This sums up why parents often prefer suburban schools... (Boston: sales, home)

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Reminds be of that person who used to claim Brockton had the best schools in the state. Maybe we can have a Brockton vs. Springfield duel!

As an urban school Brockton does perform very well. I'd put it against most gateway cities. I'd argue the city that needs the most help is Lawrence.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mdovell

As an urban school Brockton does perform very well. I'd put it against most gateway cities. I'd argue the city that needs the most help is Lawrence.

As an urban school yes.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by scorpio516

Your 2.3x more likely to die in a rural car than in a city car.

2.3 fatalities per 100 million VMT rural
1.0 fatalities per 100 million VMT urban

Rural is not the same as suburban.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by mdovell

As an urban school Brockton does perform very well. I'd put it against most gateway cities. I'd argue the city that needs the most help is Lawrence.

According to the Massachusetts DOE, Springfield has four of the top 5 worst performing schools in the state.



John J. Duggan Middle, Springfield
Forest Park Middle, Springfield
Van Sickle Academy, Springfield
Van Sickle International Baccalaureate, Springfield


Lawrence went into receivership in 2012 so that "needs the most help" started 7 years ago. The union was quite unhappy since the state flushed their contract and made everyone re-apply for their jobs. It looks like it helped at the elementary school level but so far, has been too little, too late in the high school. It's tough where you have a school system where the majority of the students are special needs of one sort or another. It's expensive to provide all the 1-on-1. The failed cities with the lousy tax base can't do it themselves even with the state formula for kicking in state money to prop up the schools.

[miu]

Originally Posted by stan4

Rural is not the same as suburban.

^^^ This.

My parents moved us to Concord, MA for a better quality of education and upbringing.

1. Safer than the city. I walked and biked to and from the schools by myself without any problems.
2. All my classmates planned to go on to college like it was no big deal.
3. No wannabe street thugs in my classes (except one of the METCO students was).
4. No baby momma classmates.
5. We were able to keep our childhood sense of wonder intact longer. City life is too full of adult temptations and influences.
6. Comparing my childhood to two other Chinese Americans (one growing up in Boston, the other in Brookline), I am really glad to have grown up in Concord. The former had a baby momma, and both were enamoured with urban culture.
7. And I am a much better motorist for having learned to drive in the much emptier suburban roads, than the stress of city driving.

We did go into Boston on many weekends. Museum visits, hanging out at the Boston Public Library all day.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by massnative71

As an urban school yes.

Controlling for income, of course.

[miu]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

According to the Massachusetts DOE, Springfield has four of the top 5 worst performing schools in the state.



John J. Duggan Middle, Springfield
Forest Park Middle, Springfield
Van Sickle Academy, Springfield
Van Sickle International Baccalaureate, Springfield


Lawrence went into receivership in 2012 so that "needs the most help" started 7 years ago. The union was quite unhappy since the state flushed their contract and made everyone re-apply for their jobs. It looks like it helped at the elementary school level but so far, has been too little, too late in the high school. It's tough where you have a school system where the majority of the students are special needs of one sort or another. It's expensive to provide all the 1-on-1. The failed cities with the lousy tax base can't do it themselves even with the state formula for kicking in state money to prop up the schools.

According to a guest on NPR, Lawrence's main problem is having so many Hispanics in their school system. They struggle with English, but much more importantly, the children just don't see a value in doing we in academics. For many recent immigrants, just being in America is enough of an achievement. They don't care about getting a STEM education and going to a top university and on to a career in tech or medicine. IMO they would to better in school working on their English skills, being taught small business accounting and math, and acquiring a skilled trade. Then perhaps the next generation of Hispanic immigrants will want a white collar career.

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by miu

According to a guest on NPR, Lawrence's main problem is having so many Hispanics in their school system. They struggle with English, but much more importantly, the children just don't see a value in doing we in academics. For many recent immigrants, just being in America is enough of an achievement. They don't care about getting a STEM education and going to a top university and on to a career in tech or medicine. IMO they would to better in school working on their English skills, being taught small business accounting and math, and acquiring a skilled trade. Then perhaps the next generation of Hispanic immigrants will want a white collar career.

Undocumented or documented? Huge difference in priorities for the parents (ie unlikely to afford tution so college is not a practical goal)

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

Undocumented or documented? Huge difference in priorities for the parents (ie unlikely to afford tution so college is not a practical goal)

You'd be surprised how many colleges will give illegal aliens a free ride.

[miu]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

Undocumented or documented? Huge difference in priorities for the parents (ie unlikely to afford tution so college is not a practical goal)

IMO it's a HUGE waste of taxpayer dollars to try to force a STEM education on any child (or whose parents don't care either) who has no interest in going to college and go the academic route.