Please tell me how I should compare schools across different states

[Anonymous]

My DH and I are considering relocating from Arlington, VA to an outlying area in either Virginia or Maryland. Specifically thinking about Fairfax County outside the beltway, Severna Park in MD, and Calvert County in MD. The only problem is that I just do not know how to compare across all these jurisdictions. GreatSchools ratings seem like crap. GreatSchools says that Northern High School in Calvert is a 9, but that Yorktown in Arlington is a 7 -- but Yorktown is clearly better when I look up SAT scores.

I have a soon-to-be first grader and feel lost about how I look at school strengths in deciding where to narrow down our search. The only important thing to me is the strength of the academic programs and that my kid will get the highest level academic experience possible. What metrics should I look out to figure where is best? Especially at the elementary school level, what metrics can you use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I are considering relocating from Arlington, VA to an outlying area in either Virginia or Maryland. Specifically thinking about Fairfax County outside the beltway, Severna Park in MD, and Calvert County in MD. The only problem is that I just do not know how to compare across all these jurisdictions. GreatSchools ratings seem like crap. GreatSchools says that Northern High School in Calvert is a 9, but that Yorktown in Arlington is a 7 -- but Yorktown is clearly better when I look up SAT scores.

I have a soon-to-be first grader and feel lost about how I look at school strengths in deciding where to narrow down our search. The only important thing to me is the strength of the academic programs and that my kid will get the highest level academic experience possible. What metrics should I look out to figure where is best? Especially at the elementary school level, what metrics can you use?

There is a lot more than metrics. High schools can change over time--boundaries can change, as well. Look for a good neighborhood with a good elementary school. Don't worry about high school right now--that is almost ten years away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I are considering relocating from Arlington, VA to an outlying area in either Virginia or Maryland. Specifically thinking about Fairfax County outside the beltway, Severna Park in MD, and Calvert County in MD. The only problem is that I just do not know how to compare across all these jurisdictions. GreatSchools ratings seem like crap. GreatSchools says that Northern High School in Calvert is a 9, but that Yorktown in Arlington is a 7 -- but Yorktown is clearly better when I look up SAT scores.

I have a soon-to-be first grader and feel lost about how I look at school strengths in deciding where to narrow down our search. The only important thing to me is the strength of the academic programs and that my kid will get the highest level academic experience possible. What metrics should I look out to figure where is best? Especially at the elementary school level, what metrics can you use?

SAT scores don't tell you how good a school is. It tells you mostly that there are some great test-takers, and high SES.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would say don't choose a place to live with some test-based scoring system of schools as your primary criterion. The areas you describe are very, very different. Do you want to live in an urban, cosmopolitan area or a semi-rural small town? Where are your friends and family? Your jobs? Your interests? Imagine upending your whole life to move somewhere because their schools look good on paper, and when you get there your child doesn't seem to do well there or doesn't fit in.

[Anonymous]

If the highest possible scores are really you priority, just look for data on income and move to where the wealthiest possible people are. It's not something I would do but it will definitely guarantee you the highest scores.

[Anonymous]

Maryland puts testing data up on their wesite so you can compare the performance of different counties or individual schools within a county. The PARCC test starts in third grade.
Whether you think the tests are effective measurements is up to you.

http://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov

Montgomery county administers surveys on each of their schools. I don't know if Calvert does or not, but you might ask their administration what measures are available.

If you're interested in a particular school, you might call and see if you could arrange a visit.

I don't know how to compare between Maryland and Virginia, but my general impression is that Montgomery and Fairfax are roughly equivalent (although they take different approaches to gifted education). That might be a bridge between state systems.

[Anonymous]

I suggest Columbia, MD Calvert County does not have the best schools.