School districts

What is a good site to look up school district rankings and stats. I would like to see a comparison list, then be able to look into some in more detail.

Thanks!

Re: School districts

Newsday is the best source I know for rankings in various categories (test scores, graduation rate, percentage going on to 4 year college, etc.).

For more detailed info (on not just districts but individual schools), sites like www.schooldigger.com and www.greatschools.org are good. They include stats (demographics, class size) and also parent/community reviews. They are not always the most up to date, but I don't know anything more updated in the same format.

If you narrow it down to some districts that you are interested in, I always advise my clients to check out the district websites and the individual school websites. Once you get the objective stats, looking at the website can give you a good feel for a school.

School districts

I've used both of those two sites, I like them a lot. They definitely helped to provide DH and me with great insight. We also did the same as Christine is recommending, we wanted to see what the districts and schools offered in terms of extra-curricular activities and such.

Re: School districts

In addition, I think it's very important to speak to actual residents of a school district and not just go by what you read or what "you hear"

I live in a district that gets poo-pooed because of diversity, and have no complaints at all.

I also know many of the high school grads who have gotten into Ivy League schools as recent as this fall.

My school district also has been more than supportive in terms of providing services for special needs.

I also know residents of the next district over, of which I share a zip code with who have said the same.

Often people need to go out of their comfort level and all they know in terms of their own skin color.

Re: School districts

Once you've narrowed down districts, your best bet is to bring up the schools report card from the nys dept of ed page (it comes right up in a google search). I personally did not like some of the sites previous posters mentioned because they are based on what people write in (and I don't trust who is writing the review). I'd rather go by the diversity facts, test scores, student:teacher ratios, etc. based on cold hard facts and not what a possibly unreasonable and disgruntled parent wants to air.

School districts

School reports are good but I also think asking people that live in the district and reviewing all the district websites to see what is offered is also very important. I live in what I think is a great school district but our report card isn't that good because our high school starts at 10th grade and the grade reports will not allow us to count our 9th graders, so it's very skewed.

School districts

I agree that talking to people is very important. Sometimes, a school district looks good on paper, but in reality some other things are going on that are concerning. How many students from the HS go on to 4-year colleges? Are the families supportive of education or only sports? Do they pass their budget every year, or do they fail it constantly? What percentage of school tax money goes into per-pupil spending? Do they have special ed services/how do they address special needs?

Re: School districts

I went to our Meet the Teacher night too last night and have to say that I was extremely impressed by what I saw.

Which I think is the main priority. It's been said before on here, but there are very few schools on LI where you need to worry about violence.

Having lots of peers with money also brings on other issues IMO.

I also have to admit I really haven't educated myself much on this new "Common Core" for a variety of reasons, but I was told by my son's teacher last night that my district was one of the first on LI to be sent for appropriate training and as a result, they have scored higher than some of the "best" districts on LI or smaller districts or districts with money.

I still stand by my opinion that you should try to actually meet parents in the district to get their opinion on things overall.

Most of it also will come down to your involvement as a parent as well as your kid.

School districts

@morningcuppacoffee- i agree with this "Having lots of peers with money also brings on other issues IMO." apparently we had this in my HS, although i didnt hear about it until after, but now i hear it is worse. (drugs, etc) same with some schools that are ranked VERY highly out east but had drug ring arrests recently...

Our school district has very good educational and extracurricular opportunities because of the size, but is ranked poorly overall on almost all sites that I have seen.

We are looking to move for other reasons as well. (not having to do with the district) So, I would like to research EVERYTHING prior - unlike the first time around.

Re: School districts

School districts

I worked as a consultant for an educational company where I was sent to various LI districts, mostly Nassau. From the most poor to the most wealthy, drugs are everywhere in different degrees. Mrs&MrsK, I left high school not knowing what went on at parties. DH was like, "everyone could afford coke and pot- so they Did". I guess I never saw that?

Re: School districts