Within a large city, the difference between one public school and the next can be the difference between a serious study environment, and an environment where t

Within a large city, the difference between one public school and the next can be the difference between a serious study environment, and an environment where the majority are in gangs or come from broken families, and class is disrupted on a daily basis. The explanation is simple: the factors that separate the ghetto from the toniest parts of town will feed into a school system based on geographical location. School busing has been tried as a solution to this, but it causes other problems - expense, high commute times, and a environment where some of the kids are at an obvious - and painful - advantage to others. The parents in a good neighborhood will fight against busing, if it could put their kid in a worse school. The parents in a bad neighborhood may have too many other problems to be concerned with their kid's education.