Manual High is Louisville’s golden school. But its reputation doesn’t tell the whole story
In episode 4 of A 'Bad' School, we spend time in the classrooms and hallways of a Louisville public high school with perhaps Kentucky's most prestigious reputation.
DuPont Manual High School — which offers magnet programs focusing on areas such as arts and math, science and technology — is consistently at the top of school rankings and test scores. It's a short drive away from Iroquois High School, which is consistently at the bottom.
But test scores and rankings don't tell the whole story. The reality of what makes for a good education is far more complicated.
Both schools have supportive teachers who inspire their students to be their best and help them through difficult times. Both have programs that help students find their niche, or their voice.
And students at both schools face real pressures. No school is perfect — even one widely regarded as among the state's best.
Did you miss the first three episodes of A "Bad" School? Catch up on The Courier Journal's new podcast series here.
Read the project: ‘Magnetic Pull’
Magnetic Pull: An investigation into magnet schools
Read our sister project: ‘The Last Stop’
Louisville's desegregation myth: How a busing plan hurt Black communities it aimed to help
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: A 'Bad' School, episode 4: The truth behind Louisville's golden school
