Families Aunt Becky Their Way Into Performance Arts High School

[sanantone]

Booker T. Washington is a high-ranking performance arts high school in the Dallas Independent School District. It was placed near an area where there are a lot of economically disadvantaged children so that they could get arts training they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. The expectation was that most of the children attending would be economically disadvantaged but only a third are. Instead, a surprising number of the students are wealthy. 

The only proof of residency families need to provide when applying is a utility bill with an in-district address. Some wealthy families rent apartments nearby, so at least they're paying some property taxes. However, other families are offering to pay their friends' utility bills to use their address, and some have rented apartments short-term just to get a utility bill. These families are not paying property taxes to DISD. It's believed that these Aunt Becky-ing families are mostly from the rich suburbs north of Dallas. They can afford to put their kids through the best private schools in their area, but they are putting them into Booker T. Washington for free. 

"Aunt Becky" is the term the author used in the article. I guess it's become synonymous with wealthy people lying to gain admission at a prestigious school. 

https://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2019/05...ashington/