Blame HSTA, blame public schools.  Where do you think the kids who get kicked out of these "vaunted" private schools go?  To another private school?  Get real, they go to the public schools.  The FOBs, special ed students, homeless kids, drug babies, autistic kids, the public schools takes them all.   The teachers in the public schools deserve a medal for taking all, instead of the few who can pass a test and follow the rules.  They SHOULD institute vouchers so the low performing or disciplinary problems have an opportunity to attend private schools.  Spread the aloha evenly.   See if the private school teachers can reach and teach the demographic groups I mentioned previously.  But I highly doubt it.