Dallas School Districts (Post: auction, club, vs)

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

http://www.woodrowfoundation.org/ is the fund-raising arm/umbrella for all the schools in the Woodrow feeder system. You can find a list of scholarship and other funds here:https://www.woodrowfoundation.com/donate/ (scroll through designation restrictions).

Also LECPTA raises around $150,000 or more each year and distribute the funds to Lakewood, Long and Woodrow. Then there are the other PTAs, the Woodrow Community Council, the Woodrow Academy Advisory Board, the Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Association...

I would love to see the total numbers in these organizations compared to Mad for Plaid (the HPISD school organization). I know that when I lived in UP, numerous families, whether you had kids in the schools or not, would write checks to support the local school and to limit the impact of Robin Hood.

[serger]

I don't pay much attention to school rankings because they are often too subjective but I am somewhat worried when I look at a list like this:

http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2013...Medal-list.pdf



And do not to see any of the area schools (not even the ones that charge college level tuition)...
Seems to be very much dominated by east/west coast.


Also, imo, competitive admission public high schools schools could be superior to any private because there is no income requirement, and no restriction on applicant pool.

[bencronin04]

Originally Posted by serger

Also, imo, competitive admission public high schools schools could be superior to any private because there is no income requirement, and no restriction on applicant pool.

Most if not all privates offer scholarships to demographics that cannot afford the education. They truly want the best of the best.

[bencronin04]

Originally Posted by serger

I don't pay much attention to school rankings because they are often too subjective but I am somewhat worried when I look at a list like this:

http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2013...Medal-list.pdf

Also saying you don't like school rankings because their subjective, and then linking a post to a awards program that is just based on some random association of physics?????? Seems a little pot meet kettle to me.

[matteo81]

Originally Posted by serger

...do not to see any of the area schools (not even the ones that charge college level tuition)...
Seems to be very much dominated by east/west coast.

Both Argyle (in Denton County) & Paschal (from Fort Worth ISD) had two students each, plus there were a fair number of kids from the Houston & Austin Area and at least one from the Rio Grande Valley and another from College Station. If anything, this looks like a niche competition that most schools don't participate in. I'd look at how North Texas schools stack up in UIL academic competitions before lamenting their under-performance.

[serger]

Originally Posted by bencronin04

Also saying you don't like school rankings because their subjective, and then linking a post to a awards program that is just based on some random association of physics?????? Seems a little pot meet kettle to me.

Maybe the link was not very clear. This was the list of semifinalists that competed for a spot on the US team (5 students) for the International Physics Olympiad. Each country does it differently, in the case of US AAPT and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) are the sponsors.

Believe me, it is very hard to qualify for this and the level is as high as it can be at high school level.
Granted US started participating relatively late (in 86 I think), but still the population is huge.

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by serger

Also, imo, competitive admission public high schools schools could be superior to any private because there is no income requirement, and no restriction on applicant pool.

There are some great public high schools, but as a rule, the elite privates have more success. They get the best of the best plus they have the financial resources. This year 31 families gave St. Marks at least 1 million dollars. With that kind of money, you can hire the best teachers, have small class rooms, have the best resources, etc.

[serger]

Originally Posted by matteo81

Both Argyle (in Denton County) & Paschal (from Fort Worth ISD) had two students each, plus there were a fair number of kids from the Houston & Austin Area and at least one from the Rio Grande Valley and another from College Station. If anything, this looks like a niche competition that most schools don't participate in. I'd look at how North Texas schools stack up in UIL academic competitions before lamenting their under-performance.

Yes, I agree, the number from other metropolitan areas in Texas are better. And also I did miss the Argyle students.

I would not call a niche competition, a competition with almost 100 countries participating nowadays.

The point about school participation in US is taken, not sure how this is organized here, and maybe it is just more popular in some parts of the country. But I do know it is not like in my former country long long time ago, where each and every school participated.

But looking at this year, the final results of the US team were really good, so I'm sure the selection process was quite rigorous.

[BellaO]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Billionaire Hunter Hunt (son of Ray, grandson of H.L.) sends his triplets to Lakewood Elementary and I hear there is already a large gift...connection?

Not anymore, they are now attending private school...but maybe they will donate anyway!

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by HockDad

I would love to see the total numbers in these organizations compared to Mad for Plaid (the HPISD school organization). I know that when I lived in UP, numerous families, whether you had kids in the schools or not, would write checks to support the local school and to limit the impact of Robin Hood.

From a quick google, looks like the last few annual campaigns have raised in the $2-3M range. That is strictly Mad For Plaid. Each school has various other fundraisers for their campus for teacher appreciation and specific projects like additional classroom technology or building a campus garden. I'd guess the total private funds going into the district each year is in the high $2M-high $3M range.

ETA- found link for budget on district's website from 2010-2011 year. 5.1% of $52M income was from "gifts", approx $2.6M. Add in another $100k per campus in misc fundraising and it's probably in the $3.2M range overall?

Private gifting fills in missing piece of school finance puzzle