Atlantic Writer Chooses Private School for Son, Citing Friend Nikole Hannah-Jones' Education Regrets

Jenisha Watts, a staff writer for The Atlantic, announced her decision to send her young Black son to private school, a choice influenced by her friend Nikole Hannah-Jones' recent reflections on her own educational decisions for her daughter. Watts stated she could not replicate Hannah-Jones' path due to her own experiences with underperforming schools.

Watts detailed in an essay that Hannah-Jones' public acknowledgment of regret over her daughter's enrollment in a high-poverty Brooklyn school prompted Watts to consider her own son's educational future. "I know too well what can go wrong. I’m sending him to a private preschool, and I plan to apply for private kindergarten too," Watts said.

Hannah-Jones, in response to Watts' decision, expressed respect for her friend's choice, stating that parental decisions are often shaped by personal histories. Hannah-Jones explained that her own experience of escaping a segregated school provided her with a "parachute" that influenced her perspective on the value of children who do not have such advantages. She reiterated her belief in public schools as a common good and an equalizer, but acknowledged the systemic nature of educational inequality that requires broader policy changes.

"In the end, the inequality I write about and that Jenisha experienced is systemic and will only be fixed if we acquire the political will to make different policy choices that value the inherent worth of all of our children, even if those children happen to be born Black and poor," Hannah-Jones stated.

Watts, however, drew a direct line from her own childhood education in Lexington, Kentucky, to her current decision. She described her upbringing as receiving an "abysmal education" that had lasting effects into her adulthood, despite her career as a writer. "I’m a staff writer for The Atlantic, and I’m writing a memoir, and I still can’t shake off my poor education," she wrote.

School-choice advocate Corey DeAngelis commented on Watts' decision, framing it as a parent prioritizing their child. He criticized politicians and teachers' unions for limiting school choice options for families and argued that "school choice is the equalizer." DeAngelis suggested that funding should follow students rather than systems to improve educational outcomes for all children.

The discussion revisits Hannah-Jones' 2016 decision and her more recent essay. In her earlier account, Hannah-Jones described apologizing to her daughter, Najya, for not prioritizing her educational needs over broader concerns about educational inequality. Najya reportedly told her mother she wished her own education had received more consideration.

New York City Public Schools Chancellor, Kamar H. Samuels, defended the public school system, stating its commitment to providing inclusive environments with rigorous academics and diverse learning opportunities for all students. Watts, however, maintained that American society should not force parents into the position of choosing between their children's immediate needs and the condition of their local schools.