Dallas Schools Top in Nation (Plano, Irving: credit, best school, to live in)

[hamiltonpl]

According to Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1257&Search=&start=200&limit=100& year=2007& - broken link)Dallas ISD has the two top schools in the nation. And another Dallas ISD high school is ranked above the suburban schools. It's interesting that this is against the conventional wisdom that you can't get a good education in an urban public school.


1 Talented and Gifted (Dallas ISD)

2 Science/Engineering Magnet (Dallas ISD)

13 North Hills School (Irving ISD)

14 Highland Park (Highland Park ISD)

131 Warren T White (Dallas ISD)

177 Plano West (Plano ISD)

185 McKinney (McKinney ISD)

[Txstar]

That is good news for Dallas and Texas. I guess DISD must be doing something right.

[sberdrow]

but....you would have to LIVE IN Dallas. Blaaaaa

[Synopsis]

That is good news and very impressive, especially with all of the negative press you hear about the DISD.

[sonshinelife]

North Hills is not part of Irving ISD. They are a charter school located in Irving, Texas.

All they give is worksheets (I've had many students who have left North Hills to come back to public school and parents have specifically stated the excess worksheets as one of their reasons for pulling their child.) If that is what you want for your child then great.

I'd rather have my child learning critical thinking skills in all subject areas. I'd rather my child not sit and do 100 problems a night. It is more important to me that a child learns why 2 x 2 = 4 and not just that 2 x 2=4. (I know this is a simple example and it isn't H.S. example... I just am trying to state a point.)

[lh_newbie]

Gotta love the school debate. When tests are done to compare schools, people are VERY critical of it. If their schools aren't on the list, every excuse in the book pops out. People are so defensive. Just about every school district has good schools and bad schools. In fact, just about every school has good teachers and bad teachers. As a parent, you should ensure you get your kid in the best school in your area and that they are also in the classes with the best teachers.

Oh, and while we're at it, we shouldn't count on the school/teacher to teach things like prioritization, financial responsibilty and logic... ensure you teach those yourself. Schools don't do a good job of those.

Brian

[sonshinelife]

I agree parents should take some ownership in raising kids and helping to prepare the kids for the future... I have to argue the fact that schools are not teaching logic. CFBISD schools are going full force on ensuring that students are getting higher level critical thinking skills. CFBISD trains their teachers intensely in this area and the teachers are using these strategies and skills starting at PK all the way through 12th grade. Instructional Facilitators are in every building to help with this endeavor. Coaching is being implemented in CFBISD.


Just today I read in the morning news that Dallas ISD is implementing something similar. They are using Instructional Coaches to help with improving instruction. Coaches work closely with teachers to help make a better learning environment for all concerned. Teachers are finding this to be very helpful. This allows the teachers opportunities to reach children more effectively and to enrich their own strengths as a teacher. It is my hope that this is spreading to all districts regardless of size.

School districts deserve more credit than what the general public gives them. :-)

[940]

Originally Posted by hamiltonpl

According to Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1257&Search=&start=200&limit=100& year=2007& - broken link)Dallas ISD has the two top schools in the nation. And another Dallas ISD high school is ranked above the suburban schools. It's interesting that this is against the conventional wisdom that you can't get a good education in an urban public school.


1 Talented and Gifted (Dallas ISD)

2 Science/Engineering Magnet (Dallas ISD)

13 North Hills School (Irving ISD)

14 Highland Park (Highland Park ISD)

131 Warren T White (Dallas ISD)

177 Plano West (Plano ISD)

185 McKinney (McKinney ISD)

Colleyville Heritage High was also on this list coming in at #95. It's part of the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

but....you would have to LIVE IN Dallas. Blaaaaa

what's wrong with that?

[FarNorthDallas]

I live in Dallas and I continue to live.