//here is my query that gets everything

<ul>
<?php foreach($schools as $school): ?>
<li id="1"><?php echo $school['School']['name']. '<br /> ' 
.'<span class="informal">'.$school['School']['city'].', ' .$school['School']['state']. '</span>'; ?> </li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>



//here is my autocomplete function 

<script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Autocompleter('User.schoolId', 'User.schoolId_autoComplete', '/users/autocomplete', {afterUpdateElement:getSelectionId});</script>