I apologize David. Dumping on urban schools was never my intent. It’s just that since I’m a suburban person with first-hand knowledge (and since this is the suburbs thread) I was compelled to point out that the notion of excellent suburban schools isn’t mythology, as some here might be led to believe.That's great! Just don't go dumping on urban schools when you don't understand the context.
It’s also clearer than ever to me that a school isn’t just teachers in a building with a budget and a curriculum - it’s the entire community. You can have lots of money, great teachers and a great administration, but if your community has a lot of disfunction, your schools will suck. Conversely if your community is heavily involved and supportive, your schools will thrive.