Where do I find RELIABLE school information (middle school, ratings)

[Elvi03]

from reading some of the posts I am starting to think this "rating" program in Florida doesn't mean a thing. I was hoping to find test scores, graduation rates, etc.
Any help will be greatly appreciated..

[nicsma2002]

Here is a link to the test scores: 2006 FCAT Results, but they are the basis for the rating system. Not sure where to get the graduation rate info.

[compelled to reply]

Broward County Public Schools, go to individual schools and read "improvement plan" and you will see graduation rates, stability rates, and what not for some schools. For test scores, check out the "Greatschools" rating as well as raw scores on GreatSchools.net

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by Elvi03

from reading some of the posts I am starting to think this "rating" program in Florida doesn't mean a thing. I was hoping to find test scores, graduation rates, etc.
Any help will be greatly appreciated..

One of the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) did a show on the testing/ratings of schools. And how they are not all equal. One state had low scores, but their tests were harder (legit) and the next state had higher ratings yet their tests were very easy. So it basically said you can't look into any of them to much. I wish I knew who did it. It was this summer.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

One of the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) did a show on the testing/ratings of schools. And how they are not all equal. One state had low scores, but their tests were harder (legit) and the next state had higher ratings yet their tests were very easy. So it basically said you can't look into any of them to much. I wish I knew who did it. It was this summer.

Florida's bar is supposedly set relatively high. Not as high as the northeastern states, but higher than other Sunbelt states. It probably explains why the reading exams in the high schools have such a high failure rate, although second time passing rates are high. We now rank 29th out of 50 on the national scale and 2nd place in the South (NC, of course, is ahead of us). The elementary and middle school test scores are fairly similar to nationwide averages and to compare test scores to national averages, check out "NRT" scores, which compare Florida's children to national averages.