Why Florida Was the “Smart” Choice for LeBron

Lindsey Burke / July 09, 2010

Everyone has speculated about why LeBron James chose Florida as his next home court. Maybe it was the lower tax rate, perhaps the sunny beaches, or perhaps to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in pursuit of countless championships. Here’s another possibility: LeBron wants to be in a state that wins both on the court and in the classroom.

In Cleveland, 58 percent of eighth-grade students are below basic in math, compared to just 36 percent of students in Miami. Similarly, 27 percent of 8^th graders are below basic in reading in Miami versus nearly half of all eighth-graders in Cleveland.

And Cleveland spends a full $2,000 more per student than Miami. (more…)