peachskittles Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I actually checked last night for some odd reason. Elementary (k-3) is 2 stars, middle (6-8) is 2 stars and high school (9-12) is 4 stars. No score for the school that is for 4-5th grade. We live in an area with a high amount of immigrant children (mainly Mexican and Sudanese) due to the 3 plants in town (Tyson, IBP and Farmland). I'm sure this has an influence on our ranking as most children I've heard enter school with very little English skills. We have two private schools, Catholic and Lutheran, that I hear are amazing but no rating for them on that site. My old elementary school is an 8 and old high school is a 2. Yep, that sounds about right. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) Where we just moved from: Elementary - 3 (I was regularly told by local parents what a great school this is.) Middle School - 2 High School - 3 Where we live now: Elementary - 4 Middle School - 4 High School - 6 Edited February 24, 2011 by joannqn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iona Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 That is a really interesting set up. What are most people's major likes and dislikes about the set up? we have only been in the area a year, so i haven't heard too much response. it seems like in general people like it and it was intended to decrease competition(you don't have the fight to get into a specific elementary, you don't have the option). everyone would be in the same boat for better or worse. my friend, whose kids go to ps, told me about lining up in the spring to try and get her kids a specific teacher for the following fall. that may be the case with any school though. she also has to pick her pker and 1st grader up from two different schools. they stagger the release times so you can go pick people up and they aren't waiting around. of course the buses go from school to school and pick up all the kids from a specific neighbourhood. My MIL liked the fact that the there wouldn't be as much of an age range in each school location(possibly less chance of big kid on little kid bullying)except for the busrides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleni Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 10 our district is one of the top in the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) We have four public elementary schools in our suburb. The one my son attended is ranked a 10. I know the others are good, too. I think I might be overly particular, but for the most part, I've been happy with our schools. ETA: Two elementary schools -- 9. Two elementary schools -- 10. The two middle schools -- 10. The two junior highs -- 10. High school -- 10. Edited February 24, 2011 by MBM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The elementary school my kids would attend was n/a. The other elementary school and the high school were both 9. The middle school was 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Ours got a one and uh...it is supposed to be one of the best elementarys in the district. Seriously....a one? Really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 8 elementary, 10 for middle, 9 high school. Unfortunately the high school my kid choose to go to rates a 6. But, she's there from the performing arts magnet, and she's in all honors, so it's not been as bad as I feared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 we have only been in the area a year, so i haven't heard too much response. it seems like in general people like it and it was intended to decrease competition(you don't have the fight to get into a specific elementary, you don't have the option). everyone would be in the same boat for better or worse. my friend, whose kids go to ps, told me about lining up in the spring to try and get her kids a specific teacher for the following fall. that may be the case with any school though. she also has to pick her pker and 1st grader up from two different schools. they stagger the release times so you can go pick people up and they aren't waiting around. of course the buses go from school to school and pick up all the kids from a specific neighbourhood. My MIL liked the fact that the there wouldn't be as much of an age range in each school location(possibly less chance of big kid on little kid bullying)except for the busrides. Interesting, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I've never seen those rankings before! All the schools my kids would have attended (elementary and middle) rate a 10, as does the high school. They've never attended any school (preK-7), but I am seriously considering sending them to the high school. Wouldn't consider sending them to middle school no matter what the rankings. Ick, middle school. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 For someone who needs a bit of extra help and cannot afford tutoring and does not have the ability to do it themselves, I think the schools here are better than the magnet school that got a 9. From talking to friends here, the schools seem to do a good job reaching the average student and making sure everyone knows what is going on. . I noticed people quoting low-income rankings for each school, the low-income ranking for the magnet school is a 5. But, I still think that our local 4 school would be more helpful for their particular case, and it's low income rating was a 2. Of course, low-income here might be much lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hmmm. Our local PS elementary is a 4, and the main charter school we applied to (combo of Charlotte Mason/university-model) just opened last year so it isn't listed yet. The other charter school we applied for (2nd choice, Montessori model) is an 8. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Our neighborhood elementary is a 6. The junior and senior highs are both rated 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 All the schools in our district had either a 9 or 10. The elementary, middle and high school that my kids attended, would attend were all 10s. I agree with the elementary and high school, but the 5-6th grade building was a nightmare. That is why we started homeschooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 How interesting. While our elementary school ranks and 8 (which I voted for in the poll since you asked for elementary)..... Our high school ranks a 3. And ours is considered one of the 'better' high schools in the area. SOOOOO glad I didn't send my kids there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The elementary school my dc would go to is rated an 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iona Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 That is a really interesting set up. What are most people's major likes and dislikes about the set up? i had one more thought. you'll have a street of nicer homes next to more run down homes. i wonder if the lack of school district lines is at all responsible for this. It isn't a complete hodgepodge, but there are less uniform areas than you might find in another town. you don't have to try and live in a certain area to go to a specific school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 A 4. I'm not surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in GA Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) Yikes. I never heard of this, and don't know exactly what it means. But every school, at every level, within about 5 minutes of us is a solid 10. No wonder I know so few people who homeschool. Now I wonder if I have been shortchanging my kids. Edited February 24, 2011 by Jenny in GA changed minor detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J'etudie Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) :lurk5: Edited November 23, 2012 by In Light of Eternity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I'm curious, if you go to http://www.greatschools.org and search for your local elementary school. How does it rank? Bill Ours ranks an 8, but that doesn't mean a hill of beans when AZ scores 49 out of 50 on national ranks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) Our school district assigns schools based on the student's address. The elementary, middle, and high school that my children would attend are all ranked 4. The schools that are just outside our boundary restriction are rated 9 and 10. Edited February 24, 2011 by TrixieB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Ours ranks an 8, but that doesn't mean a hill of beans when AZ scores 49 out of 50 on national ranks. No, someone look it it up for me the other day, I was sure that you had to be above at least 2 of the 3 of Arkansas, Louisana, and Mississippi, and AZ was actually 42! I am not sure where that 49 number is coming from. (Although 42 is nothing to write home about.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 i had one more thought. you'll have a street of nicer homes next to more run down homes. i wonder if the lack of school district lines is at all responsible for this. It isn't a complete hodgepodge, but there are less uniform areas than you might find in another town. you don't have to try and live in a certain area to go to a specific school. That is interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The elementary is a 6, high school a 5. The page for the schools listed 4 languages they don't teach, so I don't know how they get the info. They also fail to mention that this district of 990 students cut over 90 teachers, aides, and employees due to funding-mostly special Ed and the arts. They don't have swimming or band around here, for instance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Our elementary ranks a 5. Our middle school ranks a 7. Our high school ranks a 5. I teach there. If 5 is indeed average (as test scores say it probably is), it's not a pretty picture for the future of the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flux Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The 3 nearest to my home were all n/a. The next three nearest to my home were 1(a charter!), 3, and 4 (I am shocked the numbers are this high, I would wager most prisons would be preferable and safer). There are 2 good charters in our city, one scored a 9 and one a 10. I suppose I exaggerate slightly by saying getting into one of those is like getting into an Ivy League University. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The elementary school they'd attend is a 7, API rank is an 8 and the STAR testing is 850 (very good score). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flux Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Ours ranks an 8, but that doesn't mean a hill of beans when AZ scores 49 out of 50 on national ranks. You put this so well:) I'm in a bottom 5 State... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 You put this so well:) I'm in a bottom 5 State... Where does one find out how one's state ranks? Is that on the same site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I checked the local high schools and they are all 1s with the exception of the magnet school which is a seven. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 ohhh that hurt. All over the board. A few were 5 the one my kids would have to go to is 3. the high schools are 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The elementary school the girls would go to is a 4. The high school is a 1. I live in an inner city district that are among the worst in the state, considered to be in "academic emergency". They will never get their hands on may girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 My local elementary school is a 2. The high school is a three. :glare: I'm curious, though, Bill. You've raved about your child's private school in the past. How did it rank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundAbout Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The one around the corner from us is a 2, and our real estate agent kept pushing that this district is better than the surrounding area. To be fair, the high school is an 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lulubelle Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Every school in town is a 10, whether public or private. Not surprised. We do not homeschool for academic purposes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 My local elementary school is a 2. The high school is a three. :glare: I'm curious, though, Bill. You've raved about your child's private school in the past. How did it rank? It is a public school. It got a 10. I don't know if "raved" is the word I'd choose, but it is a very good (not perfect) public school. We after-school because I believe home eduction can raise the level of education far above what a even a 10 school can provide, and see this as part of the duty (and pleasure) of being a parent. But our school does bring a good deal to the table. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 It is a public school. It got a 10. I don't know if "raved" is the word I'd choose, but it is a very good (not perfect) public school. We after-school because I believe home eduction can raise the level of education far above what a even a 10 school can provide, and see this as part of the duty (and pleasure) of being a parent. But our school does bring a good deal to the table. Bill That's good to know! I imagine seeing that ranking was very reassuring. :001_smile: I apologize for the mistake. For some reason I thought your son was attending a private school (first grade?), but maybe I'm confusing that with the preschool he attended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I live in a small city with two universities, one Ivy league. I could tell you what the schools scores are without looking at that site. The neighborhoods for the professors, lawyers and doctors score very high. The neighborhoods for the teachers and office workers score in middle. The poorer neighborhoods, like where I live, score very low. I live in the only 'minority' neighborhood as it is so delicately called in these parts, full of the food service and janitors for those universities and lawyers. My neighborhood school is a 2. So sad and unfair. We moved to this neighborhood on purpose. We knew we wanted to homeschool and this way, we can afford to have me stay home. If we weren't homeschooling I would be working full time and struggling to afford a house a few blocks away. And, for the record, my neighborhood is perfectly fine. It has it's moments but I like it better than some of the nicer streets where no one is ever home. At least I know my neighbors and they are all very nice. My friend lives in a lovely cul-de-sac. In 14 years she has never spoken to a neighbor. But, her school is a 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairytalemama Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Our elementary is a 8. Our middle school is a 4. The high school is a 7. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Elementary, junior and senior are all 3's. Now you know why I homeschool. Honestly, in my eldest dd's junior year, I called the high school to see if she could take the PSAT there. They didn't know what I was talking about. I with 3 different people because it was so shocking to me. I feel bad for the kids in my area in families who are not in a position to homeschool. (I did call a local private school. They told me they didn't want *MY* dd's score to *skew* the results for their "award winning" school. I guess I could have been snarky and sent them a copy of her certificate naming her a National Merit Finalist. So glad she didn't skew their reality.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVanGogh Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Our school is a ten, but I don't homeschool for academic reasons. We live in an upper-middle class suburb of a big city in the south. Our school district has a terrible drug problem. Public or private schools would be the last option for us. (Private, because we see that they have been the 'dumping ground' for children pushed out of public school.) I am curious, too, about what standards are used to deem schools "great." Our school is rated 10 - but 72% of graduates take remedial classes in college. That doesn't sound like a "ten" school to me. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Where does one find out how one's state ranks? Is that on the same site? Here is a thread with a link to those rankings. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243267&highlight=49th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I am curious, too, about what standards are used to deem schools "great." Our school is rated 10 - but 72% of graduates take remedial classes in college. That doesn't sound like a "ten" school to me. :glare: I wondered about that as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Time Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 That's good to know! I imagine seeing that ranking was very reassuring. :001_smile: I apologize for the mistake. For some reason I thought your son was attending a private school (first grade?), but maybe I'm confusing that with the preschool he attended? Kind of like the folks I work with. They go online and watch their kids grades. They are very reassured when they are up there in the 90s where they feel they belong. It is so vital to have feedback and know what is going on, so this kind of data is really helping the parents keep track of things. Technology like this is no doubt really making a difference. I am telling you, peace of mind is priceless. Truly priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I voted 6, but that's just for elementary. It just gets worse from there. The high school is a 3 with just 2 little stars. Yeah.....I'll be keeping them home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Bill, does your elementary school have a web site that might tell us more about what they are doing/ using? Don't know if that would be inappropriate to ask. I'm just curious about what a 10 school looks like. I feel like I'm doing a very good job with my oldest, but my youngest....I'm struggling with getting her reading/ writing/ doing math. She's not quite six yet, so people keep telling me not to worry, but my gut is worried. I've had her tested, and her achievement is right on average, but the gap between IQ and achievement was more than 30 points. They said she had the ear marks of a learning disability, but not dyslexia, and it was "too early to tell" what it is or what would help. She does have an anxiety disorder, and has improved with medication, but I keep seeing what her friends in kindergarten are doing, and I feel wretched. She is SO smart, and still having such difficulties. On the other hand, the recommendation was to put her in public school, with the understanding that in a couple years she would probably have fallen enough behind to get some help. Not a great plan in my mind. And she is average.....but, the kid uses words like soporific and luminous. She should be able to print her name/ understand basic addition/ read more than CVC words (and not consistently, after 18 months of instruction)/ remember her birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundAbout Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I am curious, too, about what standards are used to deem schools "great." Our school is rated 10 - but 72% of graduates take remedial classes in college. That doesn't sound like a "ten" school to me. :glare: Yes, and on the flip side I attended school in a district that averages 3's but it was a huge district that was able to support an absolutely stellar TAG program for elementary students and great honors and APs for high schoolers. I was able to get a "9" education and go to a top caliber science school despite being in an otherwise shoddy district. Every year there are graduates from my high school going to highly selective top tier colleges because of these great "hidden" programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 The elementary school in town got a 5 :glare: The middle school in town got a 3 :glare: The High School in town got a 5 :glare: Our homeschool, well a 100 ofcourse ;) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 There are numerous schools that rate a "10" in my city: Cassidy Elementary School - in the swanky part of town; only the rich and famous may attend, in general. Their middle school and high school will also rank high, I'm sure.... But my child may not attend there.... Clays Mill Elementary School - I'm surprised by this one and by the middle school listed right below it.... Jessie M Clark Middle School Maxwell Spanish Immersion Elementary School - again, many parents from wealthier families put their children in the immersion program and the school's overall test results are raised because they are there. This school is in a poorer part of town and the general population of the school does not score well.... Meadowthorpe Elementary School - the gifted program is housed here. Again, the general population does not do as well as the special population - and that is true for most of our schools here. Dunbar high has a gifted math and science pod. They have terrific math and science scores because of them - but they serve less than a hundred kids out of a total population of more than 2000.... I would not give any of these schools a score of "10"..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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