Practical Difference between Public High School Tiers? (Allen, Grapevine: home, neighborhood)

[calgirlinnc]

Everyone wants "the best" schools, particularly high schools. Better schools drive property values.

Apart from the "top 10" schools, though, is there a practical difference between the top 100
high schools and the next 100 high schools? Do people really need to distinguish between (for example) Marcus High School and Timber Creek HS?

When we moved here it was definitely a big difference because our high school did not offer anywhere near the course selection or resources that are available here. But here does it really make a difference to a student's future if they go to the #30 school or the number #175 school?

Obviously no one wants a run down building or gangs or drugs. But among the "good" schools, is the public splitting hairs? How objective and/or accurate are these measurements anyway?

[El Senor]

Originally Posted by calgirlinnc

Everyone wants "the best" schools, particularly high schools. Better schools drive property values.

Apart from the "top 10" schools, though, is there a practical difference between the top 100
high schools and the next 100 high schools? Do people really need to distinguish between (for example) Marcus High School and Timber Creek HS?

When we moved here it was definitely a big difference because our high school did not offer anywhere near the course selection or resources that are available here. But here does it really make a difference to a student's future if they go to the #30 school or the number #175 school?

Obviously no one wants a run down building or gangs or drugs. But among the "good" schools, is the public splitting hairs? How objective and/or accurate are these measurements anyway?

The delta between 1 and 100 is finite in an environment like DFW.

There are a myriad of studies and examples that show there is absolutely zero impact from the building, and far more correlation from the home life and parents.

I’ve always been fine letting the Tiger Mom/H1B/Translplant crowd chase a ranking. Whatever makes them happy. I looked for my kids to be happy and competitive- hell, even just competent- in what they do.

I changed college majors 12 times, I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to be the same people they were in the 6th grade.

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by El Senor

The delta between 1 and 100 is finite in an environment like DFW.

There are a myriad of studies and examples that show there is absolutely zero impact from the building, and far more correlation from the home life and parents.

I’ve always been fine letting the Tiger Mom/H1B/Translplant crowd chase a ranking. Whatever makes them happy. I looked for my kids to be happy and competitive- hell, even just competent- in what they do.

I changed college majors 12 times, I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to be the same people they were in the 6th grade.

I agree with a lot of this. But then why do people knock themselves out by outbidding each other to be in certain school patterns? Or why would a parent think they should commute over an hour each way to work so their child can attend certain schools? Is this just an example of group think?

[UnfairPark]

To each its own, no one can give you a correct answer. Even though these rankings should always be taken with few grains of salt. You can compare #1-25 schools or colleges with #26-50 but not with #125-150. Well, unless ranking criteria is random junk.

Overall, just look at high school's track record. Yes, students and parents matter a lot but teachers, peers and school resources are other pieces of this puzzle. There are no guarantees, things doesn't always turn out the way one wants but by picking a favorable environment, you improve odds of a favorable outcome.

[El Senor]

Originally Posted by calgirlinnc

I agree with a lot of this. But then why do people knock themselves out by outbidding each other to be in certain school patterns? Or why would a parent think they should commute over an hour each way to work so their child can attend certain schools? Is this just an example of group think?

For the same reason our politics have turned into tribal conquests.

Branding.

Hype.

Stupidity.

[El Senor]

Originally Posted by UnfairPark

To each its own, no one can give you a correct answer. Even though these rankings should always be taken with few grains of salt. You can compare #1-25 schools or colleges with #26-50 but not with #125-150. Well, unless ranking criteria is random junk.

Overall, just look at high school's track record. Yes, students and parents matter a lot but teachers, peers and school resources are other pieces of this puzzle. There are no guarantees, things doesn't always turn out the way one wants but by picking a favorable environment, you improve odds of a favorable outcome.

Ranking criteria IS random junk in the grand scheme.

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by UnfairPark

To each its own, no one can give you a correct answer. Even though these rankings should always be taken with few grains of salt. You can compare #1-25 schools or colleges with #26-50 but not with #125-150. Well, unless ranking criteria is random junk.

Overall, just look at high school's track record. Yes, students and parents matter a lot but teachers, peers and school resources are other pieces of this puzzle. There are no guarantees, things doesn't always turn out the way one wants but by picking a favorable environment, you improve odds of a favorable outcome.

Well college is a different situation, so let's not bring that into it the discussion.

I take your point about environment, but how exactly is #50 vastly superior to #150?

[UnfairPark]

As far as private schools and colleges go, marketing, hype and branding matter a lot.

[UnfairPark]

Originally Posted by calgirlinnc

Well college is a different situation, so let's not bring that into it the discussion.

I take your point about environment, but how exactly is #50 vastly superior to #150?

You already left 1-49, now you are comparing bottom of top 50 to further bottom, even if you are using salt, these are just too many grains. If in everything quality matters then how come in education, its of no consideration at all?

[TurtleCreek80]

Well, there are only about 140 neighborhood high schools in all of DFW. So yes, there is a HUGE delta between the schools just outside of the "top 10" and #100. How huge? Try these stats:

Average SAT for schools ranked 11-25: 1570-1640, I'd consider that a pretty tight band of above average scores.
Average SAT for schools ranked 90-110: 1293-1388. An almost 400 point gap between school #11 and school #110. That shows that of the kids who are college bound, there is a HUGE gap in the average student's actual college preparedness.

Teacher quality: at better high schools (your Allens, Kellers, Grapevines, etc), less than 8% of Teachers at the high school level have less than 1 year experience. The average is 10+ years. At the 100-mark (your Mansfields, Forneys, some of the better DISD campuses), 15-30% of teachers are new each year. That kind of turnover indicates poor administration, low morale, poor teacher quality, etc.


I agree with your point, just that there is a tighter band of "good" schools than 100+. There is a huge cultural difference in schools 11 and 110 but a much less distinguishable difference between 11 and 25 or 35. Kids who would thrive at school 11 would do fine at 35, too. But I wouldn't enroll my kids at school 111 or 135 because the academic standards are sorely lacking at schools ranked that low, and socioeconomic battles like poverty and ESL in addition to legit safety concerns at many of the low ranked campuses are REAL and significant distractions in the learning environment.