Safer, more livable streets affect school quality, too

"Teacher migration studies show that high-quality teachers move toward better school facilities and more centrally located [ed.: i.e., walkable], safer areas. This trend occurs even when schools with more negative neighborhood effects offer better monetary compensation. Thus, because researchers agree that teacher quality has by far the greatest impact on student achievement, the attractive environment.... can be a crucial factor in maintaining and improving school quality."

- Urban Land, March 2006, "New Urban Synergies" by Andrea Christie Pizziconi