Comments on: Some advice on middle school, from your friendly (elementary school) alumni

By: Beyond Bakesales

Beyond Bakesales — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:33:20 +0000

There is no magic bullet. I’m very familiar with the whole selection process of Distinguished School Awards, and although it is an interesting opportunity for schools to do some “self reflection,” please don’t go overboard by its significance. Did you know that there are school districts that hire consultants to help prepare their nomination applications? That some districts (not OUSD)actually pay staff for the extra time it takes to pull one of these together?

And, other than the pat on the back and temporary bragging rights, schools get ZERO for being so recognized. California DOE is all about sticks and no carrots.

But, for those of you parents of elementary and middle school children who are trying to “think college now,” please remember that YOU (and your educational background, especially if you are the mother) are the most statistically signficant indicator of your child’s success.

Our kids are at Skyline and they have received a comprehensive, challenging education (socially and academically). Our son, who is a senior, has been accepted at all of the UCs he applied to, including UCLA and Berkeley. And, here’s the key: he took as challenging a course load as he could (lots of AP classes), he showed up to class, and he did the work, simple as that.

By: Jose

Jose — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:51:22 +0000

Katy,

California Department of Education has very low standards.

Thanks,

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:28:20 +0000

Last spring. Here’s a link to the state’s 2008 eligibility criteria:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/eligibility08.asp

By: Jose

Jose — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:27:39 +0000

Katy,

What year did they win this Distinguished School Award? Are the standards that low in our state, when over 50% of the students are failing Math and Language Arts at the 5th grade?

Thanks,

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:14:09 +0000

“Does the state education department consider this a high performing school?”

In short: yes.

Think College Now is a California Distinguished School, a distinction awarded by the state education department based, primarily, on test scores.

By: Jose

Jose — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:37:32 +0000

Katy,

In todays paper you said this was a high achiving school. What does that mean to you? I am in college now, and my professors encourage us to stick to the facts.

I looked into Think College Now. Their student’s test scores drop each year as they move up each grade. Only 45% of the 5th graders were proficient or higher in Language Arts and 33% in Math.

The school’s API droped from 789 in 2007 to 781 in 2008. Does the state education department consider this a high performing school?

Thanks,

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:59:10 +0000

From the Montera Middle School students that have spoken at my daughter’s elementary school we find the same advice. Good for these students for speaking out to help others. Sage advice from such young people.