Better schools in PA then anywhere else? (Pittsburgh, Lancaster: how much, school districts)

[inspiringmind]

I have been looking at quite a few towns and cities in PA and have noticed that they all seem to be better schools than where I live (Wyoming). I especially notice that special education is really good in all schools in PA. Are the schools really better all over PA? (well, or at least the western half of the state?)

[Katiana]

Check out this link: U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness
Virtually EVERY state thinks their schools are the best. Here you can get an idea of state by state comparison. Of course, this link will tell you nothing about an individual school district.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Virtually EVERY state thinks their schools are the best.

Inspiringmind must be the exception because she doesn't think that her state schools are the best.

[3littlerascals]

I have lived in a few areas of PA and the school systems were as varied as the areas I lived. I think just as each state has better/worse areas to live there are better/worse school systems.
Example: Garnet Valley School District was great. Penn Delco was average. Oxford the pits (just my opinions). Special Education is sort of a joint effort between the local district and the county intermediate unit. Again - some are better than others.
The websites for researching school stats are good to give you an overall picture but don't say everything.
If there are any particular schools or districts you are interested in you could post your questions here and I'm sure if anyone had any first hand knowledge they'd be more than happy to give their opinions.
Good luck!

[inspiringmind]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Inspiringmind must be the exception because she doesn't think that her state schools are the best.

LOL....I cannot wait to move! That's how much I do not like my current school system. I have two boys and one is in special education so this is very important.

Ok since someone above asked here are some specific school systems:

Franklin
Oil City
Rimersburg

If anyone knows anything about these school systems, let me know!

[inspiringmind]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Check out this link: U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness
Virtually EVERY state thinks their schools are the best. Here you can get an idea of state by state comparison. Of course, this link will tell you nothing about an individual school district.

Thank you for that link...very enlightening. AT least PA was in the green and scored not to badly. (Of course Wyoming scored the samish...LOL)

[toobusytoday]

I use this site for good national school data: Schools, High School, Public Schools, School District, Public High Schools - SchoolMatters Here you can compare specific schools or school districts as well as compare one that you might move to, to an area that you are currently living. Unfornunately, when I plugged in Oil City and then Franklin neither scored very well. Rimersville did not come up as a district, so I put it in as an elementary school and it also did not have very good scores. I'm not familiar with any of those schools so cannot give you a personal opinion on them.

Good luck with your move!

[Hopes]

I like this Pennsylvania School Ranking site.

Ranking of High Schools in Venango County

The page on that link is for Venango County high schools.

You can manipulate the search feature (on the left) to view the data for any county or school configuration in Pennsyvania.

[momix5]

I have looked into Pa for special ed in particular, I checked out most of the Lancaster area schools, and they were all very positive when it came to wahat they could provide for my daughter. Lilitz, Manheim, Mountville, Elizabethtown all seemed really great, I also checked out Lake Wallenpaupack are and they were very positive about my daughter's education, and I checked out Mount Lebanon near Pittsburgh and they also were very helpful and stated that they had a great program for her. I sent her IEP to all these districts and not one said no or acted disinterested. Good LUck

[inspiringmind]

Thank you SO much momix5! I am really happy to hear that when presented a IEP that they are interested...here they seem like they don't want another child on an IEP. My son has had an IEP for over a year now.