Can a Good Education Improve Neighborhoods

In one of the video clips we watched in class, there was a high school that stated that only a few percent of their students end up graduating. The surrounding neighborhoods were very poor and most of the freshmen drop out of school. Like most schools, there's not a lot they can do to improve the safety and quality of their education. That's why I was very impressed with the work of Geoff Canada and how he eliminated the education gap between African American and Caucasian students. By founding Harlem's Children Zone, he has given children who were raised in a very bad neighborhood the opportunity to become better people and live a more promising life. They are not only learning about different subjects such as math, science, and history, but they are also learning how to improve their behavior. To stay in a charter school, the student's need skills like responsibility and independence. They have to dress appropriately and face the pressure of doing well in school, since their spot in class can easily be replaced by someone else. So my main question was whether or not providing a high quality school could improve the outcome of surrounding neighborhoods. It seemed to work for a community in Indianapolis (http://www.indystar.com/article/20130914/NEWS05/309140042/Mayor-Greg-Ballard-wants-improve-neighborhoods-by-creating-high-quality-schools). I really do believe that education can change a person and the outcome of their life. I think it's important for schools to follow Geoff's lead in improving the lifestyle of children everywhere.