University High entrance must be earned
If the charter for University High School is not renewed, it will be another victory for educational mediocrity and underachievement in the Fresno Unified School District. Lowering the math and music requirements, eliminating academic requirements – why not just conduct a lottery to let anyone in who has a winning number?
Success in life is not based on just showing up. Too many Fresno Unified students are graduating unprepared to attend college. Believe it or not, colleges have admission requirements that have to be met.
Admission is not based on a lottery, and graduation is not guaranteed because you want a diploma. Minority students deserve to feel a sense of achievement by being admitted to a high school that requires certain standards to be met – not self doubt as to whether it was their qualifications or simply their race that got them admitted.
Striving for excellence should not be a punishable offense.
Cecelia Dorian, Fresno
This story was originally published November 5, 2016 at 12:31 PM with the headline "University High entrance must be earned."