IMO, in the case of the performance of Chicago schools, a better measure of some level of success would be before and after Duncan...not relative to other cities. I agree that the high school graduation is low by national standards, but it went up 6-7% under Duncan. In the elementary schools.
reading skills went up,
math skills went up.....
Or maybe measure his performance against Bush's first Sec. of Ed....who, it turned out, fudged the city schools records to show greater success in improving Houston's schools than was actually achieved....the so-called "Houston Miracle" was a sham.
In the case of the two cabinet appointments made today, Interior and Agriculture, they are eminently qualified and equally important, and unlike Bush's appointments, they are not mining or agribusiness executives. I am more confident that they will not abuse their position of public trust to the benefit of the industries regulated by their respective departments.
The change from the current administration is that it is not a cabinet of sycophants and industry whores. A diversity of opinions on policy will be encouraged and the public interest put first.