High (School) Hopes

This fall, in an effort to overcome some of the academic challenges it faces, the local high school is implementing the trendy Small Learning Communities model. Beginning with this year's freshman class, students will be segregated into smaller groups (communities) that could remain together throughout the four years of high school.
How these groups will be constituted and what input is considered when they are assembled remains to be seen. Will student and/or parent preference be considered? Will race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors be considered? Will these groups have distinctive academic structures and curricula? Will advanced placement and honors courses be available in all groups?
Hopefully these changes will amount to more than a rearrangement of the Titanic’s deck chairs.