If the Clintons send Chelsea to private school, they wouldn’t be unique among First Families. When Amy Carter entered a local elementary school in 1977, it was the first time in 71 years that a president’s child had attended public school. This spring, The Washington Post reported that none of the nation’s top education officials sent their kids to District public schools.
But the prospect of Chelsea in private school disturbs education reformers. “We believe the best education is public education,” says Pat Henry, national president of the PTA. During a recent walk through Washington, Clinton mentioned that he might send Chelsea to the highly regarded Deal Junior High School,in an upscale section of the District. As a candidate, Clinton visited another good alternative: Jefferson Junior High School, which emphasizes math and science. (Chelsea wants to be a scientist.)
