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As the Richmond Public Schools district moves forward with citywide rezoning, George W. Carver Elementary School leaders want to turn the struggling school into a magnet — a distinction that would mean themed classes and — they hope — more money.

The idea presents an alternative to a controversial proposal that would see the school, where 98% of students are of students of color, paired with Mary Munford, the system’s whitest and highest-achieving elementary school, in an effort to boost diversity. The option is only one of four under consideration by the administration and a committee tasked with reviewing potential new school zones.

Supporters of the plan to cultivate a special focus on the arts and sciences at Carver say they welcome change, but want the school system to invest more in the schools as they currently are.

“It would be a bigger draw to Carver,” said Jerome Legions, president of the Carver Civic Association and the leader of the magnet school push. “In my mind the solution is simple: Resources first.”

One year removed from a cheating scandal that saw the federal education department strip a coveted National Blue Ribbon distinction from the West Leigh Street school, Carver plummeted from third-highest achieving elementary school in the district to second-worst.