we got a mix of investment in selective enrollment and special focus schools, increased options in local schools, and some charters.
charter operators are a mix, too. from universities to terrorists. (or so they say.)

it worked. it stemmed white flight, and we have a way, way better system than we did a decade ago.

brought to you by arne duncan.
hmmm.

Most of the financial muscle is going into kids who are struggling with the assumption that everyone else will do fine. That's part of what's motivating families to go private. And not just white kids. My son's school's student popultation is mostly made up of Latino, African-American and Filipino kids. And there is a waiting list for most grades. Recently, a local school blogger recounted a conversation with an SF school employee who said "I didn't go into teaching to help snotty white kids".

parents need choices. and parents will put those choices above a WHOLE lot of things to get what their kids need.
there are tons of choices now. not enough for the kids at the top, imho, who are really unserved in public schools. but at least there are math and science academies in most hoods. and there are more arts schools, too. language and culture based. behavioral supports.

it isnt the public schools being squeezed in chicago, its the parochial schools. the system has just collapsed.

on their own dime.

Public schools are public. Period.
Private schools are private. Period.

Maybe what you are saying is talking past me and we are really agreeing. But only when the middle class ( and somewhat above) are sending their kids (by and large) to public schools will public schools be supported. And, imho, only as long as quality public schools are supported will we have a true democracy.

some are just neighborhood schools.

what about selective enrollment public schools? are those alright?

The district sees that as a win - same amount of dollars in, fewer students to accommodate with those dollars.

With schools focusing most time and attention on low-track students, I do not blame parents who can for sending their children to schools that won't teach their kids that learning is slow, repetitive and boring. A middle class parent can donate time and money to a classroom, but it won't change much about how much of the day is spent trying getting at least 1/3 of the class up to the level another 1/3 mastered days ago.