But I think those schools are a clear example of why it's a hard problem. Urban schools could be great places if we ended their stockhousing and controlling programs - but any school that did that would see a massive drop in graduation rate, from all the students who don't value education and won't show up unless compelled. If the cost of nice, non-controlling urban schools is a 30% graduation rate, is that a price anyone's willing to pay?

(And that's without touching the problem of actively violent, disruptive students, who would probably need to be expelled far sooner than they are to protect a non-controlling environment.)