"Questions for Readers" wrap up: Selkirk, Franklin, and Friday Harbor High

Today we wrap up our "Questions for Readers," identifying good schools and not-so-good schools and opening the forum for insight on school performance. After all, when we’re talking about public education, it’s the public who need to weigh in on the conversation.

To conclude the week, take a look at Selkirk High School out in Ione. Good things are happening there, as evidenced by their 8.4 on the Report Card’s 0 to 10 scale.  Next, I’d like to know more about Franklin High School in Seattle. Their scores aren’t so hot leading up to it, but their 6.5 in 2008—along with their grade level academies—piques my interest.

Not all the news is good, though. Take a close look at Friday Harbor High School in the San Juan Islands. In 2004 they had an excellent score of 8.7. In 2008 they were at a 5.9. What caused this small, rural school to take a dive of almost two full points? And that trend arrow’s still pointing down…

A group of legislators in Olympia can't know what’s best for students in every corner of the state—we need to hear from the people in those corners. What do you see going on in your schools?

Selkirk School District: http://www.selkirk.k12.wa.us/

Franklin High School: http://www.franklinquakers.org/

Friday Harbor High School: http://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/fhhs  

Questions for Readers Part 3: Trending up or trending down? Waitsburg, Quincy, and Tumwater High

For our third round of school spotlights, we’re featuring Waitsburg High School, Quincy High School, and Tumwater High.

Waitsburg and Quincy share a common positive characteristic: a dramatic upward trend on their Report Cards (i.e. the kind of movement we like to see). Between 2004 and 2008, Waitsburg went from a 3.6 to a 6.4 on the Report Card’s annual overall rating out of ten scale (with 6.0 being the state average). Quincy’s score has risen from a 3.8 to a 6.1—and both schools continue to climb. What do they have in common? What are they doing differently?

 

On the other hand, how does Tumwater High School—one of the most well thought of schools in Thurston County—explain their downward trend? In 2004, Tumwater High scored a respectable 7.2. By 2008, they had dropped two full points to a 5.2 and continue to decline. Questions, anyone?

(Note: Trend indicators only appear in Report Cards when schools have made statistically significant movement in one direction or another)

(Cross-posted at www.libertylive.org)

Second Question for readers: Walla Walla and H.M. Jackson -- Why?

Continuing with the theme of the good and the not-so-hot, today I’d like to ask readers to offer any insight on Walla Walla High School and H.M. Jackson High in Mill Creek.

Why these two?

   

Walla Walla scored an above average 7.0 in 2008 on the Report Card’s 0-10 scale and has held a steady upward trend since its 6.3 in 2004. They’re doing something right over there. I don’t know about you, but I’m curious…

On the other end of the spectrum we have Jackson High School. How do they explain their drop from a very respectable 7.8 in 2004 to a 5.8 in 2008? Here’s a school that needs to answer some tough questions. Again, I put the question out to the cyber-forum.

 Thoughts?

(Cross-posted at www.libertylive.org)

Questions for readers: Sammamish, Interlake, and Rosalia High Schools

What I love about my job as director of the School Report Card Project is finding great schools. These are the schools that haven’t accepted average scores, don’t make excuses, don’t blame their scores on challenges their students bring from home—schools that reject the status quo and work tirelessly to replace it. And believe me, they’re out there.
 
That was the group that jumped off the pages and pages of data in the Elementary School Report Card—schools like Pateros, Muir, Maple, Cooper, and Nooksack.
 
With the Middle School and High School Report Cards, I’m drawn to the group of schools that aren’t on top but are well above the middle—or making upward strides. Some of them have high minority populations, some have high low-income populations, and some have neither. Some you’ll find out in the country, some in the heart of the city. Wherever they are, they’re doing a solid job—an admirable job—at providing students with a good education. Like the exceptionally good schools, these schools deserve a close look. We have a lot to learn from them. That’s why throughout the rest of the week I’ll identify a school a day that’s doing good things for their students. They aren’t perfect, but they deserve a pat on the back.
 
Along with these, I’ll bring up a school that’s settling for the status quo—or not quite making it.

I don’t have all the answers, but that’s kind of the point. One person or group (hint: they meet at the capitol) will never successfully micromanage education for our entire state. We’re a diverse state with diverse learning needs. My job is to ask the questions. I’d like to hear from you about what some of the answers might be.

So here we go. Today’s schools:
   
        
Why is Sammamish High School scoring below average while Interlake High School is doing great?
What is Rosalia High School doing to achieve their well above average 7.8 with more than 52% low income students?

The rest I’ll save for another post. These are conversations we need to have. These are answers we need to hear. Please join the conversation.

(Cross-posted at www.libertylive.org)

Release of the Middle School and High School Report Cards!

Today is the first day of school for many of Washington's students. It also marks the first day parents of middle school and high school students can take a simple, objective look at how their schools are doing. Brace yourselves.

 

We talk about education in the courtroom, the legislative hearing room, the boardroom, the backroom -- but not the classrom. It's time to set aside the politics of education and take a look at the quality of education.

 

42% of middle school students who took the WASL in 2008 failed. 39% of all high school students who took the WASL failed. That is the future hiring pool, the future legislators, the future teachers. We're robbing them of something too precious to forego when we let test scores like this go unnoticed.

 

The Report Card on Washington's Middle Schools and High Schools 2009 gives parents, educators, and policymakers the facts on how their child's school is doing so they can get involved and start asking questions. When we're talking about public education, it's the public who needs to step in.

 

Now's the time.

 

www.ReportCardWA.com now covers every public school in Washington (for which the state has data).

 

Click below to view today's online press conference with EFF CEO Lynn Harsh, Interim Executive Director of the Fraser Institute Peter Cowley, and EFF School Report Card Director Diana Cieslak.