Best public school system in the nation - what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OP didn't ask about which school system dealt with a large and diverse population - they asked about "best" . I went to one of those smaller rich Long Island districts, and it was leaps and bounds ahead of FCPS and APS.

Well then we need to just define "best" as...what public school district in the US has the highest concentration of wealthy/affluent and education families?

[Anonymous]

how do GreatSchool ratings work? Is a GS rating of 10 in Mt.Pleasant SC better than a GS rating of 9 in Westport, CT? My husband says no.... but I'm not sure? If they are based on test scores then are the standardized tests the same across the US?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Massachusetts

Boo. No.

Palo Alto Ca.

There are also a lot of highly ranked high schools in Texas which surpruses me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Massachusetts

Boo. No.

Palo Alto Ca.

There are also a lot of highly ranked high schools in Texas which surpruses me.

Not me. I went to school in Texas and have not been thrilled with MCPS, which I keep hearing is "one of the best school systems in the country". To be fair, MCPS does have some fabulous opportunities, but I think the basic education is lacking. My school system in Texas had problems too, but I think the math, reading, and science programs were better there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP didn't ask about which school system dealt with a large and diverse population - they asked about "best" . I went to one of those smaller rich Long Island districts, and it was leaps and bounds ahead of FCPS and APS.

Well then we need to just define "best" as...what public school district in the US has the highest concentration of wealthy/affluent and education families?

DING DING DING! We have a winner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP didn't ask about which school system dealt with a large and diverse population - they asked about "best" . I went to one of those smaller rich Long Island districts, and it was leaps and bounds ahead of FCPS and APS.

Well then we need to just define "best" as...what public school district in the US has the highest concentration of wealthy/affluent and education families?

DING DING DING! We have a winner.

Who actually use their public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in many places. I seriously vote for FCPS.

Then you haven't lived that many places. FCPS are very good. But nowhere near the best.

For the 10th largest school system in the country, it's pretty damn good. I've taught in 3 different states over the last 25 years, including small, wealthy communities in the northeast. Nothing comes close to the professional learning or professionalism I've seen in FCPS. Is it perfect? Of course not. But then no place is. Also, to compare it to a small school district like a Scarsdale, NY or Lexington,MA or other wealthy towns is pointless. For the volume of students, including the number of immigrants and students living in poverty, it is excellent.

School systems of similar size:
Hawaii
Orange County, FL
Hillsborough County, FL
Palm Beach County, FL
Philadelphia, PA

But that actually is the point. Because the question isn't who does the best work with a large diverse population, the question is what is the best public school district. I don't think FCPS even begins to come close to a place like Scarsdale.

And it never can because it's so massive.

I grew up in an area that has smaller school systems and now I really wish we had that for our kids. There are just too many different factions pushing for different priorities and our kids end up with some mediocre compromises.

[Anonymous]

Greenwich CT

[Anonymous]

If only TJ were it's own system!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If only TJ were it's own system!

To some extent it is. The highest performing kids from just 3 MSs (Carson, Rocky Run and Longfellow) are about 40% of the kids admitted. Each of these MSs in turn has a handful of AAP ES powerhouses feeding in. The "TJ feeder system" is a frequently discussed phenomenon.

For example: McNair, Hunters Woods, Oak Hill, Navy -> Carson -> TJ. That's 100 kids per class right there.

Alternately, the Level IV ES & MS Centers serve as part of a TJ school system.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for New Trier.

In many ways it can be a disadvantage to go to one of those top school - the competition for decent ranking or elite college acceptance is rough. Most elite colleges will only accept a certain number from a single high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Massachusetts, NJ, NY, CT, twin cities, suburb of Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis...

Which suburb of Milwaukee?

Whitefish Bay is really good.

Two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. We're moving there soon!

[Anonymous]

I was born and raised in New Jersey and always find the school systems around here lacking in comparison. Not sure if its just because I idealize where I grew up though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP didn't ask about which school system dealt with a large and diverse population - they asked about "best" . I went to one of those smaller rich Long Island districts, and it was leaps and bounds ahead of FCPS and APS.

Well then we need to just define "best" as...what public school district in the US has the highest concentration of wealthy/affluent and education families?

DING DING DING! We have a winner.

Who actually use their public school system.

Clearly you didn't go to the best public system. Re-read this quoted sentence from the post above: what public school district in the US has the highest concentration of wealthy/affluent and education families?

Do you see how you misread that? PP is not asking what town or city has the largest concentration of wealthy, educated families. PP was asking what public school system has the highest concentration of wealthy, educated families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born and raised in New Jersey and always find the school systems around here lacking in comparison. Not sure if its just because I idealize where I grew up though.

It's OK, really. Kids here have the luxury of not going through life being asked "which exit" when they mention their home state.