Schools Score Better Grades in the South Than the North

In Orange County, the line separating people who are happy with their public schools and those who are merely satisfied might be the Costa Mesa Freeway.

The Times Orange County Poll found that more than three of five residents who live in mostly middle-class areas from Irvine and Newport Beach to the southern county line gave A’s and Bs to their public schools.

By contrast, about half of those polled who live north and west of the freeway--which includes some of the county’s poorest areas--gave their schools the two top grades.

The poll also found the regions split on the problems perceived in schools. People in the north tended to worry more about crowded classes, school safety and, especially, run-down school buildings. Northerners also are slightly more inclined to push for more emphasis on basic skills.

There are plenty of practical reasons why people in the south might be happier with their schools. On the whole, northern schools are older and have less room for an expanding student population. Southern schools are newer and often equipped with better technology.

More schools in the north have been forced into year-round schedules because of crowding. Schools in the south have, with some exceptions, done more to cut class size this year in primary grades.

Joyce Gage of Buena Park said she worries about safety and discipline at her daughters’ school, John F. Kennedy High in La Palma. “I feel like I’m throwing them into a den of wolves when I drop them off. By the time they get out of high school, they’re hardened,” said Gage, who gave her public schools a C-minus. In San Clemente, JoAnn Work gives her children’s school, Las Palmas Elementary, a B-plus. She sees little crowding, gangs or violence and plenty of strengths with high-quality teachers, computer labs and an unusual bilingual program that immerses English-speaking students in Spanish. “When they grow up and go into the work force, that will come in handy,” Work said.

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Geographic Divide

People living south of the Costa Mesa Freeway give schools a higher grade than those farther north, showing less concern about overcrowded classrooms, violence and gangs and rundown facilities:

* Overall, what grade would you give to the public schools in your community? *--*

Grade North South A 14% 24% B 36 40 C 27 19 D 10 4 F 4 1 Don’t Know 9 12

*--*

* As far as the local public schools in your community are concerned, how much of a problem is:

Overcrowded classes

*--*

North South Big problem 36% 27% Somewhat of a problem 30 27 Small problem 12 13 No problem at all 15 23 Don’t know 7 10

*--*

Violence and gangs

*--*

North South Big problem 28% 14% Somewhat of a problem 29 22 Small problem 19 25 No problem at all 19 35 Don’t know 5 4

*--*

Run-down facilities

*--*

North South Big problem 14% 9% Somewhat of a problem 31 20 Small problem 19 17 No problem at all 31 47 Don’t know 5 7

*--*

Source: Times Orange County Poll