[FutureTown]

Alternatively, all the kids who I know went to Danbury High School came out successful in college and in their careers. Think along the lines of computer software engineers, biochemical engineers, medical school, etc.

Statistics can only speak so much in the end.

[AMSS]

I'm still of the old school theory that you can get a good education no matter what public school you go to in CT if you work for it. I wouldn't put much stock in these scores especially now given the amount of parents opting their kids out of testing.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by AMSS

I'm still of the old school theory that you can get a good education no matter what public school you go to in CT if you work for it. I wouldn't put much stock in these scores especially now given the amount of parents opting their kids out of testing.

Agree 100%

I went to public school in New Britain my whole life. The school system has a terrible reputation but I did just fine. I go into all the colleges I applied to, received an MBA and was working full time at 18 years old while going to college. I graduated with kids that received full scholarships to Cornell, Yale and Harvard along with many other schools. We just had our XX school reunion and you'd be surprised how many people from New Britain become engineers, doctors and managers.

I also know people that went to AOF and top tier schools who didn't make it through college and are working part time still living at mom and dads house. So, just because you go to a top tier school doesn't mean you will be successful in life. My parents were extremely involved and THAT is what matters the most.

Connecticut uses their school system to justify the high COL.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by FutureTown

Alternatively, all the kids who I know went to Danbury High School came out successful in college and in their careers. Think along the lines of computer software engineers, biochemical engineers, medical school, etc.

Statistics can only speak so much in the end.

That's absolutely true. I know successful people from all sorts of school systems in CT, including Danbury. Some of the most successful people I know came out of the Milford school system, which is considered marginally above average for test scores. Also at larger schools with more resources, the advanced kids tend to have a very different set of classes, teachers, and tracks - with more opportunity to succeed. Standardized test scores do not translate that.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by AMSS

I'm still of the old school theory that you can get a good education no matter what public school you go to in CT if you work for it. I wouldn't put much stock in these scores especially now given the amount of parents opting their kids out of testing.

My theory (atleast for SW CT) is if your not in Bridgeport then your fine.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by Stylo

That's absolutely true. I know successful people from all sorts of school systems in CT, including Danbury. Some of the most successful people I know came out of the Milford school system, which is considered marginally above average for test scores. Also at larger schools with more resources, the advanced kids tend to have a very different set of classes, teachers, and tracks - with more opportunity to succeed. Standardized test scores do not translate that.

I have a couple of co-workers with kids in Danbury elementary and they have nothing but high praise.

[mels]

To be honest, I find most people on this forum live/die by test scores more than people I interact with in "real life." You would think by reading this forum that kids who aren't in the public school systems in Darien, Glastonbury, Avon, Westport, etc. will end up cleaning toilets for the rest of their lives.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by mels

To be honest, I find most people on this forum to live/die by test scores than people I interact with in "real life." You would think by reading this forum that kids who aren't in the public school systems in Darien, Glastonbury, Avon, Westport, etc. will end up cleaning toilets for the rest of their lives.

and I know some in Darien and NC that were incarcerated. More anecdotals.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by mels

To be honest, I find most people on this forum live/die by test scores more than people I interact with in "real life." You would think by reading this forum that kids who aren't in the public school systems in Darien, Glastonbury, Avon, Westport, etc. will end up cleaning toilets for the rest of their lives.

You have to understand something, when a poster comes to this website asking for us to recommend a town with good schools it is hard to recommend a town that does not have good test scores. Are we suppose to direct them to a poor performing town like say Bridgeport or Bloomfield? What other way is there to define a good school system than standardized tests? Do you think people here should know enough detailed information about all the schools in the state to answer the good school question. Do you really think a person looking for good schools wants a town with lower test scores? My definition of good schools are those that perform higher than the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance tests. Without those I doubt anyone can call a school good. JMHO. Jay

[basehead617]

It's a weird topic, Jay.

When I hear the question "is that a good school?", I think of it as "does it have good teachers/administration/programs/opportunities/facilities?"

The question most people answer is.. "does it have a high % of non-minority/well-off students?"

It may very well be that people are getting at the latter, but my mind always goes to the former when I hear the term.