$100 Million Public High Schools

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Evelyn Vazquez couldn't believe the price of new Panorama High School: $117 million. With an outdoor pool, a shaded quadrangle and one-of-a-kind architecture, the new school persuaded her to transfer from an older public school two years ago.

"That's a lot of money, but what came out of it is beautiful," said Vazquez, 17, a senior who's now president of the student body, with her twin sister, Jackie, as vice president. "This is a second home to most students."

Throughout the country, including in Chicago, the modern high school is evolving into an expensive institution. In the last four years, at least 36 high schools in 10 states have been constructed or are being planned at the $100 million-plus price, according to federal and state officials. Los Angeles is home to most of them—and even four middle schools at that cost, including one at $149 million.

Here's another gem from Chicago:

Chicago is about to see its first nine-figure school. Up to $102.9 million has been authorized for a new structure to replace Westinghouse Career Academy High School. The facility is to open in autumn 2009 and house 1,200 students—at a cost of almost $86,000 a student.

The facility will hold a college prep and a magnet vocational school under one roof, with the aim of improving test scores. In 2006, only 17 percent of Westinghouse's students met or exceeded state standards.

"I'm really shocked that the price has skyrocketed so high," said Jacqueline Leavy, former executive director of the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a non-profit watchdog that closed a year ago.

Chicago Public Schools spokesman Michael Vaughn said last week that Westinghouse's final cost could be $95 million. Still, that's twice the 2005 estimate of $47 million; Vaughn said the added costs came from demolition, land acquisition and remediation.

How much longer can the public afford "public education"? Just think,in Chicago they've lost over 40,000 public school students since 2000 but they are building $100 Million public high schools.