You're a resident of Charleston County. Your eighth grader is at the top of his class and placed in the 99th percentile on his latest MAP test. He's on the waiting list at Academic Magnet. Don't you wonder how many residents of other counties got accepted before him?
You should.
This is an old story, fifty-six years old to be precise. Yet it didn't make much difference until the Charleston County School District created the Academic Magnet and School of the Arts. Now if you live in Berkeley or Dorchester Counties, or anywhere else in the state, for that matter, you can scour the listings of dilapidated housing or arcane empty lots to buy a seat. The minimum price is $300, peanuts. And it appears that state legislators are on your side. Otherwise, why hasn't the law been changed?
Money talks, that's why.
Forty residents of Charleston County were denied seats at the schools last year because outsiders took their place. Nonresidents can argue all they want that their students are qualified; that's not the point.
At least consider raising the cost of property to $300,000. Then the student will be paying taxes to support his education. Who can buy a Charleston County property for just $300? Even 56 years ago that amounted to only about $2500. What piece of property in Charleston County would go for even that low a price?
The rich look out for their own.
Demand action from your elected state legislators. They're on the ballot next week.
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