Bringing Trouble

Since 1990, officials at 54 schools across the city have torn down their last playground basketball hoops or decided not to replace hoops destroyed by wear and tear or vandalism. The top reasons for getting rid of hoops: Officials blamed them for attracting gang members or older youth who hung out late at night, sometimes drinking or selling drugs.




Notes: Schools were allowed to offer more than one complaint or explanation.
Source: Survey of Chicago Public Schools conducted between April and June 2002 by The Chicago Reporter.