2016 National Merit Semi-Finalists (Dallas, Plano, Allen: middle schools, vs., moving)

[DallasG]

Originally Posted by jdallas

Because, globally, our best is still quite mediocre when it comes to education but we can sure kick a field goal better than anyone.

Well, then we need to give education due importance or rest of the world would kick our butts in science, agriculture, business, finance and technology ... and may even start to kick better field goals.

[serger]

Originally Posted by EDS_

I think I understand your intent but your statement is not even remotely correct.

Our best is the best in the world by far. Check out worldwide rankings of colleges, universities, business schools, law schools, medical schools etc........those lists are totally dominated by US schools. As an example a med. school ranking out of China weighs research volume, quality of research and medical school rigor - according to them 9 of the top 10 and 19 of the top 25 medical schools on Earth are in The US - one of the top 10 is UTSW BTW.

Where we fail begins with second tier HS and college students. A lot of these kids more or less give up either skipping college or earning lower value degrees.

And below that we suck. Somehow we, society that is, must figure out ways to academically invigorate the black, Hispanic and American Indian communities. Although it's important to note that many new arrivals from Africa, Asian Indians as well, absolutely dominate in the classroom. There is a drive and a focus towards education among these cadres of people that everyone should celebrate.

In many ways we need to re-examine preconceived notions about money. According to the latest OECD numbers available regarding k-12 spending, regardless of the metric chosen, The US is a top K-12 spender ranking between 2 and 4 on almost every list. So gross money spent isn't the key issue. Finland, for one example, has much higher k-12 achievement and they spend much less than we do.

Likewise, can't simply blame US achievement gaps on family income as so many reflexively do - otherwise how do we countenance that the poorest white kids perform almost exactly as well (the gap is usually 3-5 points) as the richest black kids on the SAT test? OK you might say the SAT, a reading intensive and significantly logic based test, is culturally biased. Almost identical gaps appear on the ACT test which is nothing but an educational achievement test.

Yes, graduate schools and medical schools are generally the best in the world. But at those, there is no emphasis on kicking field goals. Sorry, couldn't resist.


Now, about high schools (no direct experience yet, but from what I hear) , way too much importance given to sports, band, and what not. Also, the competition seems to be a lot about taking and doing as many things as possible but how deep can you really go into each one. I'm all for well rounded education, but there is also jack of all trades, master of none.

[jdallas]

Um, yeah. wasn't talking about anything above high school given this thread is all about the NMSF hoopla.

anyway, Garland High School has 6 on the list this year.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by jdallas

Um, yeah. wasn't talking about anything above high school given this thread is all about the NMSF hoopla.

anyway, Garland High School has 6 on the list this year.

OK good, that makes me feel better.

BTW Garland ISD does not get nearly the props it deserves. That district impresses me every year.

[Big G]

Building the database block-by-block:

Rockwall 3
Plano West 53

[Dr. Jake Oil]

HPHS had 16

[DallasG]

Originally Posted by Big G

Building the database block-by-block:

Rockwall 3
Plano West 53

HPHS has 16. My colleague lives in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, his district send a letter that their 4 schools have a total of 7 NMSF this year.

[DitsyD]

Plano ISD has 78 total NMSFs.

Plano East has 12.
Plano Senior has 13.
Plano West has 53.

National Merit Semifinalists / News Archive : Plano ISD

[BabyDoctor77]

Originally Posted by DitsyD

Plano ISD has 78 total NMSFs.

Plano East has 12.
Plano Senior has 13.
Plano West has 53.

National Merit Semifinalists / News Archive : Plano ISD

What is the ratio of Asians to non-Asians for PISD nmsfs ?

[DitsyD]

Originally Posted by BabyDoctor77

What is the ratio of Asians to non-Asians for PISD nmsfs ?

They don't break it down by ethnicity. If you think that names can help you, the link I posted names the winners.