<p>In all fairness, I think it's important to keep in mind that there are approximately 400 students in this graduating class, and that approximately 5-10% of the ninth graders failed to graduate (a far better rate than in the rest of the city). </p>
<p>I would argue that most public schools do a pretty good job with the middle 85% of students, an okay job with the top 5%, and a terrible job with the bottom 10%. And it's that 10% that suck up the federally mandated funding. One reason why schools are struggling now relative to the 70's is the requirement that all students be educated; there are single students in many schools that cost four or five (or more) times the cost of the average students due to special physical, emotional, or learning needs. Yes, they should be educated---and yes, it's terribly expensive.</p>