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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]greatschools.org uses test scores to rate schools.  [/quote]

NO. greatschools uses the average number of stars given by people who comment--and these people could be anyone. greatschools does provide score data, if it is available, but do not think that the star rating is objectively based upon scores.[/quote]

You are factually, flat out wrong.  The greatschools rating is based on a composite of passing rates on the state test for all the grades in a school and all the different breakdowns (race, SES, disability, gender).  A comparison is made with the passrates for all the other public schools in that state comparing their passrates to the school you are looking at.

For instance, if the school you are looking at is a "5" on Greatschools.org, that means the composite passing rate on the state test for that school is essentially equal to the average school in that state.  So, let's just say that 85% passing on state SOLs is the average for a state, and your school's composite pass rate is close to 85%, your school on Greatschools.org is going to be marked as a "5".  The next step in your analysis of any school should be to look at the subgroups and see if most of the groups (particularly the ones your child fits into == i.e. female, white, no disabilities, no economic hardship, etc) have passing rates that you are comfortable with.  If, for example the school score is a 4, but for white kids the passing rate is a 9, that might give you info. that certain groups are not passing at as high a rate and maybe you don't need to be concerned that the overall score for the school is a 4.

The school scores are Greatschools.org are SOLELY based on state test pass rates.  There are separate "stars" ratings that parents give -- which should be taken with a grain a salt b/c lots of people think their kids' school is great when it is really at the lower end of the spectrum.  [/quote]

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