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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

https://newtriernews.org/top-stories/2016/05/13/senior-destinations-2016/

[Anonymous]

New Trier and the Glenbrooks are definitely up there if not at the very top. The North Shore of Chicago has excellent schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Your husband is correct. Great Schools only compares schools to other schools in that state, so it cannot really be used to compare schools in different states (I guess you could use it as a starting point for data). The data it uses varies from state to state. You can read about their methodology here: http://www.greatschools.org/catalog/pdf/New_Ratings_Methodology_Report.pdf

Great Schools is useful for surfing around on Redfin but you can't use it to say "let's live in CT not SC" and personally I wouldn't use it as the deciding factor when choosing to live in a house zoned for an 8 school vs a house zoned for a 9 school.

[Anonymous]

So for all these transplants saying the school systems where they are from are better than in MCPS or FCPS, what heeps you from moving back? Are there other aspects of your life that are better here than where u r from in those NE states?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Many people aren't thrilled with MCPS!

[Anonymous]

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

Figures this person is a teacher. I knew it couldn't be a parent with all the complaints about FCPS I hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for all these transplants saying the school systems where they are from are better than in MCPS or FCPS, what heeps you from moving back? Are there other aspects of your life that are better here than where u r from in those NE states?

Our industry is only in DC. Otherwise we would be in Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Massachusetts

+1!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for all these transplants saying the school systems where they are from are better than in MCPS or FCPS, what heeps you from moving back? Are there other aspects of your life that are better here than where u r from in those NE states?

Our industry is only in DC. Otherwise we would be in Chicago.

+1

We'd be elsewhere if not for jobs. Life is full of compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was born and raised in New Jersey and always find the school systems around here lacking in comparison. Not sure if it's 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.

The good news is that there are a lot of a-holes (^) around here to mock. Doesn't quite make up for the lack of great schools and food, but it helps.

[Anonymous]

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

The only reason why TJ is so successful is that it pulls the very top kids from a very large number of schools. You make it its own system and it's just like any other FCPS HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

The only reason why TJ is so successful is that it pulls the very top kids from a very large number of schools. You make it its own system and it's just like any other FCPS HS.

Successful at what? Taking tests?
Of course they should be good at test-taking. That's how TJ was set up; pulling the best test takers in FCPS into one place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for all these transplants saying the school systems where they are from are better than in MCPS or FCPS, what heeps you from moving back? Are there other aspects of your life that are better here than where u r from in those NE states?

Weather. Jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for all these transplants saying the school systems where they are from are better than in MCPS or FCPS, what heeps you from moving back? Are there other aspects of your life that are better here than where u r from in those NE states?

Our industry is only in DC. Otherwise we would be in Chicago.

+1

We'd be elsewhere if not for jobs. Life is full of compromise.

Right so people could live in other places and have the best schools but then your kids will leave anyway bc theyll have to go to places like DC to seek out the good jobs. It sucks having to make these choices. Been there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

The only reason why TJ is so successful is that it pulls the very top kids from a very large number of schools. You make it its own system and it's just like any other FCPS HS.

This is very true. You take the top 2% of kids from the most highly educated counties in the nation and have an instant super-school. TJ des a lot well, and has a lot of great opportunities, but they are starting with a huge advantage over schools that are open enrollment. -- TJ parent (of a kid who is smart. But let's face it, there are 500 kids in FCPS and APS who could take his place in an instant. TJ admissions is a crap shoot).