They met and fell in love in the hallways of Walnut Hills High School. They鈥檙e proud Cincinnati public school graduates and boast about their alma mater鈥檚 academic prowess.
Yet, when it came time to select a school for their children, they chose a small, private Episcopal school in Glendale, a suburb north of the city.
For Dwight and Melanie Moody, an African-American couple who are both 41, college-educated, and middle-class, the decision wasn鈥檛 simple. No one in their immediate family had ever attended private school. Many, in fact, were graduates of Walnut Hills, a magnet school that is often considered among the nation鈥檚 top public high schools.
And Melanie Moody, an assistant director of systems security for the Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, points out, 鈥淲e all had successful lives.鈥�
Still, she adds: 鈥淵ou reach a point where you have to decide what鈥檚 best for your particular child.鈥�
The Moodys鈥攚ho have three children, ages 9, 6, and 2鈥攈ave considered the consequences of opting for private schooling. Unlike families with limited resources, they acknowledge that they have the disposable income and the time to be involved at their children鈥檚 school. Dwight Moody is a State Farm insurance agent and financial planner.
鈥淚f people like us don鈥檛 support the public schools,鈥� Melanie Moody says, 鈥渢hey have no hope.鈥�
While the Moodys were happy with the public preschool program their daughter attended, they were worried about the long- term future of Cincinnati鈥檚 schools. It took three attempts to pass an operating levy last year. Yet, on the first attempt, there was overwhelming support among city voters for a sales-tax increase to construct two new professional sports stadiums. The Moodys feared that a lack of support could decrease the public schools鈥� budget over the years.
But finding a private school where their children would be exposed to racial and ethnic diversity every day proved difficult.
鈥淚 want my daughter to see role models, like Mae Jemison, so she can have someone to look up to,鈥� says Dwight Moody of the doctor who was the first woman of color to travel to space.
Dwight and Melody Moody flourished in public schools, but they chose to pay for private schools for their children.
That鈥檚 why the family enrolled their daughter, Ryan, and later their son David, in Bethany School, which is part of an Episcopal convent. Part of the school鈥檚 mission is to maintain a diverse campus. About 40 percent of the school鈥檚 262 students in kindergarten through 8th grade are children of color.
Dubbed the 鈥淪ound of Music鈥� school by Dwight Moody, Bethany boasts a wooded, 20-acre site that it shares with the nuns who assist with the students鈥� religious instruction. The 103-year-old former boarding school resembles a quaint college campus, with multiple buildings and class sizes that don鈥檛 exceed 15. Tuition costs $5,950 annually.
Cheryl Pez, the head of the school, said Bethany accepts average and above-average students, often attracting children who are uncomfortable with their current schools or those seeking a greater academic challenge.
Pez says: 鈥淚 feel like we鈥檝e always been the right choice for some people.鈥�
Melanie Moody admits that it鈥檚 easy for educated black families with well-paying jobs to opt out of public education. And, for some African-Americans, she says, that can be perceived as 鈥渟elling out.鈥�
Still, the Moodys say they don鈥檛 feel guilty. Bethany School is providing 鈥渢he best opportunity for my children to grow and develop,鈥� Dwight Moody says.
At the same time, the two refuse to participate in what they call 鈥減ublic school bashing.鈥� Melanie Moody believes she needs to find another way to help the city鈥檚 public schools, perhaps by mentoring.
And their children may attend public school one day. This past summer, they moved out of the city and are building a home in Wyoming, a community whose public schools are considered among the best in Ohio.
Ironically, the Moodys could end up paying to send their daughter to Walnut Hills High. Ryan, who is a blossoming artist, has her sights set on being a member of Walnut Hills鈥� class of 2010.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what I would do if I couldn鈥檛 afford that kind of choice,鈥� Melanie Moody says.
Jan Leslie, the director of public affairs for the Cincinnati public schools, notes that the district has three of its own charter schools, Montessori schools, and has reorganized low-performing schools. But Cincinnati鈥檚 enrollment has dropped from about 50,000 students in 1991 to 41,400 this year.
Melanie Moody worries about the long-term effects of alternatives like vouchers on the public school students who remain behind.
But she adds: 鈥淚 think for a lot of people, the discussion about [school choice] and reality, when it applies to you, are very different.鈥�
