Possible Relo from NC to FL (schools, living in, vs)

[StreetSmarts]

^^^ I'd rather ask all the parents and ex-teachers who now live in Raleigh to get a better gauge of which schools are better.

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Oh? So what measure is NOT subjective or subject to interpretation?

Heck, what measure of quality of life, good areas to live, etc. aren't subjective or subject to interpretation?


Comsense made a blanket statement that is demonstrably false by at least one measure. If anyone has contrary evidence, then let's see it. Otherwise, "subjectivity" is an underlying caveat to all rankings and school measures, especially between states.

I did not say that comparing state to state education can be anything but subjective. In fact the opposite - schools vary within the same town, city - school district - muchless state. Parents need to stop being lazy and do their homework based on the needs of their families.

Rankings that have defined uniform criteria may be subjective, but also present a comparative methodology that you can fairly assess. Give me SAT scores nationwide and I can tell you schools that score well on SATs - if that's what I am looking for - it will provide the information that I need. Give me $ spent per student, parent - teacher ratio- education level of teachers - programs for the school - arts and music program spending - nationwide standardized test scores - anything that resembles objective, comparative data - and then I can review it based on what is important to me and my student(s).

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by ComSense

^^^ I'd rather ask all the parents and ex-teachers who now live in Raleigh to get a better gauge of which schools are better.

Yeah, and what do you think is part of the criteria that goes into Greatschools rankings?

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by StilltheSame

I did not say that comparing state to state education can be anything but subjective. In fact the opposite - schools vary within the same town, city - school district - muchless state. Parents need to stop being lazy and do their homework based on the needs of their families.

Rankings that have defined uniform criteria may be subjective, but also present a comparative methodology that you can fairly assess. Give me SAT scores nationwide and I can tell you schools that score well on SATs - if that's what I am looking for - it will provide the information that I need. Give me $ spent per student, parent - teacher ratio- education level of teachers - programs for the school - arts and music program spending - nationwide standardized test scores - anything that resembles objective, comparative data - and then I can review it based on what is important to me and my student(s).

Ok, so by your own standards, then, why did you attack MY post and assertion that PBC schools were better or as good as Raleigh schools as subjective, when I at least had a measurable standard, but did not give the same scrutiny to ComSense's post that merely said, "Raleigh schools are better"... followed up by an explanation that "Ask teacher's who have left for Raleigh"? A bit of personal bias perhaps?

THAT is CLEAR subjectivity.... reliance on a group of disaffected PBC teachers who chose to move to Raleigh? Gee, what do we think the teachers who left will say?


Here's some more subjective/objective information for you:


Palm Beach County high schools ranked among top 100 in nation according to Newsweek. The schools listed were Suncoast at 7, Dreyfoos at 50, Atlantic and 52 and Boca at 83. The Newsweek list ranks schools based on a Challenge Index where the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2008 are divided by the number of graduating seniors. (Palm Beach Post, June 2009)

In Palm Beach County, Bak Middle and Waters Edge Elementary were named among the country's 320 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools for 2008. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools program honors both public and private schools from elementary through highschool who either show academic superiority or demonstrate a dramatic gain in student achievement to high levels. Both Bak Middle and Waters Edge will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their status and these schools will serve as models for other schools in the nation. (Palm Beach Post, September 2008)

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Ok, so by your own standards, then, why did you attack MY post and assertion that PBC schools were better or as good as Raleigh schools as subjective, when I at least had a measurable standard, but did not give the same scrutiny to ComSense's post that merely said, "Raleigh schools are better"... followed up by an explanation that "Ask teacher's who have left for Raleigh"? A bit of personal bias perhaps?

Relax - I did not attack your post - I stated my opinion on using Great Schools as a measure - I have that right. Somehow this appears to be about something else that I am beginning to see that I somehow jumped into.

I have no dog in this fight so carry on.

BTW - its just a forum, no need to get so incensed.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by StilltheSame

Relax - I did not attack your post - I stated my opinion on using Great Schools as a measure - I have that right. Somehow this appears to be about something else that I am beginning to see that I somehow jumped into.

I have no dog in this fight so carry on.

BTW - its just a forum, no need to get so incensed.

Nothing at all to read into. I have no dealings with the public schools. I just detest double standards and misinformation.

[xbillyx]

Definitely pay close attention to the schools you select. Florida is ranked 48th in the nation for education.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by xbillyx

Definitely pay close attention to the schools you select. Florida is ranked 48th in the nation for education.

By which measure? Most rankings I've seen have Florida in the mid-low 20s in rank, or even better:

Ranking of Elementary Schools in USA

Florida schools rank No. 10, higher than national average - St. Petersburg Times


Again, subjective objectivity!

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Yeah, and what do you think is part of the criteria that goes into Greatschools rankings?

Probably not teachers and parents who are from PBC now living in Raleigh.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by ComSense

Probably not teachers and parents who are from PBC now living in Raleigh.

And you know what, if I ask some people who love living in PBC who used to live in Raleigh but didn't like it to compare schools, I'm sure I can come up with some who say they prefer PBC schools.

Again, Com, subjectivity and anectdote always rules with some people, no matter how much objective or mixed studies, surveys, etc. are presented to them, they don't believe it if it does not jive with popular (read: often wrong) pre-conceived notions or "gut feeling."