On Wednesday in Rochester, N.Y., new CPS chief Jean-Claude Brizard defended his record and said he was leaving the district on solid ground. (Annette Lein, Democrat and Chronicle / April 20, 2011)

By Diane Rado and Joel Hood, Tribune reporters

2:31 a.m. CDT, April 21, 2011

ROCHESTER, N.Y. ——
When Rochester City Schools Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard departs to take charge of Chicago's public school system, he'll leave behind a largely broken school district with dismal test scores, shaky finances and a fractured relationship with teachers.

Though Brizard touts improvements in graduation rates and test scores among his accomplishments in his 3 1/2 years, opinion is sharply divided on whether he has made a significant difference in the performance of the district's largely low-