Best/worst school districts in TN? (Memphis, Jackson: environment, budget, income)

[hiknapster]

So, what do I know?

I am barely high school-educated!

Still, I think I do well, with my pathetic education from the Massachusetts schools. I figured it out once, and with all the moving I did, going from one foster home to another, my high school education was about 15 months.

Not bad, huh?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

So, what do I know?

I am barely high school-educated!

Still, I think I do well, with my pathetic education from the Massachusetts schools. I figured it out once, and with all the moving I did, going from one foster home to another, my high school education was about 15 months.

Not bad, huh?

Seriously, you are doing great! You can certainly write better than many college graduates.

I'm reminded of the movie October Sky which is a true story and was filmed in Knoxville and Oliver Springs (next to Oak Ridge). Homer Hickam went to a deplorable, podunk high school in the sticks of West Virginia but with the help of one very dedicated teacher he still managed to become a NASA engineer.

The lesson, of course, is that a quality education can be had just about anywhere.

BUT I will admit that if someone wants to major in math in college, being able to take AP and/or IB math classes in high school is certainly a huge help.

[akm4]

So glad to see these responses to SPLIT's anti-public school post. I was nearly finished with my reply when I crashed. (Yes, again.) Basically it was a partial list of the many famous, successful, influential products of America's public school system.

Trust me, SPLIT. I'm a serious parent. Education is a priority in our home, and our children attend public schools.

[hiknapster]

Well, you are right, JMT.

School is what you put into it, but also environmental.

My parents demanded to know what I learned, every damn day. If I wanted to know what something meant, they told me to look it up. Sounds much like what we were discussing a bit earlier, doesn't it? I thought that they were rude, unhelpful and, perhaps, obnoxious.

But it taught me to keep digging, no matter what; it taught me the love of the chase.

My mother's favorite gift was a subscription to National Geographic. It made a huge impact on me. She didn't want diamond earrings, she wanted to know MORE.

They made many horrible mistakes, but if you can teach the love of learning you will have a child that will always yearn for more and be better for it.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by goatroper

Anybody have some input on best/worst school districts across TN? I am interested in hearing from all parts of the state. My main focus is on high schools with strong math programs that will prepare well for college. Would like to stay to the facts as much as possible, but opinions are also welcomed. Thanks!

You probably want to search for TN schools that participate in national, state and regional math and/or math/science competitions:

UT Pro2Serve 2007 Math Contest Winners

http://www.siemens-foundation.org/po...leaseFINAL.pdf

http://www.tmta.info/contest_winners2007.pdf

JMS students sweep math competition - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger

EnergySolutions Foundation Announces Top Distinguished Award Scholarship Recipient - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger

Cleveland Daily Banner - Cleveland, TN

If we're not talking competition, you can look up each school's Math, Science or English proficiency ranking's here:

Tennessee Public School Rankings

You may also be interested in the Tennessee Governor's Academy for Math and Science:

Tennessee Governor's Academy :: Wonder! Explore! Discover!

High school student acquires real-world genetics experience at ORNL - Oak Ridge, TN - The Oak Ridger

The other thing you might want to look for is math/science internships like this one:

SECME Summer Internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

[TN-rox]

Memphis City schools must be the worst...Forget the challenge of academics- how about the challenge of living through a school day? jeez

[reimaginethis]

I'm a graduate of the Jackson-Madison County school system. Horrid.

Memphis City Schools -- Horrid.

The western third of the state definitely has the short end of the stick when it comes to education.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by TN-rox

Memphis City schools must be the worst...Forget the challenge of academics- how about the challenge of living through a school day? jeez

Isn't White Station High School in Memphis? I read that it was a pretty good school, academically speaking.

[Capt. Dan]

In recent years a plethora of private schools have opened in Jackson-Madison County because parents fear for the safety of their kids at the public schools. The enrollment in these private schools reaches its peak within a few days of opening. As a result, public schools here have lost most of its brighter students and teachers. The teachers are going to the private schools for less $$ because it is a better learning environment. Alot of these private schools are opening in the suburbs and alot of these families are moving near the schools, taking their property tax $$ with them. This leaves mostly innercity, low cost housing to collect property taxes from to support the public schools. Good luck trying to operate a large school system with only $$ collected from $30,000 housing! But I cant blame parents for removing their kids from a violent,underperforming, drug and weapon laden school system.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Isn't White Station High School in Memphis? I read that it was a pretty good school, academically speaking.

Yes, but as Tigergal said, only the optional program is worth considering, the standard program is indeed horrible. optional program requirements

WSHS has many AP classes. They offer lots of involvement in academic extracurricular activities such as knowledge bowl, various fairs, state and national competitions in math, science, languages, etc.
The students are bright, motivated, hard working and competitive. Getting into a good college is a high priority for many of them. For example, some of my sons classmates were accepted at MIT, Harvard, Cal Tech, U of Michigan, UGA, and Rhodes College. They are also awarded a lot of scholarship money (class of '05 was offered $17 million in scholarships according to an article in City Beat)

Geez, I'm starting to feel like a WSHS cheerleader.