(Bloomberg) -- With its verdigris copper bell tower, the 90-year-old Alexander Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles encapsulates many of the Los Angeles Unified School District's woes. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame is being the school where the original Beverly Hills, 90210 was filmed. Even sought-after performing arts and music magnet programs haven't reversed the trend. The magnet programs are "the only thing that's helped us balance our numbers." The pressures have put LAUSD at the forefront of a financial squeeze afflicting school districts across the US.