School information

[ExIslander]

Originally Posted by mad fiddler

The ACT is standardized, and is given usually in the junior or senior year, so it's a measure of where students end up at the end of their school careers, regardless of where they were at any particular time, and is comparable across states.

While the test is the same from state to state, the cross-section of students taking it may not always be apples-to-apples. At least, it used to be a consideration, not sure about now. Back a few too many years ago (cough), in my state, nearly everyone college-bound took the ACT because that's what the in-state schools preferred, and only the handful considering out-of-state schools bothered taking the SAT. Other states it was the opposite. Ideally, the state-to-state scores would be normalized for that. Maybe they already are. I doubt it would make Tennessee look any better, but you never know.

Edit: And I see septimus beat me to that thought!

Anyway, by the time they take the ACT, it's kind of late to fix the problem. My oldest is in second grade. I've been trying to find a guide that says something like, in the better school districts around the country, this is what kids learn in this grade, here's what they know by that grade... that way, I can compare the curriculum in our district and figure out what to do about the shortfalls.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by ExIslander

Anyway, by the time they take the ACT, it's kind of late to fix the problem. My oldest is in second grade. I've been trying to find a guide that says something like, in the better school districts around the country, this is what kids learn in this grade, here's what they know by that grade... that way, I can compare the curriculum in our district and figure out what to do about the shortfalls.

We attended a "core knowledge school" in Mass. Core Knowledge Foundation - Educational Excellence and Equity for All Children. They have books and guidelines that say this is what your first grader should know for math, literature, science, etc.. same for every grade and it is useful to see where you are in the game and if you are deficient or ahead in any subject

[ExIslander]

Originally Posted by septimus

Williamson County schools are good not because they have a amazing resources or even innovated education ideology going on but because they are working with kids that no matter what school they went to urban ghetto, poor rural they would do well because they come from generally educated families with an intact family unit.

As for Wilson County, I only know what I read in the media and btwn the ACLU suing the because of the preying parents and the decision to keep a football coach and fire classroom aids it doesn't seem that they value education. Williamson County has its own issues like not building classrooms quickly enough to meet the growth

Fortunately, they didn't have to lay anyone off in the end.

My experience with Wilson County Schools is almost a miniature version of what you said about Williamson in the quoted passage. You find a lot of good kids, good parents, teachers and administrators who give a damn. Thus the schools are getting pretty decent results, but in this case, it's no thanks to the powers that be. There are plenty of people holding the purse strings that don't understand the concept of investing in schools, and I'm not real impressed with the district office either. Lots of people like me are moving in, though, which is why things came to a head this year, and probably not for the last time.

[ExIslander]

Originally Posted by septimus

We attended a "core knowledge school" in Mass. Core Knowledge Foundation - Educational Excellence and Equity for All Children. They have books and guidelines that say this is what your first grader should know for math, literature, science, etc.. same for every grade and it is useful to see where you are in the game and if you are deficient or ahead in any subject

That looks like an excellent resource. Thank you!

[mad fiddler]

Originally Posted by septimus

I think it depends what you define as great and it is hard to compare SAT/ACT scores because they are very regional. It seems everyone in TN takes the ACT and only those top students hoping to go to college in the Northeast take the SAT so TN does well on the SAT compared to Massachusetts which is a state where everyone takes the SAT but Massachussetts generally has the highest Average ACT scores because only a few motivated students take the ACT in MAass.

About 70% of students in Minnesota take the ACT, and still outscore Williamson County. Almost 70% in Wisconsin, and with scores just a shade below. Other states with over 70% testing rate and scoring just below Williamson County: South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas.

The comparison seems much more legitimate in states with high numbers of students taking the ACT.

[mad fiddler]

Originally Posted by septimus

Williamson County schools are good not because they have a amazing resources or even innovated education ideology going on but because they are working with kids that no matter what school they went to urban ghetto, poor rural they would do well because they come from generally educated families with an intact family unit.

Yes. And those are the most reliable indicators of success in schools. It's not the teachers or the budget, but the stability in a student's life that eliminates the obstacles to achievement.