Choosing a school is a matter of great concern for every parent. What should you expect from a school? First and foremost, it must bring out the best in students - academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. It should, in some way, reflect family’s interests and desires.
This excerpt was taken from the full article found here on The Public School Review. To get more information on specific districts and on schools in general visit their website at: www.publicschoolreview.com
This excerpt was taken from the full article found here on The Public School Review. To get more information on specific districts and on schools in general visit their website at: www.publicschoolreview.com
© 2006 by "DiscoveringArizona Inc." · All Rights Reserved · E-Mail: jayq@discoveringarizona.com
You can’t just pick the school you want your child to attend every year. The public school system dictates where they’ll go based on school district zoning laws. But, if you’re willing to relocate, then you have a wider range of schools that you can pick from.
In addition, there are special programs, such as Magnet Schools, Charter Schools, Gifted and Talented Programs, and Immersion Programs that are often cross-boundaried, such that as long as you’re in the same county as that school system, you can apply to have your children attend that school.
Of course cost is a big consideration. Since public schools depend on local and state taxes for the most part, you’ll find that better schools are normally in the costlier zip codes. Increased personal property tax allows the districts to spend more per student within the public school system every year.
In a recent Washington Post article, the following measures were used to evaluate schools:
In addition, there are special programs, such as Magnet Schools, Charter Schools, Gifted and Talented Programs, and Immersion Programs that are often cross-boundaried, such that as long as you’re in the same county as that school system, you can apply to have your children attend that school.
Of course cost is a big consideration. Since public schools depend on local and state taxes for the most part, you’ll find that better schools are normally in the costlier zip codes. Increased personal property tax allows the districts to spend more per student within the public school system every year.
In a recent Washington Post article, the following measures were used to evaluate schools:
Overall Test Scores. These are usually standardized test scores such as the SOL tests or a Standford-9 test.
Dropout Rate is a measure that is used at the High School level. It is a simple ratio of the number of students that quit school without graduating over the total number of students at that school.
8th Grade Algebra Completion is another indicator of how difficult a school’s curriculum is; it is only valid for middle schools.
PTA/PTO Participation Rate will show you what the level of parental involvement is at the school. This is a simple ratio of the number of parents involved in the PTA or PTO over the total number of students that attend that school.
Student Mobility Rate indicates how many students leave or enter a school mid-year. This is more an indicator how transient a population is in the school district. But some critics say that this number demonstrates the amount of classroom disruption that can occur at that school.
Student/Teacher Ratio
1st Year Teacher Rate will tell you how experienced the staff is at a school.
Diversity Index measures how likely two students picked at random will both be from a different ethnic background.
Dropout Rate is a measure that is used at the High School level. It is a simple ratio of the number of students that quit school without graduating over the total number of students at that school.
8th Grade Algebra Completion is another indicator of how difficult a school’s curriculum is; it is only valid for middle schools.
PTA/PTO Participation Rate will show you what the level of parental involvement is at the school. This is a simple ratio of the number of parents involved in the PTA or PTO over the total number of students that attend that school.
Student Mobility Rate indicates how many students leave or enter a school mid-year. This is more an indicator how transient a population is in the school district. But some critics say that this number demonstrates the amount of classroom disruption that can occur at that school.
Student/Teacher Ratio
1st Year Teacher Rate will tell you how experienced the staff is at a school.
Diversity Index measures how likely two students picked at random will both be from a different ethnic background.
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