possible.

Urban schools are an example of an all-inclusive initiative to ensure every child is equipped with knowledge. However, despite their fame, most people may not be familiar with urban schools’ operations and characteristics. This article, therefore, answers all questions regarding urban schools and creates more familiarity with them.

urban schools in US

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What is an urban school?

An urban school is based in a largely populated area or region. The area is often attributed to a diversity of people where occupants of the regions are of various religions, colors, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sometimes nationalities. Due to their locality, urban schools have very high enrollment rates due to the large population. The schools, therefore, have a richness in the assortment of students. Urban education revolves around activities and criteria for imparting knowledge in densely populated areas. It is vital since it offers a solution for poverty-stricken families to grant their children education. The mission of urban schools is to provide amenities that promote modern learning and strategize on improving lives through availing education facilities.

Characteristics of urban schools

Urban schools are very specific and can be easily identifiable. Their characteristics include the following:

  1. Have a high enrollment rate.

    As mentioned, urban schools are situated in populated areas. Compared to suburban and rural schools, urban schools have a doubled admission rate. This is because the ratio of the number of schools within the region to the area is largely disproportionate, contributing to a large number of students.

  2. Has a large number of low-income students.

    Most urban schools have many low-income students. The schools are considered to host and serve poor and ethnically diverse students. This analogy is highly contributed to the history of urban schools resulting from status segregation. Some graduates of urban schools write cheap essays for money and help students succeed.

  3. Schools have fewer allocated resources.

    Urban schools have fewer resources as compared to other schools. Resources such as monetary, stationery, and staff allocated are very scarce. Due to the school participants’ poor state and the school’s locality, funding and resources are barely enough to sustain the proper running of the school.

  4. High mobility of the students.

    Urban schools are associated with high mobility of students since most of them may not reside too far from the school and may also lack other preferable means of transport. The schools are also associated with plenty of action from the school due to their population and a bee-hive of activities causing high mobility.

  5. Diversity in color.

    Urban schools have an immense rate of diversity. The schools host people from various backgrounds, hence creating a community with people of all characteristics. Densely populated areas in the US are mostly occupied by many people of various colors. The same is also reflected in the school. For example, a statistic from Jersey City Public Schools shows a diversity of more than 80% of students being non-white.

Urban V Suburban schools.

The main difference between urban and suburban schools is their locality; one is in an urban area, and the other is in a suburban one. However, the difference in their operations and characteristics is highly disquieting. 

  1. Population of students

    Urban schools have very large populations as compared to suburban schools. Research proves that urban schools have surpassed the population of suburban schools by more than half. However, the vastness in population is caused by the school’s location.

  2. Teachers’ workload.

    Due to the large number of students, teachers in urban schools have plenty of work. The ratio of the teachers to the students is unbalanced, thus warranting increased work for the teachers. Suburban school teachers are often not as overwhelmed as urban teachers since they have a manageable student load; hence, the work is equally untroublesome.

  3. Level of attention given to students.

    There is a large fish to fry, especially regarding the ratio of teacher-students in urban schools in the US, which is an alarming situation considering the available students versus the enrolled students. Their counterpart schools in the suburban areas have a fair student-teacher ratio, allowing the teacher to follow closely on students and monitor academic performance. However, This is not the case in urban schools; therefore, little attention is given to the students.

  4. Funding

    Suburban schools receive more funding as compared to the urban areas. In some cases, the schools may receive the same funding amount, but allocation to individual students leaves urban schools at a losing end. Pupils from urban schools may have $2,100 less than their colleagues in suburban schools. This is why some urban school teachers write cheap dissertations to earn extra money.

  5. Graduation rate

    Suburban schools have a higher graduation rate as compared to urban schools. The state of learning in suburban schools is significantly better than in urban schools; logically, they have a higher graduation rate.

Advantages of urban schools to rural schools

Due to various factors, urban schools have gained leverage over rural schools. The factors include the following:

  1. Technological advancement

    Urban schools have steadily progressed regarding technology, and incorporating it into the education curriculum has influenced academic performance.

  2. Diversity of students

    Urban schools have admirable diversity of students. This has allowed the students to learn about their counterparts’ cultures, religions, and racial backgrounds. The interactions, therefore, improve their learning through first-hand experiences.

  3. Teacher qualifications

    Urban schools are at the advantage of gaining more qualified teachers than rural schools. This, therefore, improves the teachers’ efficiency and meritoriously the students’ performance.

  4. High academic excellence

    Statistically, students in urban schools perform better than those in rural schools. This is due to the available resources at the students’ disposal that help actualize their successful dreams.

Challenges of urban schools

Many people have developed a preference for rural and suburban schools as compared to urban schools. This is due to several factors surrounding urban schools that reduce the odds of their efficiency as notable learning institutions. The following are challenges faced in urban schools.

  1. Low student performance.

    Urban schools are categorized with poor academic performance. This is caused by the demotivation among the students and little attention from the teachers who endure difficulties tracking the student’s performance and progress.

  2. Student problems

    Students in urban schools have several challenges that largely contribute to poor performance. Cases of absenteeism, indiscipline, early pregnancies, and health matters are rampant within the schools and are challenging to tame. Due to the diversity of color and race, some students are bullied, negatively affecting their self-esteem and performance.

  3. High poverty levels

    Urban schools mainly serve people from poor backgrounds and communities hence high poverty levels associated within the students. The students, therefore, incur the provision of educational materials since most cannot raise funds for them. This creates a crippling effect on the school since funds collected within the school are utilized in urgent cases such as food provision and teacher salaries.

  4. High violence involved

    Urban schools have been in the limelight for a while due to associated violence cases. More than 80% of urban schools have reported incidences. School shootings have almost become a norm in the US, which warrants the need for an alarm. Many incidents surrounding gang-rated crimes such as battery, sexual assault, rape, robbery, and involvement with weapons has mortified many and posed a threat to the schools.

  5. Insufficient funding

    There is a massive gap within urban education regarding the meager funding offered. Considering the enrolled students within the schools, urban schools are heavily underfunded. This disparity in funding is mainly due to social segregration. Low-affluence communities receive less than richer communities, eventually contributing to the schools’ low funding.

Conclusion

Urban schools have based a backbone that has impacted shaping the education curriculum in the US. However, more focus has to be given to the schools since education is a weapon that cannot be taken away from a person. With the above information on urban schools, appropriate directives can be taken to refine these safe havens.