I need specific info on the best areas and schools for teenagers (to relocate, places)

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by bigdave01

Does anyone have a link where it states that Nevada is 47th?

Google it...there are several. The most interesting are high school graduation rate and related.

Note though that the rate for Reno and Las Vegas versus peer schools is no place near so weak. They are in general middle of the pack school systems...not great but not the pits. And the individual school rate from as good as any to bad...though not as bad as some.

The actual problem is that Nevada is actually the third most urban state in the US...trailing only NY and CA. Urban areas generally rate lower than suburban and rural areas...thus Nevada simply looks bad because it is very urban...not because it is deficient.

There is lots of room for improvement. We spend way to little on education. But we are also a long way from the bottom.

[handitak]

Originally Posted by olecapt

To the anonymous intellectual coward... Those who lack skills and understanding utilize the anonymous negative rep. It is generally because they are frustrated by their lack of sufficient intellect to put forth a cogent comment on the discusslion.

The fact remains the ranking of Nevada as 47th is as relevant as the ranking of Mississippi as 49th to the status of education in Reno. It is simply a mechanism used to justify an argument lacking any fact base. The frustrated use such mechanism to avoid having to agree they have no real knowledge of the situation.

Excuse me? Are you accusing me of something here or just tacking it on to your reply?

Fact based? How is this for FACT.

FACT is, I have 2 kids in the Reno school system.
FACT is the schools do rank 47th in the nation for some reason, and the ranking is based on those lovely little tests your kids do once a year.
FACT is, the schools here are lacking, and I base that observation on the fact my kids have attended schools in 2 other states, now thats FACT, or do I have to go pull their school records and put them up on here as proof?
Fact is, this state does not have enough schools to cover needs.
FACT is, the schools are underfunded.
FACT is, the school system puts more importance on athletics than it does academics or other Arts related classes, and underfunds the Art classes to provide for sports.

Both my kids are straight A students, they were straight A students in their other schools. The fact remains, the education system is under funded, and maybe if people stopped digging their head in to the sand and listen instead of being so defensive, we could get somewhere. I am not the only person who has moved here and stated that the education is plain awful. Maybe you could help with ideas to improve, but then again, when you just keep replying withe blah, blah, fact, blah blah, fact, blah blah, mechanism, blah blah, no knowledge, it is entirely unhelpful.

The schools here have very odd educational policies, such as:

In certain high school classes, if a student hands in their homework with say question #9 blank because they can't answer it and need help, they get an automatic F. If they fill the answer in as "the sky is green" or somehting equally absurd, they get credit. HOWEVER, when doing the SAT'S, if you attempt an answer, and it is wrong, you get 1/2 a point taken away from you, while leaving it blank does nothing.

The music department gets $800 a school yr to fund 2 choirs, 3 bands, strings class, and 2 guitar classes, while the athletics department gets 100 x as much.

They state that Washoe county schools are 100% nut free. This is a lie.

FACT is, when you ask the school if you can provide them with an education based training assembly, by professionals, free of charge, and endorsed by the Governor of Nevada, a service that could save childrens lives, and you are told, "sorry, but we cant take time away from the kids classes to do an assembly" but then 3 days later the school HAS an assembly to praise the volleyball team for winning the state championship, then their is a problem.

Seems its ok to take away from the kids studies to cheer for the volleyball team, but not ok to take 15 mins away from studies to teach kids how to save a peers life, even though the Governor endorsed it.

There is a problem when the school has said assembly and gives every girl on the team a special ring (like the superbowl ring) as a gift. Yet, when the marching band takes 1st place at the state championships at UNR they get no assembly, no recognition, nothing said, and no ring. There is something wrong.

There is a huge inequality in the schools here. Sports are pushed and shoved, while academics are neglected.

FACT is, if you have never had a child in an education system on the East Coast of the USA, then you will never understand how much better the school system and education is, no matter what anyone says, and no matter how many different people say it.

It's called, I can't stand to read about people bashing my state so I refuse to listen, mentality.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by handitak

Excuse me? Are you accusing me of something here or just tacking it on to your reply?

Fact based? How is this for FACT.

Well Let us see how this all hangs out...

FACT is, I have 2 kids in the Reno school system.

You win the first one...

FACT is the schools do rank 47th in the nation for some reason,

Which schools? For what? As you have elegantly demonstrated you have no idea what the 47th rating is about.

and the ranking is based on those lovely little tests your kids do once a year.

No it is not...

FACT is, the schools here are lacking, and I base that observation on the fact my kids have attended schools in 2 other states, now thats FACT, or do I have to go pull their school records and put them up on here as proof?

As proof of what? You claim they were straight A students and still are. Should they not have obtained public fame as far ahead of the local kids as they are? I would expect feature articles in the local papers.

Fact is, this state does not have enough schools to cover needs.

Could be..but likely true of any place with high growth. So what? Note that high growth attracts good teachers, parents and students...maybe it is worth putting up with?

FACT is, the schools are underfunded.

Well there we agree. Southwestern custom. Sign up for the teachers initiative to change the gaming tax. I personal find it shocking. But it is customary in the SW and in Nevada in particular.

FACT is, the school system puts more importance on athletics than it does academics or other Arts related classes, and underfunds the Art classes to provide for sports.

There are a least a thousand school systems in the US where parents have that complaint. I think it likely true. We should do something about that. Maybe we send all the jocks to one small school?

Both my kids are straight A students, they were straight A students in their other schools. The fact remains, the education system is under funded, and maybe if people stopped digging their head in to the sand and listen instead of being so defensive, we could get somewhere.

Sign up for the Teachers initiative...

I am not the only person who has moved here and stated that the education is plain awful. Maybe you could help with ideas to improve, but then again, when you just keep replying withe blah, blah, fact, blah blah, fact, blah blah, mechanism, blah blah, no knowledge, it is entirely unhelpful.

I raised children in the east and west. I have listened to most of the same complaints you have for something over forty years on both coasts. My chiildren now raise their children in multiple places. It could be that I actually have a little perspective on the subject?

The schools here have very odd educational policies, such as:

In certain high school classes, if a student hands in their homework with say question #9 blank because they can't answer it and need help, they get an automatic F. If they fill the answer in as "the sky is green" or somehting equally absurd, they get credit. HOWEVER, when doing the SAT'S, if you attempt an answer, and it is wrong, you get 1/2 a point taken away from you, while leaving it blank does nothing.

Local anecdote. Could be local idiocy. Could be a great policy badly explained.

The music department gets $800 a school yr to fund 2 choirs, 3 bands, strings class, and 2 guitar classes, while the athletics department gets 100 x as much.

Athletics is often overfunded. However band parents are often as good or better than team parents at fund raising. Been there done that. To the tune of tens of thousands of dollars...and that was 25 years ago.

They state that Washoe county schools are 100% nut free. This is a lie.

But of course.

FACT is, when you ask the school if you can provide them with an education based training assembly, by professionals, free of charge, and endorsed by the Governor of Nevada, a service that could save childrens lives, and you are told, "sorry, but we cant take time away from the kids classes to do an assembly" but then 3 days later the school HAS an assembly to praise the volleyball team for winning the state championship, then their is a problem.

Pushing an agenda? that is hard work...

Seems its ok to take away from the kids studies to cheer for the volleyball team, but not ok to take 15 mins away from studies to teach kids how to save a peers life, even though the Governor endorsed it.

Our Gov endorses "No new taxes". You agree? The schools are well enough funded?

There is a problem when the school has said assembly and gives every girl on the team a special ring (like the superbowl ring) as a gift. Yet, when the marching band takes 1st place at the state championships at UNR they get no assembly, no recognition, nothing said, and no ring. There is something wrong.

Local anecdote...get organized and make it right..

There is a huge inequality in the schools here. Sports are pushed and shoved, while academics are neglected.

FACT is, if you have never had a child in an education system on the East Coast of the USA, then you will never understand how much better the school system and education is, no matter what anyone says, and no matter how many different people say it.

Sorry. Simply not true. I have personaly done both. You remember an education system that never existed. The west is cheap...but not incompetent.

It's called, I can't stand to read about people bashing my state so I refuse to listen, mentality.

Fell free to bash Nevada. Got a lot of problems...and idiot jerk for a Govenor for instance. A set of upstate pols dedicated to keeping the state in the back of the bus.

You might want to move to Vegas...where we value the citizenry and education.

[Kinga]

Aw, this is disappointing as I was thinking of being an English high school teacher for the Washoe school district. I'm attending UNR this fall so hopefully it's better than the high schools. And hopefully, the schools are at least a bit improved once I graduate in 2012!

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Kinga

Aw, this is disappointing as I was thinking of being an English high school teacher for the Washoe school district. I'm attending UNR this fall so hopefully it's better than the high schools. And hopefully, the schools are at least a bit improved once I graduate in 2012!

When you are an old and worn out person coming back from Sun City AZ to visit your high school for the 50th anniversary of your first class in 2062 you will still hear almost exactly the same complaints...

And that one you can take to the bank

[pporter]

Handitak:

I have read several of your posts on a few of the threads. You are extremely negative regarding the public education available in Reno. Correct?

I'm going to ask you a question that will require you to really look in to the mirror, though.

We have had one child graduate from Galena High School (2002) and another from Damonte in 2006. Our oldest is in grad school at USC and the youngest is a sophomore at UC Davis. Our experience with the Washoe Co. School District was very positive. The VAST majority of our friends with kids feel the same way--very few problems, many great teachers/administrators, nothing to complain about, prepped our kids for the next level, etc.

Now, it is time to go in front of the mirror. You must ask yourself why it can be this way for others and not myself and my children. Could it be, possibly, that the reason is the person you see in the mirror?

Just ask a counselor at a local high school for a list of colleges that their graduates are attending. I think you will be very surprised. Someone must be doing something right.

[handitak]

Originally Posted by pporter

Handitak:

I have read several of your posts on a few of the threads. You are extremely negative regarding the public education available in Reno. Correct?

I'm going to ask you a question that will require you to really look in to the mirror, though.

We have had one child graduate from Galena High School (2002) and another from Damonte in 2006. Our oldest is in grad school at USC and the youngest is a sophomore at UC Davis. Our experience with the Washoe Co. School District was very positive. The VAST majority of our friends with kids feel the same way--very few problems, many great teachers/administrators, nothing to complain about, prepped our kids for the next level, etc.

Now, it is time to go in front of the mirror. You must ask yourself why it can be this way for others and not myself and my children. Could it be, possibly, that the reason is the person you see in the mirror?

Just ask a counselor at a local high school for a list of colleges that their graduates are attending. I think you will be very surprised. Someone must be doing something right.

I can look in the mirror and safely say that it is not me, but the school. IF I had never had 1st hand experience of schools in other areas maybe I would wonder why I expect so much from the education system here, however, being that my kids HAVE attended other schools, and they DID get a better education on the East Coast, then I can say it is the school system here.

For every kid you know that is doing great at DRHS, I can give you 2 that are not. Just because YOU know peole who like it, does not mean EVERYONE likes it, just like because I know a lot of folks who think the education here is lousey does not mean the people you know do too.

Sometimes people just can't be bothered to be proactive in their kids life and their kids education. I, however, choose to say, this education system is not good enough and my kids deserve more and work on making it happen. Some times folksare too embarassed to tell their friends the truth that they are really unhappy with the school system and just go along with the 'yeah its great" mentality.

BTW, FYI, Im not the only person on this board who has stated the education in NV is crappy, it seems some folks, however, are content to let their kids live with mediocrity. Thats not my problem if you choose to do so. *shrugs*

[pporter]

How can it be "crappy" when we are able to have students scoring high on standardized tests and are being accepted into competitive, prestigous colleges?? Pure luck? My daughter was a National Merit commended student and two of her friends made it to the finalist level. They will tell you they owe much of this success to their high school teachers. Doesn't sound like living in mediocrity to me. BTW- my son's best friend from Galena graduated from Dartmouth last year.

One suggestion: Teachers and administrators are people. They have feelings, etc. If they feel they are being attacked and put under a microscope from a parent they will react like anyone would; defensive, uncooperative, etc. Treat them with respect and I think you will get better results--instead of being known as that pain in the @#$ parent who thinks their kid is the brightest, can do no wrong, etc. I think both you and your daughter will have a much better high school experience. It can be done--there is living proof!!

[handitak]

Originally Posted by pporter

How can it be "crappy" when we are able to have students scoring high on standardized tests and are being accepted into competitive, prestigous colleges?? Pure luck? My daughter was a National Merit commended student and two of her friends made it to the finalist level. They will tell you they owe much of this success to their high school teachers. Doesn't sound like living in mediocrity to me. BTW- my son's best friend from Galena graduated from Dartmouth last year.

One suggestion: Teachers and administrators are people. They have feelings, etc. If they feel they are being attacked and put under a microscope from a parent they will react like anyone would; defensive, uncooperative, etc. Treat them with respect and I think you will get better results--instead of being known as that pain in the @#$ parent who thinks their kid is the brightest, can do no wrong, etc. I think both you and your daughter will have a much better high school experience. It can be done--there is living proof!!

Whooopie for your child!!

One suggestion, don't PRESUME to know what kind of relationship I have with the admin and teachers at my childrens school, you have no idea. How about instead of being known as that poster who is a pain in the @#$ and likes to think they know everything, when they do not, you listen to other peoples view points. Im sorry if I don't agree with you, but, silly me thought I was entitled to my own opinion and didn't have to conform to yours!

Hey, Im happy for you that your kid did well, bully for them, but just because YOU had a good experience and didnt mind the school system here doesn't mean to say we all have to be like sheep and believe what you do.

Perhaps you need to address ALL the posters on this site who have chimed in and said they think the education system here is poor, otherwise I might be inclined to think you have a personal problem with just me and I hurt your feelings by telling you the education given out here is sub-standard.

BTW, just IMAGINE whatyour child could have done if she had received a proper education!

[scirocco22]

Ok, we're starting to get into the realm of "personal attacks" in a lot of places in this thread. It's too bad because this is a good topic to discuss and should provide information to those looking to relocate.

We should be stating our opinions on why the schools are good or bad, not attacking the person stating those opinions.

Please remember what our T.O.S. states:

Be civil, no personal attacks, flaming, or insults. We may attack ideas (politely) but we do not attack the speaker of the idea. Be careful with your words, there is a point where being direct crosses a line into blunt, in-your-face hostility. Please, report bad posts instead of engaging in flame wars on the boards.

Thank you for your cooperation.