Mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel at a forum held at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. (Neon Tommy)

Each candidate has different promises and methods to reform Los Angeles' struggling public school system. There's one major setback: L.A.'s school district does not report to the mayor's office, so the mayor does not have direct control over the school system. 

And though the candidates have varying opinions on how to fix this "broken district," they all agree that students in L.A. Unified deserve more.  

Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest in the state and the second largest district in the country. But it also ranks as one of the worst, both state and nationwide. Superintendent John Deasy said that L.A. Unified's most recent graduation rate, close to 64 percent, is the best it has been in years even though it comes in far below the statewide average of 76 percent. 

New numbers from the U.S. Department of Education rank California 32nd in the nation with graduating high school students. California also ranks third from the bottom in school funding, and Los Angeles has drastically tightened its school resources' belt in recent years.

In the past five years, art programs in L.A. Unified have been cut by more than 75 percent, and overcrowded classrooms and crumbling facilities are familiar complaints for many public schools. 

Additionally, about 630 of L.A.'s public schools are deemed Title 1, which means half of each school's student population is low-income, and over 75 percent of L.A.'s student population is on the free lunch program. 

Bottom line, L.A. Unified has a lot of problems and not a lot of money to fix them.

So here's what the candidates say they are going to do about it:

Eric Garcetti - 13th District City Council Member

* Supports giving more resources to adult education.

* Calls for an education system that trains students for jobs. 

* Says he wants to revamp funding of schools, like Proposition 98, to get more per-pupil spending up front. 

* Wants to "break down walls" by adding more parks, ball fields, after school programs, libraries and programs involving the community. 

Wendy Greuel - City Controller

* Greuel has a son at Colfax Elementary School, a Title 1 charter school. She says her experiences as an active LAUSD mom help her understand the biggest issues facing schools. 

* She supports LA's Best, an after school enrichment program in close to 188 public schools around Los Angeles.

* Advocates for longer school years to give children more instruction and learning time.

* Promises to take a strong role as mayor to get more state funding for Title 1 schools and the free lunch program.

Kevin James - Former Assistant U.S. Attorney

* James is pushing for District-wide open enrollment, which he calls "school choice." Meaning he wants parents of any income level to have the opportunity to choose between public and private schools. 

* He strongly supports the parent-trigger law, which lets parents take over a low-performing school if they have the required number of signatures. 

* Wants to decrease violence and drug use in schools by moving more troubled students to "high-attention facilities," like continuation and special day schools. 

* He also promises to invite all stakeholders, particularly parents to have more say in school reform measures through citywide town hall meetings. 

* Proposes bringing his corporate tax credit scholarship programs and work-study programs to all of Los Angeles. He cites his successful work-study program with South Los Angeles students as an example.

Jan Perry - Council member Ninth District

* Perry spearheaded efforts to create nutritional guidelines and teach students healthier eating habits. 

* Connected over 57 public and private schools, four adult learning centers, nine recreation centers, and over 48 non-profits with a variety of performances, exhibits, and cultural/educational opportunities at places like the Disney Concert Hall and the Music Center.

* In a recent mayoral debate, Perry said, "L.A.'s traditional school system has failed our children."

* She wants to change that by creating more shared facilities and resources across Los Angeles and have more affordable early childhood education programs like First Five to prepare students for kindergarten. 

* Demands equal charter funding, and cites her support for the development of Accelerated School High School, a top-tier, nationally recognized charter school. 

* Advocates for in and after-school arts programs, like Trinity Elementary School's Inner City Arts program. 

* Promises to build more libraries, safer routes to and from school and broaden curriculum. 

Emanuel Pleitez- Former Economic Recovery Advisory Board Member for the Obama Administration 

* Pleitez calls education his "top priority" because he graduated from L.A. Unified and grew up in South L.A. and east of downtown 

* He wants to seriously address L.A.'s low high school graduation rate by improving literacy and increasing learning opportunities, 

* Promises to connect students more internships, skill development programs, career counseling, mentors and business partnerships. 

* Calls for reforming the pension system to aid education and get L.A. Unified "back on a path to sustainability."

When asked the question, "Describe the Los Angeles we should expect to see after eight years with you as mayor," by the L.A. Times editorial board, a better school system was a key aspect of every answer. 

"In education, specifically, graduation rates will be higher than the state of California and we will invest in the most underinvested communities, the most vulnerable communities, like the places I grew up," Pleitez responded. 

The others relayed similar sentiments. 

"I will create a Los Angeles where families feel comfortable putting their kids into our public school system," James answered. 

The Washington Post ranked the Los Angeles mayoral election as one of the top five races to watch in the nation this year and other political analysts agree this race is one to watch. And with L.A.'s public education system one of the top issues on each candidate's docket, L.A. Unified might see some substantial reform. 

Read more of Neon Tommy's mayoral election coverage here

Reach Editor at Large Brianna Sacks here