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2 raleigh high schools named to newsweek top 100
Published May. 20, 2008Two Raleigh high schools are at the top of the class, according to a Newsweek survey.
Interesting story, but if I had not caught it on the news last night, I would have never known it was here. Apparently, it's not a good thing to have a Charter School outclass the public behemoths that demand an endless supply of cash and administrative staff to keep staggering along.
NC would do well to analyze the success of Raleigh Charter and schools like it and try to figure out how to emulate them instead of continually crying about how Charter schools are hurting our children and their "business" (what is the "business", anyway? Educating our children or protecting their jobs/perpetuating the bureaucracy?).
If you have a child who will be starting high school in 2009 (2008 enrollment is complete), you would do well to check out the staff and students at schools like Raleigh Charter. If your child meets the application requirements, you can get them in the lottery for the available spots. It's a long shot, but not as long as betting that some of the public schools in the area will adequately prepare your child for college.
Edit: The following was added after comments that these kids might just be given the tests and failing.
If you think this is a bogus award, it would be worth going to ncreportcards.org and looking at the test scores. The percentage of students at or above grade level at RCHS versus the rest of the state:
English 1 - 95+% versus 72%
Algebra 1 - 95+% versus 67%
Algebra 2 - 92% versus 65%
Geometry - 95+% versus 63%
Biology - 95+% versus 65%
Civics / Econ - 95+% versus 66%
History - 95+% versus 65%
The evidence would indicate that these students are not just taking these tests, but doing pretty well on them. However, if you're hung up on results, how about SAT for 2007?
Students taking SAT - RCHS=95%, NC=71%, USA=48%
Average Total SAT Score - RCHS=1252, NC=1004, USA=1017
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I do agree that this is an "Award for Customer Service". This school is serving it's "customers" (students and parents) at at extremely high level. I only wish the Public School System in at least my county felt the same way - too often, they seem to be concerned only about themselves.
GOLO member since October 16, 2007
May 20, 2008 3:17 p.m.
That's like giving an award for 'great customer service' to a business based completely on the size of their call center. It just doesn't mean much.
GOLO member since April 15, 2008
May 20, 2008 2:12 p.m.
I'd be very proud of that award,, and the fact that Newsweek uses this criteria every year and it is generally accepted as a good indicator of emphasis on college prep. Stop by Raleigh Charter for a visit and you'll quickly realize there is a serious difference between the staff/students there and at some other area schools.
GOLO member since October 16, 2007
May 20, 2008 2:00 p.m.
GOLO member since November 3, 2007
May 20, 2008 1:53 p.m.
So if a school happens to give more tests per graduate, that ranks them higher.
Not an 'award' I'd be particularly proud of.
GOLO member since April 15, 2008
May 20, 2008 1:49 p.m.
GOLO member since March 31, 2008
May 20, 2008 1:42 p.m.
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