Each of my two children attend magnet highschools that are schools-within-schools.
In the one my son attends, the kids from thetwo programs get along reasonably well. In my daughter's the principal (while sending his children to magnet programs himself) has decided that it is a 0 sum game and has sought to destabilize the program.
Both programs are in small highschools, in very bad neighborhoods and at least one has on campus daycare for student mothers.
One factor in my decision to have my children attend these, instead of the much more prestigious and close schools their friends mostly attend is selfish:
By coming from bad schools but earning great academic credentials, my kids are much more likely to be able to get into the best Universtities they would like to attend with a good financial package.
The other is that I want my kids to see the difference between kids who work hard and kids who don't work hard to get ahead.
In their magnets, they are studying with others who not only want to be there, but are supported by their parents in being there.
Yet the magnets are surrounded by kids who don't seem particularly motivated.
The contrast is sharp.
Ed