>Is crime/safety an issue?

not much of an issue. weaker kids get beat up but there are no weapons or outsiders harming the kids

>Do they offer all the classes the kid needs?

the "smart" kids have the same set of classes which are pretty good while the rest of the school struggles to teach the kids enough to pass the standardized state tests

>Are there enough books?

nope

>Are the teachers still trying?

at least half are just going through the motions. showing up to get a check...
>
>
>A motvivated, involved parent can work wonders with a "bad
>school" if the school has good bones. Some schools are "bad"
>because the parent population is poor, uneducated, and
>uninvolved and the kids suffer. Some schools suck because
>they're just shitty.

in these schools, parental involvement is nearly non-existent. PTA meetings get low turn out and fundraisers aren't supported.

the parents of these kids are struggling so much trying to make it as adults that they don't have time to be parents.

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I'm tryna be better off, not better than...