Opinions on those mega size schools (Dallas, Plano: employment, high schools, contractor)

[cm729]

We're looking at a few areas and the places that seemed to offer the most as far as employment tended to have really huge high schools. In general I know larger schools sometimes have a lot more choices and resources, still I'm wondering if average or below avge students don't get lost in the crowd when their HS is so big, esp if they need help. Does all the attention go to the outstanding students? We're used to maybe 1,500 students so I have no idea what it would be like for our child -maybe its better to take lower pay to get a smaller school? or a long commute.

[LastDallasNative]

A student might get lost in a larger school, that is true. But a smaller high school might not be challenging enough. The solution is to study hard after school with tutors.

The downside to the large high schools is the top 10% rule in Texas. This means that a student with a very high SAT score in a Plano high school who is in the top 11% of his class won't get automatically admitted to UT or T A&M. Those automatic slots go to the students who may not have a high SAT score in the top 10% of a high school in a small town. This is affirmative action.

[GoPadge]

Originally Posted by LastDallasNative

A student might get lost in a larger school, that is true. But a smaller high school might not be challenging enough. The solution is to study hard after school with tutors.

The downside to the large high schools is the top 10% rule in Texas. This means that a student with a very high SAT score in a Plano high school who is in the top 11% of his class won't get automatically admitted to UT or T A&M. Those automatic slots go to the students who may not have a high SAT score in the top 10% of a high school in a small town. This is affirmative action.

That is not completely correct. The first use of the phrase "affirmative action" was in President Lyndon Johnson's 1965 Executive Order 11246. The original text is quoted below.1

The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.

In 1967 Johnson expanded the order to include religion and sex.

Of course the definition changes based on who's using it. The AAAA (American Association for Affirmative Action) a DC based non-profit association of professionals, has inferred they definition of "Affirmative Action" by it's statement

Its mission is to nurture understanding of and offer advice on affirmative action to enhance access and equity in employment, economic and educational opportunities.

and

The American Association for Affirmative Action strongly opposes federal or state action that would eliminate affirmative action programs that provide equal access and equity for minorities and women in employment, education and economic opportunity.

2

Note that this is strictly for minorities and women.

The Texas 10% rule only guarantees a student admission, and not funding, is open to all students, regardless of minority status or sex.

Even with automatic admissions, Texas Universities often require students to provide SAT or ACT scores and all students must take the THEA test. And students academic records may be reviewed to determine if the student is even capable of college level work. With some students needing "developmental, enrichment, or orientation course during the semester prior to the first semester of college. "3

1. http://www.now.org/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html

2. http://www.affirmativeaction.org/about.jsp (broken link)

3. http://www.collegefortexans.com/addi.../top10rule.cfm