re: There are pockets where public schools are doing well

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We have excellent public schools in Williamson County, TN but I can’t tell you why.

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Being one of the top 20 wealthiest counties in the US and about 90% white would probably be a good guess.

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We have excellent public schools in Williamson County, TN but I can’t tell you why.

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The per capita income is probably top 5% in country.

Good schools are purely about the wealth of the area they serve

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There are pockets where public schools are doing well

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Mayberry?

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Your response reads a lot like LDOE standards.

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. I don’t know what this means. I may agree with it but I don’t know what LDOE stands for.

My response was meant to show:

that pure performance numbers on actual exams and GPA is what matters most to Me.

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The idea that some schools are better than others is probably pretty silly to be honest

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If a school can only educate a child to its socioeconomic expectation, we should shut every single one down.

Parenting is a part of it, no doubt.

However, the over crowding of classes, the test score oriented curriculum, the sit down all day way, and the lack of options in high school has caused a large part of the problem as well.

Every kid isn’t on the same path. Separate them! Some need smaller class size, increased difficulty in curriculum, and college skills. If you’re not into college, offer skilled based education for a craft.

Kids these days or pushed to college, are drug through college preparatory jr high and high school. If they’re not wanting or can’t go to college what option do they have? Fail? Drop out? Be a distraction to those who are interested in college?

School districts are obsessed with test scores and a large amount of those scores are false due to loopholes.

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Schools are essentially just a product of the students

The idea that some schools are better than others is probably pretty silly to be honest

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Agreed. I’ve said many times that you could switch the faculty of great and poor schools with little change.

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By my unscientific reasons, I would assess: 

1. percentage of students taking the SAT/ACT score 
2. Average SAT/ACT 
3. Number of students that have passed AP classes 
4. number of national merit semifinalists 

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To me, your viewpoint is actually a part of the problem. Politicians attempt to implement what you have described via legislative mandate.

My issues with your list are as follows:

1. Cost. The state currently pays an exorbitant amount of money for testing at the high school level. The state should only pay for the students that request to take the ACT, and only AFTER the students have filled out their FAFSA paperwork.

2. Exclusion. Your list would apply to college bound students only. Why? Currently schools can have a student become an ASC certified mechanic or recieve their SYSCO certification prior to graduation and those accomplishments are pretty much ignored because we are worried about merit semifinalists. IMHO, not finacially assiting school systems in transitioning students into tech/trade schools is moronic and outdated. The world needs plumbers, electricians, code writers, and truck drivers. Why not assist those students in finding success by supporting that pathway. Perhaps the gross amount of funding that goes towards testing can be be re-allocated to actually assist them. Then again, how would the ACT / SAT make money (or the former politicians that may be "lucky" enough to be hired by them as consultants)?

3. Rinse and repeat. What you listed ARE major components of the well intentioned, but short-sighted "School Performance Score." IIRC, Mr. Common Core himself (John White) devised this system. I would suggest that you take the time to reflect on whom your views are aligned with. The system doesn't work now, and unless drastic changes are made, it won't work in the future. You know it is a sad day when Mississippi has made some necessary changes and we are stuck in mediocrity. They are doing basic testing for reading comprehension at a MUCH younger age (3rd grade?) and have remediation measures in place. Their take, if you can't read, you will struggle to find success.
Unfortunately in Louisiana, we still trust in stupidity.

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We have to fix our public schools if we want a chance at fixing this nation. Its not only about political leanings of educators - we are poorly educating kids.

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Here is where you're wrong. The answer is not to try and "fix" publicly funded schools, but to eliminate them entirely. Private schools, faith based schools, and home schools are the answer here. The gov't was never designed to implement an education system on this scale. It's the least effective method of delivering services and getting results. I am always amazed at the people that think just throwing more money at the problem will somehow solve it.

If you need a visual example of what I'm talking about: