Poll: Is the SMUHSD's Transfer Policy Fair?

The against the San Mateo Union High School District, claiming discrimination against Chinese students, raises some interesting questions about how high schools operate in the area.

Details about the investigation aren't available at the moment, but the root issue seems to be that a handful of local families claimed their Chinese children were transferred out of "a high-performing high school"—namely, Mills High School—to "a lower-performing high school"—Capuchino High.

I've heard many times before that students in the high school district—which is comprised of seven high schools, including Peninsula High, the continuation school—are allowed to transfer to any high school in the district. That is sort of true.

According to the school district's transfer policy, students can apply for transfers for several reasons:

• if the school receives Title I funds and is under program improvement (Peninsula High is the only school that fits that category)
• if the school has room for more students
• if a student feels he or she is at danger at the current school
• if a student has a sibling enrolled

But in the story that ran earlier this week about the bias probe:

"Don't let people choose where they want to go for a public high school," Nate Asuncion said. "That's why it's public. It's already free. Just go to school. If your child wants to do good in school, it won't matter what school they go to. If you want to choose schools, send your kids to a private school. Parents these days take public schools for granted."

So why does Cap continue to have a bad reputation, even though it has a graduation rate of 92 percent and it is the only school in the district with a International Baccalaureate program?

Based on the perceptions I hear, it seems as though families who perceive Cap as being a "bad" school will opt to transfer their child to another school within the district because either the school board allows it or a loophole is found—even if there is no actual reason to transfer schools.

What do you think is the real issue?