Comparing public elementary schools across states

[Anonymous]

We have daughters with kids on NOVA and in MOCO. In Maryland, I know you can look at the PARC test scores to get an idea of how E'S are doing across a county. I know there are ways to,compare school districts and perhaps elementary schools, too, in NOVA. I will say wherever you go do look at feeder patterns for MS and HS, though there is always a chance for redrawn lines. Also, if any child has special needs, then you have to do research on how services are handled and if there are any special programs a child might need at a particular school .

[Anonymous]

easy

whenever comparing VA and MD, just know that MD is better

[Anonymous]

There was someone in the DC schools forum that compared PARCC scores for similar demographics in DC and Bethesda (white students, who tend to be upper middle class in both places). Apparently white kids in DC performed similarly or slightly better compared to Bethesda.

That's just one data point, and it doesn't tell you how your kids will do if they don't fit that demographic. We are not white (or Asian), but are upper middle class in DC, and so far the public schools have worked well, at least at the elementary level.

Further anecdata, but we hear from neighbors that Deal is great, although there have been rumblings about it getting too crowded, and we hear mixed things about Wilson--however our neighbors' kid just graduated and is off to a great college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I think the problem is that even if there were a great tool that did what you wanted and could compare and contrast DC vs MD vs VA, it is still not going to make your decision for you. State level comparisons of (all of) MD and (all of) VA just wouldn’t be terribly meaningful for the specific move you are considering. You need to compare neighborhood you are in to those you would move to and that ultimately seems like it comes down to you researching neighborhoods and schools to move to, with or without some state-to-state tool.

OP here: I just get nerdy and curious. I’m trying to make sense of things as an immigrant, and my DS is ALL I have so I am definitely over-thinking this and over-worrying. I know but can’t help it.

Some data let you do drill downs to individual school level, but not in this case of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Short answer - no. There is no national standardized elementary level test. Maryland and DC both take the PARCC, or did, but even that was tailored for each state's curriculum.

Basically, PP is right. Scores are just going to tell you about demographics anyway.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was someone in the DC schools forum that compared PARCC scores for similar demographics in DC and Bethesda (white students, who tend to be upper middle class in both places). Apparently white kids in DC performed similarly or slightly better compared to Bethesda.

That's just one data point, and it doesn't tell you how your kids will do if they don't fit that demographic. We are not white (or Asian), but are upper middle class in DC, and so far the public schools have worked well, at least at the elementary level.

Further anecdata, but we hear from neighbors that Deal is great, although there have been rumblings about it getting too crowded, and we hear mixed things about Wilson--however our neighbors' kid just graduated and is off to a great college.

Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Short answer - no. There is no national standardized elementary level test. Maryland and DC both take the PARCC, or did, but even that was tailored for each state's curriculum.

Basically, PP is right. Scores are just going to tell you about demographics anyway.

+1

Also, there are lots of good DCPS schools. DC is full of educated parents with stable homes sending their kids to DCPS, where those kids show up prepared and ready to learn, with tons of extracurricular enrichment of various kinds.

OP: I’m in FCPS. Will move to the Stoddard Elementary / Glover Park neighborhood in DC, if I make up my mind. I don’t really have any other DC options due to certain circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the posts above. So my suspicion is right - no (comparable) data out there as it looks now to conduct such analysis.

I do appreciate the demographics factor view. What bothers me is that it is a word of the mouth which drives perceptions, and not data.

Cross-state comparisons would make it plain and simple clear which state/county is failing its kids. And which state/county provides lessons to learn from.
Foundation for the future is laid at the elementary level. Then why comparable data issue is not a federal concern?

To have comparable data you would need a standardized elementary curriculum. That won't happen so long as some states reserve the right to taiilor their curricular materials and teach kids Jesus rode a dinosaur.

Ha?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the posts above. So my suspicion is right - no (comparable) data out there as it looks now to conduct such analysis.

I do appreciate the demographics factor view. What bothers me is that it is a word of the mouth which drives perceptions, and not data.

Cross-state comparisons would make it plain and simple clear which state/county is failing its kids. And which state/county provides lessons to learn from.
Foundation for the future is laid at the elementary level. Then why comparable data issue is not a federal concern?

Education is a State responsibility so each state sets its own educational policy and standards. There have been attempts to standardized educational policy across states, see the common core, but that has been actively resisted in some states and run into resistance in other places.

Kids with involved parents who are invested in their kids tend to do well in school regardless of where they live. But there are some areas that have better schools then others. It is up to you to decide if you want to move to an area with a shorter commute for you (2 hours sucks) but might not have the educational support that you desire. I don't know enough about DC Public Schools but it sure sounds like a mix bag with some great options that are harder to get into and some not so great options. Research the individual schools in the area you are moving to and decide if those work for you. Or be prepared to go private.

Or move so that your commute is cut in half, an hour, and choose a house in an area with a known strong school district.

But you are not going to find stats for comparison because each state has its own policy and own measuring tools.

- Thanks so much. Why do states resist common standards? Isn’t this a policy failure such that federal level needs to intervene for the sake of the country’s future? No, the Ed system is not in crisis, but we do end up importing skilled labor to cover for the shortage. Since the root of ed problem is in the elementary, why can’t core standards be introduced? - Again, I’m not an education expert so I may not be seeing something important probably related to federalism.