Do these grades seem high?

[AusParent]

All of these posts have very good points. For performance, this school scores 3 out of 4 (1 being the best). I assume that the score is based on state standardized tests (and am trying to confirm). If so, there may be a discrepancy between the school's scores and GPAs. Assuming that the state standardized tests are a good measure of acceptable mastery, we don't want to find out that our child is getting good grades but not meeting standards. Of course, the goals of these metrics are to determine: 1) is your child meeting standards and possibly 2) is your child capable of doing more.

Another question: how are accelerated schools (ex. magnets) measured?

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by AusParent

All of these posts have very good points. For performance, this school scores 3 out of 4 (1 being the best). I assume that the score is based on state standardized tests (and am trying to confirm). If so, there may be a discrepancy between the school's scores and GPAs. Assuming that the state standardized tests are a good measure of acceptable mastery, we don't want to find out that our child is getting good grades but not meeting standards. Of course, the goals of these metrics are to determine: 1) is your child meeting standards and possibly 2) is your child capable of doing more.

Another question: how are accelerated schools (ex. magnets) measured?

Not sure what you mean by "measured". Schools here are not ranked by the government or any other universal means. There are many independent measures by Newsweek, US News, and even within the state there is a magazine that does that.

In general scores on SATs, ACTs and percentage of students taking AP courses are all used. As for accelerated schools we are measured using the same criteria as other schools. My school judges its own progress based on SATs and SAT IIs than the state wide standardized tests since all of our students are always in the highest level (advanced proficient) so we need another measure to determine gains or losses in specific areas.

[toobusytoday]

The Principal at our school once told us that we would not want our students taught to the basic standards that the state requires because that bar is set so low. I don't know if names on an honor role are a good indication of rigor. Instead look at what percentage of kids go to college and values like that.

[AusParent]

Originally Posted by lkb0714

My school judges its own progress based on SATs and SAT IIs than the state wide standardized tests since all of our students are always in the highest level (advanced proficient) so we need another measure to determine gains or losses in specific areas.

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

Instead look at what percentage of kids go to college and values like that.

Useful information.

Here's what I've learned speaking to the school district today. 1) The school does reasonably well overall on state standardized tests. (It could be stronger in math and science.) 2) The district doesn't consider grades to be an indication of likely performance on the state standardized tests. 3) The state standardized test isn't normalized like the ITBS. (It tests to the curriculum.)

So, it looks like grades at this school are a rough assessment of performance. And probably other measures are advisable beyond yearly state standardized testing.

[bongo]

Aren't your district's state standardized test scores publicly posted?

[Steve Bagu]

Ivorytickler; Just a thought not knowing the grade level or subject matter being taught.

Have you ever thought of putting a "Ringer" question on a test to see if there would be a percentage being able to answer the question/problem? Getting an idea of who are advanced in the class.