Nope, I think in pretty much all states, property taxes fund schools in that district. So if your parents have an expensive home, it gathers lots of property tax, which goes mostly to the school in that neighborhood.

> American Dream

The so-called American Dream of social mobility does not exist anymore. It's a relic from the 50s, where a single income from a modest job could support an entire family, with a summer vacation every year.

The more modern examples of rags-to-riches bootstrapping-my-own-widget business are atypical.

The middle class is disappearing and it's not because they are upward bound.

> ...in pretty much all states, property taxes fund schools in that district...

Not in California. Public schools in CA get an essentially-uniform fee (from the state) based on attendance - about $40/day/child.

This helps make things more equal, and it is laudable.

Richer districts, however, have the ability to raise special property taxes, and use gifts from their wealthy residents, to supply extra services for their schools (like music/arts teachers, equipment, and facilities). So, even with a basically "equal" public system, rich districts end up with more.

'Per Thomas Piketty roughly 60% of America's wealth is inherited, meaning most of America's riches are owned by people who didn't work for them.'

https://twitter.com/_cingraham/status/1092536441819648000

http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/AlvaredoGarbintiPiketty2015....

Americans do.

The cultural script that the playing field is inherently fairer than anywhere else is what makes them accept bad conditions without question.

Indeed. Turns out the US in the 21st century is quite far from the top of the list of best places to make the American Dream a reality.

It certainly isn’t. The pressure to get to a good school starts very early and most of the time a good school is equivalent to having money.