This is very true. One can argue that much of the difference can't be overcome - there is no way that a public education can outperform someone whose life invo

This is very true. One can argue that much of the difference can't be overcome - there is no way that a public education can outperform someone whose life involves Mandarin immersion and test prep tutors. That said, there are schools (say the Success Academies) who find a way to perform well, even with poor kids, many of which are english language learners and special ed. Unfortunately many cities (and the progressives running them) are doing their best to chase away these reforms rather than embrace them.