By the Numbers

New York City Schools

Enrollment: 1.1 million

Teachers: 79,000

Schools: 1,500

Budget in 2008-09: $21 billion

Public charter schools: 78, with about 24,000 students. At least 20 more charters to open in fall.

D.C. Public Schools

Enrollment: 45,000

Teachers: 3,500

Schools: 123

Budget in 2008-09: $764 million

Charters: 59, with 25,000 students (not included above in the regular school system enrollment).

How New York and D.C. public schools compared on 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress:

Fourth-graders scoring at or above a basic level of achievement in mathematics:

New York: 79 percent