The "Troubles" in MPS

After the single most effective advertising campaign in Milwaukee history, DarthDoyle allowed an increase in "Choice" school seats. You recall the campaign, which embarrassed Darth (no mean feat,) asking him 'not to stand in the schoolhouse door.'

There's no question WHY parents want their children out of MPS:

The number of students suspended for battery this school year was 562, compared with 399 in 2005-'06 (the data goes through June 4 of each school year).

For gang activity, the figure rose to 291 from 146.

And 8,704 students were suspended for fights this school year, up from 8,159 students last year.

In a few categories of suspensions, the numbers went down. For instance, the number of students suspended for weapons possession was down slightly, from 441 last school year to 429 this school year.

45% of all high school students have been suspended at least once this year; among middle-school-age students, the figure was 25%, and among elementary-school-age students, it was 10%.

And those are just the ones who got caught.