Great School Analysis (Huntsville, Madison, Athens: transplants, sales, home)

[bbfan]

I had an interesting conversation today with a lady who is running for the Hsv City School Board. She told me that Hsv is rated #18 in the state as far as test scores go. Not acceptable, especially considering how educated the adult population is. She also said that the latest scores will be out Monday. After speaking with her I came home and started digging. I found the best web-site ever...SchoolDataDirect.org. I have always used GreatSchools, which is very limited in its information. You have to visit this site, it is fascinating. You can compare AL to the rest of the nation (not good), you can compare and view any school or school district in AL. It provides test scores for math and reading as well as student/teacher ratios, income stats, and other demographics. I was shocked that Hsv was lower than Madison County, Athens, Limestone County and almost every other school district around. Of course that was Hsv City as a whole. You can then look at the schools that are in HSV City and see some score really high. Anyway, it was interesting and I spent way too much time there! Wanted to share because it seems more helpful than GreatSchools.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by bbfan

Hsv is rated #18 in the state as far as test scores go. Not acceptable, especially considering how educated the adult population is. ......


You can compare AL to the rest of the nation (not good).... I was shocked that Hsv was lower than Madison County, Athens, Limestone County and almost every other school district around.

Why do you suppose these scores mentioned above are as low as you wrote?




That's a neat site. I need to spend some time on it.

(I noticed you can produce results greater than 100 if you change the URL from 100 to whatever.)

I usually go straight to the state department of education and download excel or access versions of their data.

I created excel files from Great Schools data which probably are the same data as the state.

[Southlander]

"Buyer" beware.
Just like the Bible, statistics can be quoted to justify anything.

[bbfan]

Originally Posted by Charles

Why do you suppose these scores mentioned above are as low as you wrote?

That's a neat site. I need to spend some time on it.

(I noticed you can produce results greater than 100 if you change the URL from 100 to whatever.)

I usually go straight to the state department of education and download excel or access versions of their data.

I created excel files from Great Schools data which probably are the same data as the state.

Charles:
It wasn't all surprising, I knew Alabama would be at the bottom of the list nationwide, I've been hearing that since moving here 5 years ago. I have also always heard Moutainbrook was the best, and there it was at number one for every category. I also have been told by many government transplants that the info provided to them by the gov, recommended Madison City Schools, and that was also confirmed. I guess I was mainly surprised by just how low Huntsville was, especially compared to the neighboring small towns and counties. AGAIN, its important to look at the breakdown of Hsv schools. The ones that have great reputations, are doing well. Its just disturbing that HSV as a whole would let so many of the schools in the less desirable areas go down sa dramatically. I have no idea why it has happened, I just found the conversation with the school board candidate interesting so I thought I'd se what I could find. I was actually in the US Dept of Ed site when I found the link to SchoolDataDirect.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by bbfan

I have no idea why it has happened,

Four things I keep reading:

1) We need more money for schools
2) Voters disapprove X cent tax
3) Huntsville schools are way under 100% capacity so we don't need more money for schools; Some schools are like 40% capacity (often correlating with poor standardized performance), Some schools are like 105% capacity (often correlating with high standardized performance.)
4) The Federal Desegregation Order affects pupil/school distribution and balance.

[bbfan]

Originally Posted by Charles

Four things I keep reading:

1) We need more money for schools
2) Voters disapprove X cent tax
3) Huntsville schools are way under 100% capacity so we don't need more money for schools; Some schools are like 40% capacity (often correlating with poor standardized performance), Some schools are like 105% capacity (often correlating with high standardized performance.)
4) The Federal Desegregation Order affects pupil/school distribution and balance.

Great points, I guess I should have said I don't know why the city has allowed it to happen. Honestly I don't know a lot about the Desegregation Order but its obvious even to me, the schools need more money. Did you check out the $ spent per student in the different districts? I have 2 in elementary and spent over $200 on supplies that my parents did not buy when I was in school. I don't know if that is a southern thing, or if its the norm everywhere now. From cleaning supplies, to copy paper and everything in between. We still have to buy classroom snacks, more cleaning supplies throughout the year, and help the teachers with their wishlist. I have no problem doing it I suppose, I was just shocked when I got the very extensive and expensive list.

[ionlife]

We spend a lot of money in VA on that stuff in elementary school--then in MS it is other expenses... so far here, not including School Supplies (why doesn't that sales tax holiday include MS/HS???), we wrote a blank check for 146 for all kinds of added fees for the different classes--not just electives--academics as well! Wow--but all told, about the same in the end with costs.

Crazy--

[vakinderegg]

I have read so much about the poor test scores in Huntsville it is amazing how a city that has the most phd's per capita in the USA can allow this to continue. A poor performing school has nothing to do with the funding it is able to obtain....besides all schools in a district should have equality.PTA in more afluent areas raise lots of $ for new things for the schools. Schools need to ask the community for help. The problem with poor test scores comes down to the demographics and community. If a community does encourage good study skills and role models then it is up to the child entrinsically to want to learn. So many major corporations here. Are they adopting schools and mentoring children and giving donations? Are the churches getting involved in mentoring? In Fairfax County the schools had corporations or Ft. Belvoir that adopted a particular school and mentors were in the schools regularly. What are the teachers like in the poor performing schools?

[ionlife]

The State Standardized Test Score Report Card is in. The School Board is reviewing it and will send out data soon. It will be interesting to see what the final marks are--if you are into that kind of data. I am as it is an indicator.

agree with Vakinderegg. Why are schools filled with children of PhDs engineers not doing well? Well I'd say a lot of those kids are in Grissom or BJHS--that makes a difference to me. Who is really feeding the other schools?

Also, Huntsville HS is great--but when we were looking we didn't want to go over that mountain to get our girl to school. And I heard there was a real mix of kids there by word of mouth. Not sure if that is true or not. I was very impressed with their theater department--almost chose that school because of that alone. However, again, the drive/commute was problem for us.

I'll be interested to see what the scores and report card says for all the schools in the area. At the end of the day, much depends upon one's family and the individual regardless of where you are going to school or what zone you are in.

[gsp4ever]

Cglover--you are right. The children of the engineers, scientists, professionals etc.etc. aren't going to the failing schools. Quite frankly, once those people pay the premium to live in Monrovia, Madison, SE HSV and/or Hampton Cove, I doubt very seriously they give a second thought to those kids in the "bad schools". Quite a bit of "bragging rights" with what school zone you live in or where your kids go to school in this area, IMO, and a lot of bickering among people in town about which school is better. It's really sad, actually.