When Your Education is Determined by Your Zip Code

By Nayeli Tirado

I live in Oak View, which is situated in the Ojai Valley located in Southern California. The Valley's demographic is predominantly white and wealthy, with the exception of a few areas. One of these areas, Meiners Oaks, is where I went to school from kindergarten to 2nd grade. The reason I did not stay was because my mother did not hesitate to move me to another public school after Meiners Oak Elementary proved to be understaffed and provided a poor curriculum. I was moved closer to the downtown area and received a better education. 

What's important to note is that Meiners Oaks is the most diverse area in Ojai, with nearly half of its population being Hispanic. This is comparable to the downtown area that is roughly seventy percent white, if not more. In other words, the most diverse area in Ojai had the worst public elementary school, which scored a C- in academics on Niche. Meanwhile, the schools near the wealthier, whiter downtown areas scored an A or above. 

The quality of education was clearly a direct reflection of financial standing. Compared to the other schools in the Valley, Meiners Oaks elementary was under enrolled and underfunded, which both negatively contributed to each other. In my senior year of highschool I decided to present these facts to my peers to raise awareness of the systemic issue. Additionally, I started a fundraiser, where I sold donated flower bouquets to the students' parents at my new school. The proceeds went to the students enrolled in Meiners Oak Elementary and their lunch debts. I wanted to help students of color who did not have access to the same quality of education and who struggle financially. 

Despite my effort, Meiners Oaks Elementary closed down a year ago. The school’s financial burden and under-enrollment became too much to continue operations. Many of the children were moved to other schools, some located in different districts altogether. 

The quality of your education should NOT depend on a zip code. And a student's zip code should not depend on the race they were born into. My personal experience has shown that this is the exact opposite of what reality is. For that reason, we need to promote good education systems for all students regardless of socio-economic class, race, area, etc. and that starts by paying teachers more and properly funding public schools.