This week Sac City Unified and several other districts started the new school year. I, elbowing other camera-happy parents, sported a newly purchased Rite-Aid one-time-use camera and got some (great) photos. Yes, I’m behind the times, only getting a cell phone last year, and, while I have a digital camera, I don’t know how to work it. So you won’t see the uber-cool photos on my posts that you will on some of my colleagues’. The recent changes in personnel at my local school have me concerned, however, as well as some commentary made by classmates not too long ago about the dismal performance of Sac City schools. Should my family have gone private or not? (Have you seen the tuitions? I am not rich–thank goodness for the local library where I can get my reading fix for free.) Then I stumbled across a link on another Sacramento blog, Sacramento Land(ing).

Ever wonder how the schools in your neighborhood are faring? Check out this map. It’s interesting to note certain trends. Where the poor are, the low performing schools are. That generalization seems to be true. But not always. There are a few blue spots here and there, surprising in our fair city. And after looking at the map, for some reason I was reassured. The schools in my area aren’t all that bad. Besides, my kids get supplemental information from both parents, anyway. Hmmm, sure hope they’ll pass those High School exit exams…but that’s a question for another day.