Academic standards may not be as rigorous, but students are in class, not on the streets, and they receive a real diploma. There are other encouraging signs for children, before they reach high school. Two-thirds of Santa Clara County children are immunized against diseases such as polio, measles and mumps by the time they are 2. That's higher than the statewide average, and a significant improvement from five years ago. And the strong economy has raised incomes and helped reduce the proportion of children living in poverty by one-third since 1994.
Officials also take solace in recent surveys on charitable giving by businesses and individuals.
Another survey found that 83 percent of Silicon Valley residents say they contribute to charity , compared with 69 percent of Americans asked the same question. Moreover, despite long hours and hellish commutes, roughly half of respondents say they volunteer weekly, matching the national average. But Hero acknowledged that the surveys may exaggerate the impact of philanthropy in Silicon Valley. About half of the donations came in the form of products, a much higher percentage than national averages. And as much as 40 percent of individual giving may wind up outside Silicon Valley, primarily at the alma maters of local residents.