"Students will never get the education they need in any school--no matter what its ratings are--unless the curriculum is revised to meet their needs. For example, how many adults have used algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or calculus in the last year? Why have these subjects in high school unless the students are going to become mathematicians or engineers? It would be better to teach sound fiscal management, how to balance a checkbook, how to invest wisely, and how to get the best rates on loans and mortgages. As long as subjects are irrelevant, students will continue to get low test scores."

"I agree with some of the other feedback comments. How come many of the people leaving feedback can't spell or construct a sentence. No wonder our children are having problems. I had to read some of the feedback a few times to try and figure out what the point was or what the sentence really was saying. I had to fill in words and reconstruct sentences as I read. Is this do to being lazy?"

"We need schools that can measure up to the very best national standards. We need math/science, literature/ language arts, music ....not just playing a c.d. and singing The Alphabet Song) We need art... (not just coloring) We need a theatre/stage, where children are encouraged to speak, debate, sing, dance, etc. Without a voice, one has no power. For too long, Mississippi has been a people without much education/power. It needs to start in the lower grades...kindergarden. We need health/physical education...both structured and unstructrured play. Kids need time to eat...NOT starting at 10:30 .....maybe a break and snack then, but not lunch. They do need recess where GOOD foods are offered......fruits, low fat cheeses, non-fat milk. We need lunches with veggie salads...not iceberg lettuce with no nutrition, but Romaine lettece. We need to leave off the hot dogs, pizza unless the buns/crusts are whole wheat and the hotdogs/pepperoni have no nitrates, coloring, high sodium,m.s.g., human growth hormones. We need milk without human growth hormones and so much fat. Doctors often tell us now to start kids on non-fat milk after age two. "

"I would not go to a school based on its ratings because statistically speaking they are just that randomly put there so you will think the school your children are attending is a great school. My daughter goes to the hornell high school and she has a learning disability. Which I have found out a couple of years ago it is dyslexia. Now how can you help a child with this kind of learning disability if you don't know what it is your self? How can you give a child a title learning disabled and not know what the disability is so she or he can be helped better in a school setting? IEP's are great but if you don't follow them and they are only there because the state requires them then your focus for these children are off balance if you ask me. The no child left behind act was developed I believe to get these kids with disablities so they can have a regular diploma instead of the ones the school gives to them now days which don't amount to a hill of beans. It was also developed s! o the drop out rate for low income children and others will be dropped and those kids will be helped more. Your focus is off if you are only doing for those who you want to do for. It is not a good sign for the system."

"The only problem I'm still facing w/ my son school , and is since last year(still nobody do anything) is about the police man driving a golf car on side walk through students, parents and another relative like small siblings during the dismissal time.Last year for few second we do not face and accident because his incorrect way of drive on the side walk but nobody is listening ."

"So is it ok to choose a school based on the current ratings? Are the Ratings accurate? Is a school really a good school because of it's ratings? Is it possible they are fixed? I would hate to send my kid to school because it had a good rating and later find out the school is crap."

"I am totally outraged that , as a Afro-American director of an afterschool activities youth center serving children, with a special concern for children from disadvantaged circumstances, our organization cannot know how these children are academically progressing. Since many of these children are 'bi-racial' offsprings of single black females, how do the schools report their Tests; white if they do well/'na' and lump them with the Afro-American kids whose scores are usually low. When I ask the school district how the Afro-American kids scores ranked, I am told that there aren't enough black kids in the classroom taking the test (10 are more) so the (na) notation is all the info that concerned citizens can see on reports to the state educ. of educ. Am I the only retired teacher that believes this kind of reporting is questionable and absolutely not helpful for mature adults mentoring and tutoring disadvantaged kids? This possibly leads to the failing of so many minority kids in rural schools because if their reported scores are 'na' it would takes very caring and determined teachers of these kids for these kids show academic progress. Otherwise, I understand why so many end up in time-out rooms, suspended, or expelled. The federal Dept. of Educ. needs to make a study of the 'na' reports for minority kids living in small, rural towns in America."

"I am moving to Michigan, Farmington Hills area, and would like to choose a house based on the best schools. I am a foreigner, so I am not familiar with the way children are assigned to schools. Can I choose a school pertaining to a certain school district (provided we are living there), or is it 'assigned' to my child by the district/state/whatever??? Does my child, who has been in International (british system) School for the last 5 years (he's 10), need to test? Will the school 'assignment' be based on his test scores???"

"I am confused and very surprised that the overall rating for CV is a 6 and the test scores and the overall performance of the students is superior in comparison of the community. Test scores were five points lower than last year, but the scores are so high I don't see a correlation. I don't agree with the rating of 6 in comparison to the performance of the children. "

"To the 4/22 grammar critique posting. People who live in glass houses should not through stones. I suggest you read up on correlative conjunctions. It is sad that these parents can neither spell nor construct a sentence. or It is sad that these parents cannot spell or construct a sentence. "

"Everyone's comments are great, but it is sad that even these parents cannot spell nor construct a sentence. How can you teach your child if your own grammar and spelling is atrocious?"

"My child is currently a fourth grade student at an A listed school. I have heard nothing out of this school except we need to get good scores on the FCAT;that seems to be the only focus, not that my child doesn't seem to understand the essays he has to write or that he really doesn't know how to spell a word correctly. I have been to the school and they seem to think that he will be just fine...I argued that he would need spelling and comprehension in the future and when the children are young the standards are set for their future. I left that day and took my child's education into my hands, we practice spelling and writing nightly and I told him not to feel pressured by some ridiculous test that really isn't going to get him anywhere in the future. My concern is how many children do not get the help they need. I do not believe placing so much pressure on these children for a test that really only accomplishes one thing....more money for the school..to do what with, is th! e question all parents should be asking, because I don't think it's going to the education of our children!!!!!"

"I was a special ed teacher in Onslow county for several years. The special ed department has deteriorated over the last two years due to unprofessionalism and indifference on the part of the EC director. Children are placed in classrooms that may not be conducive to his/her learning or that of the other students. It appears that the director is more concerned with what the administrators want instead of what is in the best interest of the child. The EC director does not treat her staff in a professional manner and will yell at or demean them. It is a shame that teachers who want to work with the special needs population aren't treated with the respect they deserve."

"Thid doesn't answer the question, but the statements are true! The rating system doesn't work for many many different factors. On the Pyramid scale for a student to do well, What do they have to have??? They 1st have to feel safe in their home and community. They can't learn if they live in a house of fear & gunshots. 2nd tier is good diet, and vitamins.More and more children are overweight!!What happened to the National Fitness Award, we use to get in grade school 20yearago. Children learn by exercizing and playing with supervision!! The teachers should be watching the children on the playground and bonding with them. This is a big one for me, Children need Art Classes despartly, I think u will feel the same way after I tell you yhis story!! I was a Registered Pediatric Nurse, I came into my patients room, 7 y/o boy. He had asthma and it was time for his medicine. He had been coloring and drawing a very detailed picture. I asked him if he wanted to show me the picture? He did and he explained more, He told me the car he drew was his brothers car that he just bought! Then he showed me the bullet holes all over the car. He said. He was worried about his brother being shot and he started to cry a little. Drawing this picture helped this young boy express his feelings!! Art can help our children, The school system needs to know the value of these neccesary subjects; Exercise/PE, Pyscology and parenting together, and the visual ARTS. I believe in every school, their should mandatory parenting classes and a pychology class with it. To teach what babies need. teach the principles of Dr. Erickson. They also need to learn basic math to keep a checkbook. This is the opposite view! The way I raised my children. I worked nightshift R.N. to be with them, when they got home. Schools have to have parental support. I live in a district in GA were this school is considered a top school in the state. 3 of my children were able to graduate and take Sat test and did ok to good. well two of them ended up getting University schlorships. Writing SA's and for there involvement in many community & school activities. Colleges look for well rounded students, that have been in clubs. Leadership positions. This sounds crazy, One dau. started her resume in 8th grade with announcements. She is now in Broadcasting. My other child that didn't do to well @ this high school. He had trouble with Math and Science and was put in remedial??just a High School Diploma, but wasn't given the College Prep Diploma!!! OH. we were so concerned,But HE DID GRADUATE from GSU on the Deans list with great grades. He has a very creative mind to do special effects for films and is doing wonderful. But to make these children successful. I stayed at home to learn all the ins and outs of the school system. Being involved with your children and their education does so much for their self-esteem and success for their future. "

"This is so Sad! This is just an example of how many parents really do not support there kids. Because if more parents would take better interest in there childs education then this could be a higher score. It's no wonder, why these children do not get the same 5th grade pleasures other schools are part taking in. I my self feel it has alot to do with the community. I have seen first hand since moving to this area ...PARENTS do not care! I see how they act when I come to school functions.( not all ......BUT most) 'As they say birds that flock together stay together'! We as parents have to teach our children.The school system should not be relied on to raise our children."

"Why do B students in NY have higher SAT scores than A students in Florida?"

"When will we stop fooling ourselves? Where do we rate according to a national ranking? Universities don't care about florida scores, or grades they are considered inflated and we dont have the SAT scores to back up what we claim."

"Why are we not rated nationally as are 47 of the 50 states, it almost seems like we are attempting to hide an inferior educational system by exclusion. What we are actually accomplishing is..... Our childrens grades and test scores are not taken seriously by educators outside the state, and are interpreted as inflated. "

"Why dont we step up and use testing that can be ranked nationally. If we truely have Great Schools what are we afraid of?"

"Something is wrong with your rating system. It ranked my sons school a 2 and GOD knows that is just crazy. They have made AYP 5 times out of 6. And the school is just awesome.Your data is also incorrect. His school has had 8th grade for the past 3 yrs and you have it listed as a k-6. "

"I believe these ratings are inflated. I just read in the paper yesterday that this district once again had substandard scores according to New York State. They were also listed last year in the top 10 wolrst districts to graduate children in the Special Education field. This includes children with learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia and the like. Our kids are taught to take tests and pass tests. Heaven help you if you are in special ed. No child left behind is a joke becaue they are all being left behind. Unfoirtunately to many parents are too busy or not wise enough to see that their children are not being educated properly."

"I don't understand the ratings by ethnicity. Are you simnply saying that test scores for Latino students are low compared to other groups, or is this rating intended to rate the student experience in it's entirety? If so, what's happening with the Latino population at Matsumoto? Also, where is the African American population??"

"As an educator, I find your system disappointing as well as misleading. There is no way to judge a district, school, or teacher based on the test results of one class. There are so many influences that factor into test scores, both positive and negative, that make this rating system completely useless. If you want to do this well, factor in some real measures like socio-economic standing, percentage of students to graduate high school and college, real writing ability, etc. That might begin to give me information I could actually use. "

"Would you let me know where I can get information on a new approach to teaching ESL using immersion and grammar as components"

"I would like to see more ratings on special education. Which schools are best for that?"

"I was very glad to find this site being new to our current location. It is VERY IMPORTANT to me to know what the standardized scores are and i appreciate the succinct format of the site. The parent comments about the scholls are very helpful and give me more insight into the area. However, this is just a starting point and I will be visiting the schools so I can assess other factors that are important about the culture of the school. Nothing can replace parent assessment and involvement. I am so glad I found your site. Thanks!"

"Your ratings should take into account the economic area the school is in. With all things being the same with the school's instruction, students whose parents are able to spend time and money offering their child a well rounded out of school education will have a'leg up' when test time comes over poorer students. I appreciated the parent's comments more as a clue to the school's success."

"A lot of parents expect miracle from the school system because they don't want to take the responsibility. Lets look at a feedback comment from a parent. 02/19/2008: 'I'm not sure how usefull this tool is. Okay, so the students know how to take a multiple choice test and can handle the pressure of the testing process - but have the teacher taught them how to be good learners, how to problem solve outside the box, are the teachers caring and repectful and help instill a love of learning? I guess that's what I'm looking for. Maybe this scoring of standardized tests gives a parent a place to start - but it certainly doesn't provide the whole picture.' If the teachers are supposed to do all of those things in that comment, then what is your job as parents. Children should come to school with an attitude of caring, respect, and desire to learn. The teachers can only deliver the facts, data, information, etc. It is much easier to pass on the responsibility to someone else."

"this is a stupid way to rank schools. All the standardized tests do is make the teachers tech to the test rather than really educate the students"

"I believe that GreatSchools is a good starting point. I have found others sites that give similar information. But I too believe it takes more than just test scores that make up a great school. Where we live, we had a group of schools my daughters could have gone. I used GreatSchools & other sites, such as the Dept of Ed. and visited the schools. But with this information I was able to ask the more difficult questions. A school can get great scores just by teaching and training the test but a GREAT SCHOOL will teach above the testing and not only pass the test but more importantly prepare our children for the future. "