From The New York Times: For years, Baltimore had one of the worst school systems in the country. Fewer than half its students graduated, enrollment had fallen precipitously and proficiency levels were far below the national average. Since the board hired Andres Alonso as the district’s CEO In 2007, he has pushed through a sweeping reorganization of the school system, closed failing schools, slashed the central office staff by a third and replaced three-quarters of all school principals. Not everyone likes Alonso’s methods, and many find that his brassy self-confidence can grate. But few are arguing with his results. Since he was hired, the dropout rate has fallen by half, more students are graduating and for the first time in many years, the system has gained students instead of losing them.
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