Schools at a Crossroads

Posted by on May 28, 2006

The San Francisco Chronicle begins a six-part series today on the city's schools. The midyear departure of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman calmed an acrimonious atmosphere that had come to characterize the district, according to the Chronicle. But even through the city schools spend $8,126 per student each year -- more than most other large districts in California and even the nation, nearly a third of kids in San Francisco attend private and parochial schools -- 3 1/2 times the rate of California as a whole. The Chronicle series promises to dig in to such issues as why families are leaving the city and where the money goes (in part, to district employees who enjoy health care coverage for life).

See a preview of the series here.