Hard lessons as S.F. public education feels squeeze

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/27/6 | Nanette Asimov and Heather Knight

[SmithL]

This should be a good time for San Francisco's public schools.

Test scores are rising, the district has earned national praise, and voters have approved a measure that will add millions of dollars to the school budget each year.

Instead, the schools are at a crisis point, and the main cause is beyond their control: High housing prices are spurring many families to leave the city.

As a result, enrollment is declining, schools are closing and officials are concerned the turmoil will reinforce negative perceptions that have helped give San Francisco the state's highest percentage of children in private schools, 29 percent.

The decline is happening, in fact, despite a population boom among preschool children. Once children reach school age, many families move, according to census data and city surveys.

"If you're going to have to make a lot of sacrifices to live in the city, the quality of the schools becomes all that much more important," said Margaret Brodkin, head of the city Department of Children, Youth and Their Families. "It becomes a factor that can draw you to stay -- but also then becomes a factor that forces you to leave."

Supporters of the public schools say things appear to be on the right track: Test scores improve every year, and parents are able to choose from a wider variety of campuses than in the past.

But the leadership and future of the district remain unclear.

The midyear departure of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, who led the district for six years, calmed an acrimonious atmosphere that had come to characterize the district.

[GAB-1955]

The high housing costs are the primary factor, I think. Money talks louder than mores, I fear.

[CrawDaddyCA]

Could it be that Mommy and daddy don't want their offspring watching two men have sex in public restrooms?

LOL! I bet that's a good part of the real reason people are leaving.

Good for them. I, as a resident of La., will be 'voting with my feet' when I leave this corrupt, God forsaken cesspool.

[Tzimisce]

"As a result, enrollment is declining, schools are closing and officials are concerned the turmoil will reinforce negative perceptions that have helped give San Francisco the state's highest percentage of children in private schools, 29 percent."

Aren't these the same people who are opposed to vouchers? I guess the crappy schools are okay for your kids, but not ours....

[winner3000]

Problem:
(The city schools spend $8,126 per student each year. But much of that money doesn't directly benefit students. Instead, district employees enjoy lucrative benefits -- including health care coverage for life.)

Yet, they decry the "Strings":
(Much of the money coming in from the state and federal government...has strings attached. District officials must use it for specific programs and cannot use it to pay for salaries and benefits.)

As long as the union is there they will never be able to save the schools. It's like a bottomless pit. Just ask GM!

[American in Singapore]

"As a result, enrollment is declining, schools are closing and officials are concerned the turmoil will reinforce negative perceptions that have helped give San Francisco the state's highest percentage of children in private schools, 29 percent."

Aren't these the same people who are opposed to vouchers? I guess the crappy schools are okay for your kids, but not ours....

Liberalism at its finest: they know what's best for the Little People, will spend OUR money to make sure it gets done (not their money), and then of course the solution or program is not good enough for them.

[DesScorp]

For those that say "aren't parents offended about the morals in Frisco?"...unfortunately, no, most could care less. It's just housing prices. The bad news is that liberals are migrating elsewhere now :P

[Jack Black]

Same story in Seattle and Portland. It's not just housing prices. At least not in Portland. A lot of the surrounding areas are more expensive. But the Portland School District and city are not family friendly. The "no cars" mentality is cool if your a twenty something slacker is not so much fun if you have two toddlers to take care of. The high density housing now the required replacement for the stately older homes is not so great if you want kids to have a place to play. There was an article about Seattle schools losing kids last week. I'll see if I can find it.

[Jack Black]

Same story in Seattle and Portland:

Dramatic changes proposed for Seattle schools ( Losing Students in a Blue City )

Same story in L.A.:

CA: The Incredible Shrinking School District - (LAUSD) More taxes for to pay for empty schoolrooms?

[jmaroneps37]

If Key West had a school system of any size or Greenwich Village was a separate city, the same would be happening there as well. This is what happens when a whole city of queers with two earning partners runs a town.

[Uncle Hal]

There was an article recently stating that in NY, Chicago,LA,Houston and Philadelphia white enrollment in the public schools is less than 15% in all cases and in some is closer to 10% of total students. I notice in SF it is less than 10%. My guess is that it will continue to drop. I assume the reason the SF public schools do better than other cities in CA. is the high proportion of Asians in the SF schools.Interesting.