Washington, D.C. among top cities for education reform

A study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute could make the nation's capital a more popular city among families that are moving with children.

The report graded 30 American cities on their efforts to reform their education systems. While no cities received an "A" grade, nine earned a "B" - Washington, D.C., New Orleans, New York City, Denver, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Austin, Houston and Fort Worth. Six cities picked up a grade of "D" or lower - San Diego, Detroit, San Jose, Albany, Philadelphia and Gary, Indiana.

"Too few American cities have the talent pool, leadership, infrastructure, culture, and resources to serve as hotbeds of educational problem solving," said Frederick Hess, who helped conduct the analysis. "But a handful of locales stand out as bright spots; they have created dynamic environments that help to attract and nurture creative problem solvers."

The study looked at a handful of factors to determine its grading, including districts' access to public and private funding, attention to quality-control and openness to nontraditional reform.

The city of Boston received a "C" grade, although a recent government competition highlighted Massachusetts' high educational standards. The state earned top marks in the Obama administration's Race to the Top Competition, and received $250 million in education funding, which could encourage some families with children to relocate there.


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