Best High School? (neighborhood, contractors, costs)

[Zoidberg]

I think these numbers look lower than they actually are; if a student transfers to another school, is that factored in?

What about students who graduate in 4 yrs + a summer? In 3 1/2 yrs? Got their G.E.D. early to move on to college early?

Still, the numbers above make a good relative metric for about where a school stands among its peers.

[Tim Rankin]

Everyone always thinks La Cueva is the best HS - I think that has something to do with the financial demographics of that area. I once heard someone say that the biggest difference between La Cueva other nearby high schools was that the kids at La Cueva got to do "designer" drugs.

Joking aside, there was a study in '08 where 3 Albuq schools ranked in the top 8%, nationally. Sandia & La Cueva rec'd "silver awards" while El Dorado rec'd a "bronze award." I don't know if Rio Rancho schools were considered "in Albuq" for the results of the study.

[Zoidberg]

I think it also bears repeating that your child will only be marginally influenced by a school's quality in the APS system, where teacher pay is largely uniform between schools.

Your flunky kid can go to La Cueva and flunk out with the best of them.
Your honor student can go to West Mesa and get into an Ivy League school.

Access to drugs in school X? Yes.

One of my favorite anecdotes to repeat:

Last year, a La Cueva student was caught on camera with a cardboard cutout that looked like a gun. The entire high school and adjoining middle school were placed on lockdown (that's right; nobody could leave, including visitors and contractors) for several hours.

That exact same day, a Rio Grande student was caught with a real gun. School officials, accustomed to the situation, disarmed and detained the student without incident, and school proceeded as normal.

I think this is a case where maybe you don't want your kid going to the best school, merely because of how out-of-touch good schools can be.

[rybert]

All the schools in the state receive the same ammount of funding per student, correct?

[neechert]

I am only 24, I went to Eldorado (class of 03), and had lots of very good friends at La Cueva, Sandia, and Sandia Prep. Personally, I didn't do very well in high school, I was pretty apathetic at the time (actually dropped out and got my GED my senior year, to attend UNM). Once I got to college I woke up and graduated with a BS in electrical engineering.

Anyway, looking back, I wish I could have attended Sandia Prep. Coming from APS I do NOT have a very good view of them. IMO, they tend to focus more on the "problem" students than the smarter ones. And in todays society concerned with being PC and avoiding law suites, I think public schools have completely lost their ability to prepare kids for the "real world."

Given, anyone can attend an amazing high school and flunk out, or a terrible high school and do well, I think that it takes more personal motivation and strength to succeed at a "bad" school.

Originally Posted by rybert

All the schools in the state receive the same ammount of funding per student, correct?

Yes this is correct, but I believe the schools such as La Cueva get a lot more private funding, from parents and local businesses and such (at least for sports). Someone correct me if im wrong.

[Zoidberg]

I'm sure they don't, rybert.

Different tax districts raise different tax amounts for their programs. A well-off district like Los Alamos will be able to spend far more per student than a poor district like Gallup.

The state does come in to equalize things a bit; underfunded schools will receive much more state funding than well-funded schools.

That said, APS (all public schools in Albuquerque are part of APS) spends close to the same amount per student (school construction, renovation, facilities, etc. aside).

[neechert]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

I'm sure they don't, rybert.

Different tax districts raise different tax amounts for their programs. A well-off district like Los Alamos will be able to spend far more per student than a poor district like Gallup.

The state does come in to equalize things a bit; underfunded schools will receive much more state funding than well-funded schools.

That said, APS (all public schools in Albuquerque are part of APS) spends close to the same amount per student (school construction, renovation, facilities, etc. aside).

Oops, yeah I was thinking APS, not state.

[rybert]

When it comes to State funding, I was under the impression that all schools receive the same amount per student. Whether it's Moriarty, La Cueva, or West Mesa.

[Ryan Hardy]

"Last year, a La Cueva student was caught on camera with a cardboard cutout that looked like a gun. The entire high school and adjoining middle school were placed on lockdown (that's right; nobody could leave, including visitors and contractors) for several hours."



What is the adjoining middle school?

[bradly]

Originally Posted by rybert

When it comes to State funding, I was under the impression that all schools receive the same amount per student. Whether it's Moriarty, La Cueva, or West Mesa.

Wrong, At least Espanola doesnt. They still dont. Plus any state funding EVS Espanola Valley Schools gets is always mispent. Sadly. I remeber my days at Espanola. It looked like a college campus. Now its one big dump.