BPS Assignment Alternatives

Comparing the Zone-Based and Home-Based Plans

External Advisory Committee on School Choice20 February 2012Marc Draisen / Tim Reardon

Executive Director / Manager of Planning Research

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Walk

Zone

miles2 3+1

Zone 1

BA

Zone 2

23+ 1

Choices for Family AChoices for Family B

Zone-Based Assignment Model

miles

C

Choices for Family C

Tier 1 & 2

Tier 3 & 4

Tier 1 & 2: 3 schools 2 schools 1 schoolTier 3 & 4: 7 schools 6 schools

4 schools2

Status QuoTotal “Choice Basket” ranges from 25 to 36 schools

Large discontinuities across zone boundaries

3

11-Zone Plan“Choice Basket” ranges from 3 to 16 schools

More zones = more boundaries = more discontinuity

Unequal number of choices within a zone

4

11-Zone: QualityAvailability of Tier 1 & 2 range:1 to 9 schools

Students near zone boundaries have greatest number of choices

5

Walk

Zone

miles2 3+1

BA

23+ 1

Choices for Family AChoices for Family B

Home-Based (A) Assignment

miles

C

Choices for Family CTier 1 & 2: 4 schools 4

schools 4 schoolsTier 3 & 4: 4 schools 4 schools3 schools

+1more school

6

Home-Based/A“Choice Basket” ranges from 6 to 15 schools

Variation more gradual across the city and related to school density and/or lack of quality nearby

No major discontinuities at zone boundaries

7

Home-Based/B“Choice Basket” ranges from 9 to 18 schools

Variation more gradual across the city and related to school density

No major discontinuities at zone boundaries

8

11-Zone: Quality

Tier 1 & 2 availability range: 1 to 9 schools

Students near zone boundaries have greatest number of choices

9

Home-Based/A: Quality

Tier 1 & 2 availability range: 4 to 6 schools

Gradual variation across the city; greatest availability in SW Boston

10

Home-Based/B: Quality

Tier 1 & 2 availability range: 6 to 9 schools

Gradual variation across the city; greatest availability in SW Boston

11

Home-Based/AWalk Zone Reliance

Many areas heavily reliant on out-of-walk-zone access to higher quality schools, especially Mattapan, South Boston, Allston/Brighton, East Boston

12

Home-Based/B:Walk Zone Reliance

As requisite number of high-quality schools increases, most areas rely on out-of-walk-zone schools for quality

13

Walk Zone Access, by Race

4%

96%

77%

54%

26%

8%

1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Zero One or more Two or More Three or More Four or More Five or More Six or More

Perc

ent o

f St

uden

ts

Number of Tier 1 or Tier 2 Schools in Walk Zone

Count of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Schools in Walk Zone, by Race/Ethnicity

White Black Hispanic Asian Two or Other Race Total (labeled)

14

Questions

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