Vettezuki: You are on the money with location being an important factor to education. Public schools in Chicago are nothing but gang education centers.
Believe it or not so many kids were being shot on the way to school that there was talk of buying bullet-proof vests for them.
Most parents who can afford it (and give a shit) send their kids to parochial schools to actually learn things. However, go out to the (white) suburbs of Chicago and you will find some of the top-rated high schools in the country. And they are public high schools.
I also agree about the choice thing. Well said!!
Dep