Parents know how important good schools are when they are deciding where to buy a new house. That's why they are willing to stretch their budget for a home near a "good" school. But they should not be fooled by the tree-lined streets and expensive real estate - the neighborhood schools may not be as good as they think, according to the findings in "Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice. "The book takes readers on a driving tour of some of California's best neighborhoods and supposedly some of its best schools. Many parents have found out the hard way that despite what they have been told about their neighborhood schools, many of these students are not performing at grade level, let alone ready for college.

This book explores a wide range of critical areas in education, examines the basic nature of our education problems, provides a clear understanding of underperformance, and proposes reasonable and effective strategies for success.