The secret to Irvine School District success? (versus, ranked)

[psr13]

Originally Posted by proudmommy

Happening at just about all school districts in the US.

Now, here's something to think about. I have three kids in Capistrano Unified School district. (We're new to the area.) At the recent parent teach conference, the teachers explained that nowadays it is around 30 kids per class and only a few years ago it was 20 kids per class. That sounds horrible.

However, "when I was a kid" it also was around 30 kids per class. It almost seems like the low student teacher ratios of a few years ago were a relative luxury and reverting to 30/class is more the norm. (Go look at your class pictures from the 60s, 70s, or 80s.)

Growing up in Garden Grove I don't think we ever had a class below 30 in the 90's. I was in fourth or fifth when reduced class sizes came into play. The schools now are much worse with smaller classes than they were when I went there. My dad's schools here in La Puente had around 40 according to him. Oh yeah, some of my high school classes had close to 40 I think. I had a couple teachers comment on it.

[VeronikaW]

I grew up in the Irvine schools in the 80s and 90s. I don't remember ever having a class less than 30 students.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by proudmommy

For example, why are Irvine parents more involved?

Over inflated egos.

[sailnd]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Also, be careful not to confuse correlation with causation. The kinds of parents who have good students get involved with the schools just like the kids of parents who read good books do well. The involvement and the books in and of themselves are irrelevant.

Okay then.....so what is relevant as it relates to the Irvine School District? Please try to either cite your sources or have first hand experience.

[proudmommy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

Over inflated egos.

Sounds like a bad thing.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by sailnd

Okay then.....so what is relevant as it relates to the Irvine School District? Please try to either cite your sources or have first hand experience.

Two books I would recommend that will give you some good perspectives are Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and The Big Sort by Bill Bishop. Seems pretty simple: where you have an area of highly educated parents you're going to have good students. It has little to do with the schools and everything to do with the parents. You could bus the kids to CUSD or one of the other districts around there and see the same results.

[ragnarkar]

The schools are the only reason to live in Irvine proper (whether you have kids or are a UCI student without a car.) Otherwise, better to live in the nicer but cheaper areas in Tustin, Costa Mesa, or Santa Ana bordering Irvine.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by proudmommy

Sounds like a bad thing.

That depends on perspective. Irvine is full of image conscious Jones types. I'm sure they love it.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

That depends on perspective. Irvine is full of image conscious Jones types. I'm sure they love it.

And that correlates to parental involvement (which is a "good" thing)?

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Charles

And that correlates to parental involvement (which is a "good" thing)?

Only because Irvine parents treat their children's accomplishments like a disposable good. If you consider peer pressure to perform at the risk of being part of a dissociative group a good thing, then I guess yes, that could be potentially perceived as something "good".