Eight Dallas ISD high schools recognized as among the best by The Washington Post

[Adamson865]

Originally Posted by barnabasc

Regardless of the methodology, it's better to be on the list than not on the list. Yes, performance counts but at many of the Dallas schools there are also a lot of leadership opportunities that one might not get at some of the larger suburban schools. Kids grow into those roles and develop confidence. It's not all about participation.

Huh? What "leadership opportunities" are available in Dallas but not in the suburbs?

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by barnabasc

Regardless of the methodology, it's better to be on the list than not on the list. Yes, performance counts but at many of the Dallas schools there are also a lot of leadership opportunities that one might not get at some of the larger suburban schools. Kids grow into those roles and develop confidence. It's not all about participation.

Two thoughts:

1) it is actually better not to be on the list. If you read the methodology the creator of the list said that he did not put excellent schools on the list. Thus, some of the top public high schools in the country did not make this list because their average scores were too high.

2) I agree that you have a more leadership opportunities at smaller schools. It is much easier to be the QB of the football team at Sunset than Plano West. It is far easier to be the star of the musical at a school with a graduating class of 400 than 1,000, etc.

[BStinson]

Originally Posted by HockDad

Two thoughts:

1) it is actually better not to be on the list. If you read the methodology the creator of the list said that he did not put excellent schools on the list. Thus, some of the top public high schools in the country did not make this list because their average scores were too high.

2) I agree that you have a more leadership opportunities at smaller schools. It is much easier to be the QB of the football team at Sunset than Plano West. It is far easier to be the star of the musical at a school with a graduating class of 400 than 1,000, etc.

You can be star frog in your small local well or put your head in sand like an ostrich but hard to say if it gets you ready to compete in today's global economy.

[SMS_Parent]

Originally Posted by BStinson

You can be star frog in your small local well or put your head in sand like an ostrich but hard to say if it gets you ready to compete in today's global economy.

Or you can be Jordan Spieth at St. Monica/Jesuit/ UT/PGA Masters or Alex Green at St. Monica/BL/Stanford/NCAA women's final four -- both St. Monica class of 2007. Sometimes the stars frogs in the big ponds started off in the small ponds. Talent has a way of finding its level.

[Lakewooder]

Or Grace Choi from Lakewood/Long/Woodrow, who just finished second of 87 golfers in the Clover Cup Invitational in Mesa, Arizona: Choi finishes second, Michigan finishes fourth at Clover Cup - The Michigan Daily. Grace was state champ of Texas last year. Woodrow had four players in the NCAA basketball tournament.

[flysinger]

Originally Posted by ilovedallas2014

Coppell is missing?! Why?

same question here?
How much value is this one?

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by BStinson

You can be star frog in your small local well or put your head in sand like an ostrich but hard to say if it gets you ready to compete in today's global economy.

Colleges like seeing multiple activities. At a smaller school it would be much easier to be student counsel president for example. I am unsure if being student counsel president "gets you ready to compete in the global economy," but it probably provides a little more access to a better school that may help you compete in the global economy. Likewise, the second string QB at Allen is probably a hell of a player, but is unlikely he is getting college scholarships or recruiting letters from Ivy League Programs. However, if he went to Hillcrest, he would have a better chance to shine for college programs.