Facebook CEO to donate $120m to San Francisco schools

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to donate $120 million to schools in the Bay Area of San Francisco as part of an initiative to improve education.

The social networking mogul claimed that schools in his local area are underserved by the public education system with poor and minority students in particular struggling to make it through high school.

"Last year in the Ravenswood School District, less than 40 per cent of students were proficient on state tests in English language arts and less than 50 per cent in math," Zuckerberg wrote in piece for the San Jose Mecury News.

"This means fewer students from low-income and minority backgrounds graduating from high school or attending and succeeding in college."

Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, will donate the sum of $120 million through the Startup:Education fund.

An initial $5 million will be used to support schools in the Ravenswood School District in East Palo Alto/Belle Haven, Redwood City School District and other under-served communities in San Francisco.

Money will be used to provide computers, internet access, fund teacher training and parent outreach.

"We're excited for the opportunity to support so many amazing educators, leaders and entrepreneurs in the years ahead to create schools where students thrive," Zuckerberg added.

"Education is something worth investing in and if we can help make things better it will make all of our lives better."