Best High Schools in the Metroplex? (Dallas, Plano: theatre, magnet schools, activities)

[momof2dfw]

IMO, I think No Child Left Behind is a joke. Too many vocational classes have been taken out of the schools. Not EVERY student is going to go on to attend college and/or graduate from college. We NEED the people that are "blue collar" workers that jobs do not require college degrees. We NEED plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, auto mechanics, plant workers, assembly line workers, drivers, etc. By NOT having these vocational programs in the school and PUSHING standardized tests that some kids drop out and never even get a high school diploma. A GOOD school/district will have programs to fit a WIDE range of students of ALL different levels. This is coming from a parent of a Gifted & Talented child that has their head set on attending a HS w/ the IB program and talks of careers that require much more schooling than a Bachelors degree.

[Lakewooder]

Personally, I think it's good to rub shoulders with the person who might be your mechanic or plumber some day.

And ND, I think you would be the exception in most schools. Woodrow was the only DFW school, public or private, to send its top two grads to the Ivy League in 2007.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

IMO, I think No Child Left Behind is a joke. Too many vocational classes have been taken out of the schools. Not EVERY student is going to go on to attend college and/or graduate from college. We NEED the people that are "blue collar" workers that jobs do not require college degrees. We NEED plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, auto mechanics, plant workers, assembly line workers, drivers, etc. By NOT having these vocational programs in the school and PUSHING standardized tests that some kids drop out and never even get a high school diploma. A GOOD school/district will have programs to fit a WIDE range of students of ALL different levels. This is coming from a parent of a Gifted & Talented child that has their head set on attending a HS w/ the IB program and talks of careers that require much more schooling than a Bachelors degree.

And when those kids drop out the school's AYP is not reached therefore penalizing the school - so it's a conundrum.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

And when those kids drop out the school's AYP is not reached therefore penalizing the school - so it's a conundrum.

I totally agree. The way in which the scores are used when it comes to the TAKS tests is another MAJOR problem as I've stated over and over. Last year one of the editorial writers for the Dallas Morning News did a piece about JJ Pearce in the Richardson ISD. She went on to say she started her little research to find out just how the high school that so many see as stellar could obtain the ranking of "Academically Unacceptable". Lo and behold she found that a VERY small minority group can bring an entire schools "rating" down faster than a 1000 lb lead weight. It is VERY possible that a school w/ a minority subgroup of 5 students that do poorly on one TAKS subject can cause a school to receive that dreaded "Academically Unacceptable" label. The rest of the student body could receive a "commendable" performance on the TAKS tests but that does not show up. Just the dreaded few that perform poorly. I do not put much weight in these rankings as they do not show a true representation of the school. I'm just glad they FINALLY dropped the TAKS from the high school level and replaced it with end of semester exams. Well no duh, is that not what we had?

[Big G]

OK, I've already gone on record as believing that National Merit Semifinalists do not reflect high school quality, but in Plano West's case I can be certain that's the case.

Kids take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year. At Plano West, a two-year school, that's right when they start there.

[Lakewooder]

Yes, but if a school doesn't have any and hasn't had any for some time, you would suspect that the quality might not be good. Also our rival private high school, Bishop Lynch, only had one semi-finalist this year. If you are shelling out the big bucks for private school, wouldn't you be expecting better?

And with so much hype being heaped on Frisco, wouldn't you also expect more?

[Spree]

>> Also our rival private high school, Bishop Lynch, only had one semi-finalist this year. If you are shelling out the big bucks for private school, wouldn't you be expecting better?<<

Are the PSAT mandatory at Woodrow and Bishop Lynch? At my son's old school, different state, it was mandatory for 9th and 10th (paid for by the school system) and then optional for 11th and then the student paid for it.

[Spree]

>> Also our rival private high school, Bishop Lynch, only had one semi-finalist this year. If you are shelling out the big bucks for private school, wouldn't you be expecting better?<<

Depends, don't most parents send their children there for the religious aspect of the school as well? I don't see the school as a true academic private school as others. I'm guessing that most of their student population go on to college after graduation though.

[unexpected]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Yes, but if a school doesn't have any and hasn't had any for some time, you would suspect that the quality might not be good. Also our rival private high school, Bishop Lynch, only had one semi-finalist this year. If you are shelling out the big bucks for private school, wouldn't you be expecting better?

And with so much hype being heaped on Frisco, wouldn't you also expect more?

which is why I don't think school's matter that much- I think it's really a factor of how you were raised.

I would really love to test my theory. Does anyone know where you can get demographic data and class size data per school? Info I want: graduating class, racial makeup, economic makeup, and number of National Merit Semi-finalists. I've seen the last one posted on this board, but does anyone know where I can get the first three?

[Lakewooder]

You can get most of it from greatschools.net but I think the info is a couple of years old. The senior class size depends on how many dropped out. It is not unusual to see a drop out rate of more than 50% in many schools with diverse and lower-income populations. Also there's a mobility rate of how many kids in the school move each year, etc. As far as economic status I think the only measure is how many are getting a free breakfast and / or lunch. You would probably also have to do some census sampling to get a better idea...but then again that's 2000 and I know my area has changed quite a bit since then. That was before the McMansions and teardowns.

Then there's English proficiency, number of languages spoken at each school, etc...

It's all very complicated -- probably too complicated for many of us who are public school supporters to understand and explain. So it's no wonder people tend to qualify certain schools with very limited information or first impressions. I've even had teachers tell me a lot of it doesn't make sense but then we would have to think the politicians were smarter than the teachers (I'm sure they do) before they pass laws and regulations.