http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ Discussion Forum for Riverside Illinois en Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:19:34 +0000 http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/3#post-11361 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:39:41 +0000 PAR4 11361@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Not that the Sun Times isn't credible, but their interpretation of the numbers leaves a lot of questions. The best site I have seen for monitoring the progress of our schools is here: <a href="http://iirc.niu.edu/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://iirc.niu.edu/Default.aspx</a></p> <p>It allows you to follow a specific class through from year to year and see the improvement (or not)in their standardized test scores. For the most part, progress has been more than adequate - at times stellar. I would think most educated teachers looking for a job would utilize a site like this (and not the CST)- and would happily come to a district like 96 (since we probably pay more than everyone else, based on other strings here)!</p> <p>As far as the section 8 change, it would certainly increase our lower income sector, but that can't be assumed as a negative thing. As my earlier post suggests - parental support is the foundation for education and a family's income isn't the sole determinant in their willingness to be involved.... </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/3#post-11359 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:23:01 +0000 EricSundstrom 11359@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Any thoughts about how the switch to section 8 housing for many of Riverside's apartment buildings may effect RB's test scores? This question was asked of me when discussing Riverside's least favorite landlord and I am still pondering an answer. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/3#post-11358 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:44:38 +0000 ChrisHajer 11358@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>I happened to talk yesterday with someone who has one child at Hauser and one at RB. We got to talking about these rankings and how they're manipulated, what is actually being ranked, what the ranking actually means, etc. She mentioned that one benefit of being ranked highly, in Newsweek, the Sun-Times, or some other publication, is that you attract better teachers. If I were a teacher looking for a new position, I think I'd check out the school (and the community) using whatever online tools are available, including any of the state agency ratings or university ratings or even Newsweek. So, having your school rank highly in one of those places, no matter how dubious the distinction, attracts more teacher applicants, enabling you to hire the best teacher for the job. So, her argument went, these 'bogus' or 'dubious' criteria help make the school better by attracting more teachers (and then you hire the best ones), even if the ranking was no proof that the school actually *was* any better. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11357 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:20:27 +0000 JohnM 11357@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Chris,</p> <p>I never said I was satisfied, and I absolutely agree with you that we can and should expect more. My issue is with the ratings chasing that is so prevelant in education. Riverside Brookfield is a prime example--Balderman found a way to game the system and turn Riverside Brookfield into a top-ranked school, despite the fact that the criteria was dubious.</p> <p>I'm well aware of the link between educational achievement and property values, but I also think that our schools are doing a good job. Could they be better? Sure. However, I don't think ratings tell the whole story. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11351 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:25:41 +0000 chrisrobling 11351@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Sounds like PAR4 and JohnM are satisfied. It is their right. </p> <p>I am not. </p> <p>One wonders if they are satisfied with leaky roofs, as described at Blythe (above). Either way, if a school board allows that (especially with many hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank), should it be trusted with learning? </p> <p>I agree with the predicate of Kim's rhetorical questions. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11350 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:22:15 +0000 anonymous 11350@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Good point, KimJ. We support our schools and our teachers and administrators very well. We must demand something in return--like excellence in education. We certainly are paying enough for it. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11349 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:15:51 +0000 KimJ 11349@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Like it or not, our property values are based on (in addition to other factors, like mature trees) on our excellent schools. </p> <p>As a new home buyer/new parent, would one choose the home in the ranked school district in Downers Grove, or choose the home in unranked Riverside if all other criteria are equal?</p> <p>Is there a point when we demand excellence in return of our voting to increase our taxes regarding the schools? Do we believe in these rankings only if we are ranked? </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11348 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:11:43 +0000 PAR4 11348@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>The education a child gets begins and ends at home. If the parents don't take the time/make the effort to get the kids interested in learning, no amount of work from the teacher will matter (in fact, it is probably more detrimental to the class as a whole). </p> <p>A majority of the schools ahead of ours are magnet schools or in areas where educated family heads are involved in the process (higher property value towns). I believe the majority of our students benefit from this same environment (thus our top 10% finish), but our teachers can only do so much. </p> <p>I was impressed with the fact that our numbers increased over last year - that should be our benchmark. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11342 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:02 +0000 JohnM 11342@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>I don't think one can come up with a definition of "best." The school ranking game--be it for grade schools, high school, colleges or professional schools--is replete with different groups using different criteria to come up with their list. Wasn't R-B ranked by Newsweek as one of the best high schools in the state? If I recall, that criteria was based on the number of students taking AP tests--never mind if they passed them or understood the material. R-B's a good school, but top in the state?</p> <p>Likewise, weren't the Riverside grade schools rated among the top in the state a year or so ago as well? I have an easier time believing that than I do the RB rankings, but my guess is that there are many different criteria one could use to rate schools, and that the results will differ depending on what criteria are applied. </p> http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic/sun-times-top-100-schools/page/2#post-11337 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:09:47 +0000 KimJ 11337@http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/ <p>Yeah Mike, pretty vague post there!</p> <p>We thought Central was a better school.<br /> Pierce Downer is ranked.</p> <p>Since we all agree our schools are the best, I wonder what the definition of "best" is? </p>