Newsweek list of top high schools: 55 Georgia schools among 1,600
We all say that we don’t care about these lists of best schools, but then we frantically search to see if our schools are on them.
Start searching as Newsweek is out with its best high schools issue.
Georgia is not represented in the top 20. Our first appearance is slot No. 79 and that is Cobb’s usual high scorer, Walton.
Newsweek picks the best high schools in the country based on advanced placement college-level courses and tests. Just over 1,600 schools— six percent of all the public schools in the U.S.– made the list. In the list of 1,600, there are 55 Georgia high schools, most from metro suburban systems.
Critics discredit the methodology used to assemble the Newsweek list each year, but I still would have liked to have seen my local high school earn a spot in the very top tier.
Was yours on the list?
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121 comments Add your comment
Keith
June 14th, 2010
2:54 pm
Walton, Riverwood, North Gwinnett (one of the few white schools left in that county), S. Forsyth, Berkmar, Milton, Alpharetta, etc. Osborn was # 12 on the list. No clue how that thug school even made the list. I am sure there was some cheating or something.
Bama Bill
June 14th, 2010
2:55 pm
Wonderful AP results, but if Georgia’s advanced placement classes are really equal to and receive college credit then why aren’t the scholars already in college and let the k-12 schools teach k-12 students the k-12 curriculium ? Maybe then k-12 could do better for ALL students ??
Concerned English Teacher
June 14th, 2010
2:56 pm
As previously noted, this list is a joke. Some of the schools on this list wouldn’t even be considered amongst the best in their county much less the nation. Schools intentionally push students to take AP exams so they show up on this list. AP and IB programs are absolutely great, if you have at least 60% of your students passing the exams. Otherwise you have too many students taking the exams and watering down the instruction for those students who are capable of passing. I’m sure to some administrators that doesn’t matter as long as they make this list.
I wonder if the College Board sponsors this ranking? They must certainly thank Newsweek every time they publish this list.
Dee
June 14th, 2010
3:13 pm
I am pleased. The high school in my area is 467. The school I attended “up North” is in the 800s….and I have done very well for myself financially and career-wise, so I have great hopes for my son inasmuch as his school is better ranked than mine. Honestly, it wasn’t until I got to law school that I learned about this nasty business of ranking schools and I find it all to be just so much BS. A bad/lazy student can mess up in a high-ranking school and a good student can take over the world coming out of a school that ranks outside of the top 1,600. It is true, and will always be, that you get out what you put in. Wishing happiness and success to all.
Angela
June 14th, 2010
3:16 pm
@Keith,
Might we face a little reality. Many other schoolS either don’t really cut the mustard, they don’t report their (factual) scores, or many of the schools that are listed are not (factual) scores.
I placed this comment (below) on yesterday’s post under the “super” issue:
Education is not a race issue, it is a cultural issue. The value of education differs from culture to culture. Perhaps, what changes need to be made is “family structure.” The root of education begins at home.
As a teacher on the southside of Dekalb and a product of APS (inner city) the problems are that students must want to learn and take education seriously. This is not a huge or even moderate picture in these areas. So, when we speak of Black schools not being recognized and White schools are, seek to find the facts and not make everything a race issues because it is NOT.
Lord, PLEASE forgive us because we know not what we do to the lives of our children.
We do love the children of the world.
So, Father PLEASE help these FOOLS do what is morally and ethically right for our children.
EDUCATION IS KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE IS SUCCESS, and SUCCESS IS POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keith
June 14th, 2010
3:27 pm
Angela, I guess it’s the parents fault. Maybe they should stop having kids with black guys who will run or end up in jail?
Angela
June 14th, 2010
3:42 pm
@Keith,
Well, Keith I have learned something over the past five years. I have learned to ask any man that I see as a potential date “what is/was his relationship with his mother, how did his parents(mother-father) treat each other, what was his happiest moment in life and his saddest moment in life, and by all means what are his future goals and aspirations. I learned also, that when a man has mother issues he will almost never be any real good to a woman.
It is not women should stop having babies by Black guys who run or end up in jail (and believe that does’nt just happen with Black guys it happens with Whites, and others) but they need to be the best mother’s that they can be (and if they don’t know how take a parenting class) and not extend their bitterness on to their children as many women do and vice versa.
The most painful experience that I have endured in my class with boys is “mother” issues and issuas.
catlady
June 14th, 2010
3:46 pm
I did not know it was even possible for a school to offer 17 AP courses! The only high school in my county offers 4 I think.
Alpharetta Transplant
June 14th, 2010
3:54 pm
Catlady, I think in many suburban systems, it’s possible to take over 30 AP courses. In many parts of the metro area actually, the expectation is that students will take at least 7 or 8 AP courses before graduating in order to achieve a rank competitive for the top state schools.
Mom of Three
June 14th, 2010
4:05 pm
Is it possible to paste all the schools on one page? It’s hard to scroll through all the pages to try to find a school.
PEM
June 14th, 2010
4:12 pm
The article is not about the BEST high schools in America. It is a list designated to recognize schools that challenge AVERAGE students. They leave out the so-called “elite” schools despite their exceptional quality as stated by the author. Shouldn’t our high schools be challenging ALL students?
Stockbridge Mom
June 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
@ Keith
It would only make sense that the majority of schools on the list are predominately white, since roughly 80% of the population is white and %12 black…duh!!!
Bud Rudd
June 14th, 2010
4:16 pm
Berkmar 240, Brookwood 438; all I need to know about the quality of these rankings
Long Island Native
June 14th, 2010
4:16 pm
I don’t know how good a gauge this list is of school quality but I do notice that many of the top NY school districts are on the list – mostly within the top 150 or so schools. So the list can’t be that bad in my opinion.
ATLNative
June 14th, 2010
4:19 pm
Just my two cents… the higher the number of AP exams taken, the higher the challenge index score. The higher the passing rate, the higher the E&E number. So parents should be paying attention to both these numbers in assessing a schools AP performance.
David S
June 14th, 2010
4:20 pm
PEM, in a free market, each school would strive to deliver the best and would be held accountable by the marketplace. Independent ratings by disinterested third parties would drive success, innovation, and outstanding achievement. The result of this independent review, as with all other evaluations of government schools that point out failure (because isn’t that what it means to not be on the list) will be met with demands for more money, excuses, more excuses, blame of the parents, racial disparity claims (already prevalent in the blogs) and the like. Don’t expect any “response” from the schools in improvement, that’s for sure.
30327
June 14th, 2010
4:25 pm
Despite having a reputation for being a “thug school,” a large percentage of Berkmar students
take-and pass- AP exams.
@ Ken: Gwinnett was just named a majority minority county and all of the schools reflect that. Perhaps you should slit your wrists now.
Curious
June 14th, 2010
4:32 pm
Hi, I’m just a curious parent interested in purchasing the magazine with these rankings. Are these rankings in this week’s magazine? Is this a special issue or just a normal weekly one?
30327
June 14th, 2010
4:32 pm
My comment gets eaten by the blog monster but “Keith’s” ignorant, racist statements are a-go?!?!
Show Me
June 14th, 2010
4:43 pm
I haven’t looked at the list yet, but as a Midwest transplant, I can tell you that the AP classes in Georgia are no more rigorous than the honors courses at my child’s midwestern HS. As a public school teacher, I can tell you that education in Georgia is a sham. It’s all paperwork, crafted to make it look like Ga is doing a great job. It’s embarrassing…
John Q. Public
June 14th, 2010
4:52 pm
How’d GA rank in journalism schools? I remember when a newspaper columnist or reporter reported the news via copy, which contained facts and data, as opposed to an internet link to another publication. I realize the print media is dying, but maybe it’s dying because now content is provided by readers (as opposed to writers). It’s as if every page is the Op-Ed page. How a hard would it be for the AJC to post any and all schools from Atlanta and GA, and the rank? You note “55 of 1600″ but only ID Walton H.S. as #79. Technology is not a substitute for work.
NHall
June 14th, 2010
4:58 pm
Here’s a topic for you Maureen.
Why would a school superintendent 1) allow a teacher to merely resign who admitted having a sexual relationship with a student and 2) not formally report the teacher to the PSC for over a month?
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/34298/
Tweets that mention http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/06/14/newsweek-list-of-top-high-schools-20-georgia-schools-among-1600/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog%3Futm_source%3Dpingback -- Topsy.com
June 14th, 2010
5:04 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by . said: [...]
RJ
June 14th, 2010
5:11 pm
@Keith, for the record Riverwood is one of the most diverse high schools in Fulton County. It is truly a melting pot and it ranks in the top 10 in the state for SAT scores every year. Just thought you should know.
hryder
June 14th, 2010
5:22 pm
Walton High School, using almost any current measures of success, is the one that any parent who desires their child(children) to have the best chance for being in the socio-economic levels above 90% of the countries population does everything possible to be in its attendance zone. That or send them to the better private schools in the city. This is the reality of life and not what should be but what exists in the real world and the high achievement levels that such vigorous competition produces.
N
June 14th, 2010
5:25 pm
We have 3% of the top 1600 schools. If each state had an equal number we would only haev 2%.
fultonschoolsparent
June 14th, 2010
5:39 pm
I’ve got to wonder with all of those North Fulton schools listed just why Centennial and Chattahoochee didn’t appear? They are both certainly comparable to the other Fulton schools on the list.
Look Past the Rankings...
June 14th, 2010
5:50 pm
These rankings I feel are very harmful because they reinforce the idea among parents that education is a scarce commodity which only a few select school zones are capable of providing. Sprayberry, for example is a great school that is on this Newsweek list. However, because the school is overshadowed by the neighboring schools (Wheeler, Pope, Lassister and especially Walton), the school’s enrollment has been declining as affluent parents and potential newcomers look further south or east for the higher ranked schools districts when Sprayberry would perform just as well if these parents decided to support the school!
BehindEnemyLines
June 14th, 2010
6:03 pm
One of the major problems with this particular ranking is the of methodology for compiling it. It amounts to a flawed marketing tool but not much else.
Berkmar Teacher
June 14th, 2010
6:07 pm
@MIltonMan and @Bud Mann,
Berkmar is a much better school than you think.
Bud Mann, Gwinnett county itself has a system to rank it’s High Schools. It is available online and yes Brookwood is Number 1, but for the 5th year in a row Berkmar is Number 2.
Our kids take and pass the AP tests at a very high rate, proof? here
http://www.connection-collegeboard.com/08may/reg_southern.html
and here
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/02/17/georgia-fares-quite-well-in-ap-exams-and-scores/
On this very blog!
Not only do the kids at Berkmar take the test, they pass the test. We do it with the kids that they say can’t do it. 71% of the school is on free or reduced lunch. So the image you have of Berkmar is not the real Berkmar.
Berkmar Teacher
June 14th, 2010
6:10 pm
@30327,
Thank You.
Berkmar and Meadowcreek are not the “thug” schools people think they are. They are places that Hispanic and Black students who have adverse situations and doing wonderful things!
Lynn
June 14th, 2010
6:12 pm
The rankings definitely need to include information as to whether or not schools pay for the AP exams. Within the same county, some schools pay all of the fees for AP exams and others pay nothing. This results in a huge disparity among those taking the test. If you can take it for free, why not and hope you score a 3 or higher. If you aren’t sure you can pass, you are risking $86 per exam. In this economy, not too many parents are willing to pay that fee if there isn’t at least a good chance the student will pass the exam.
Nannybb
June 14th, 2010
6:17 pm
If high schools were ranked according to the ratio of the number of students getting a 4 or 5 on the AP exams versus the number of students taking AP courses, the number of Georgia high schools on the list would really dwindle. The quality of the teaching is reflected in the number of students that get a 4 or 5. Even schools that offer a low number of AP courses, but have a high pass rate, would be able to shine. Quality of instruction matters more than just putting a body in a desk.
Veteran teacher, 2
June 14th, 2010
6:25 pm
Forgive me for being confused, but why is it that every bit of “good” news is immediately debunked on this blog. If scores on tests are good, people say the cut scores were too low or manipulated. If schools are ranked in a list, the make-up of the list is questioned. My school is on the list. We have a large percentage of students taking AP and IB courses. We do NOT water down the content. I repeat, we DO NOT water down the content. There is much wailing and nashing of teeth about grades. Not everyone “passes” the test to receive college credit. However, the students who take the class and do not do as well on the tests report they are better prepared for the rigor of college. I would much rather have a student take a rigorous class and not pass the AP or IB test than to try to get by on as little as possible.
I have asked this question before, but I will ask it again. If Georgia schools were to improve, how would we know it? It looks to me that so many people would cynically attempt to debunk the good news that very few would know that the improvement took place. Jeeeeeeeezzzzzzz!
Angela
June 14th, 2010
6:36 pm
Please define a “THUG” school. Are we speaking “ALTERNATIVE?” If we are speaking of Alternative – in most cases that is not an adverse situations it is an out of control situation. However, if we are speaking of students who walk around with their pants hanging, loud, using bad language, etc. that does not mean they are “THUGS.” They are misguided (usually which starts at home). Now, what I perceive as a THUG is one who drops out of school, committs multiple crimes, mistreats other just on GP, believe that life owes them something, the world is against them, that they cannot do any better, etc.
Now just because they have – pants hanging, loud, using bad language, etc. – it does not mean that they are dumb and stupid, can’t learn, don’t want to learn, etc. I grew up with many that are perceived as “THUGS” and they have college degrees and doing well as constructive responsible citizens.
Sandy Springs Mom
June 14th, 2010
6:47 pm
I see nothing wrong with ranking school based on a set of criteria. If parents pack up and move to school zones that perform well, then that’s a good thing in my opinions. Schools need to be put on alert that if they don’t score well, parents will flee and if they do well, they can expect an influx of resources.
Easy answer
June 14th, 2010
7:03 pm
“Forgive me for being confused, but why is it that every bit of “good” news is immediately debunked on this blog”
Every bit isn’t, but much of it for the simple reason that it is ABLE to be dubunked, because much of it is built on a house of cards. If we documented this fully, the torrent of info released might cause the Internet itself to crash, so search your own memory bank.
Paula
June 14th, 2010
7:20 pm
@showme – you are aware that the Collge Board sets the AP curriculum, and that all students take the same test, right?
cobb mother
June 14th, 2010
7:39 pm
It needs to be noted that at Campbell the new Principal tried to force the IB Director to give low performance Ratings to the teachers who were responsible for the Students taking the AP & IB exams which got the school on this list. Then he puts her on a leave, for the rest of the year when she tried to support the teacher.
So next year, there will likely be a difference in the Cobb IB program. Since so many IB and AP teachers were weeded out. The good ones who didn’t kiss up. The ironic thing is the worst teacher seems to be untouchable.
PETRA
June 14th, 2010
7:52 pm
How many of you with strong, preconceived opinions about schools have ever worked as a teacher in one of them? Oh, I bet you would not be caught “dead’ in a school, public or private!
If you are not happy with schools in Georgia, leave the state and go back to your smog- filled cities up North.
We could use fewer of you who gripe and know nothing about which you gripe! Tha includes AP courses, operations of schools or school boards….. Do I hear the engines running?
Gardener on the Side
June 14th, 2010
7:55 pm
Just a small toot for DeKalb (lord knows we need any kind of positive happening!) 5 Schools on the list; way to go DSA, Chamblee, Lakeside, Dunwoody, and Tucker.
B. Killebrew
June 14th, 2010
8:03 pm
Great posts Dee, 30327, Berkmar Teacher, and Look Past the Rankings!
@Look Past the Rankings…I so know what you mean about Sprayberry…such a great school…that is very often overlooked.
I think Cobb County should place magnet program there. One of these three options (or even a combination!):
1. Liberal Arts and Communications Magnet Program.
2. Visual Arts and Design Magnet Program.
3. Foreign Language Institute Magnet Program.
Fulton Parent/Teacher
June 14th, 2010
8:05 pm
Hmmm…validity check!
Centennial in Roswell does not appear on 2010 list
2009 rank 385
2008 rank 279
2007 rank 304
2006 rank 476
Maybe Newsweek needs to double check their data???
Fulton Parent/Teacher
June 14th, 2010
8:11 pm
Likewise Chattahoochee
Not on 2010 list
2009 rank 542
As my kids would say, “epic fail!”
Fulton Parent/Teacher
June 14th, 2010
8:19 pm
Druid Hills…
Maybe Newsweek should have taken a few minutes and checked the list of AP Merit Schools released in February (see Berkmar 6:07 post for link) to start their verification process?
Just supports what we say about teaching students to regurgitate information rather than leading them to think CRITICALLY!
Fulton Parent/Teacher
June 14th, 2010
8:29 pm
Sandy Springs Mom – Speaking of our STUDENTS evaluating information and thinking critically –
So a family moving to metro ATL would be smart to avoid Druid Hills, Hooch and Centennial districts because Newsweek posts erroneous rankings? (And if there’s a clarification, it’s not in the issue they’ll pick up to bring to their real estate agent!)
cd
June 14th, 2010
8:31 pm
Maureen – speaking of AP tests, will you look into the allegations going around about AP cheating in Dekalb? Please see the dekalb blog on this.
Dunwoody Mom
June 14th, 2010
8:54 pm
Posters, if your school is not on the list, it might not be the fault of Newsweek, but the principal of the school in question. It is the school’s responsibility to report the information to Newsweek. Contact your school and have them submit the data and Newsweek will update their list.
Nannybb
June 14th, 2010
9:14 pm
Rankings should give parents relevant information to compare schools. Number of kids in an AP class is not enough information to compare schools. Would you rather have your child at a school where 50% of the kids take AP’s, but only 20% get a 4 or 5, or would you like your child at a school where 45% take AP classes and 90% get a 4 or 5? Despite the fact that the College Board states what books or information should be presented does not mean the actual class is conducted as such. My child has good AP teachers and bad AP teachers. The difference shows up in how many of the kids get a 4 or 5 on the College Board’s AP test. The test is the only factor that is standard across all the schools in the country. A parent judging a school must look at factors that are standard, such as SAT’s, AP’s, graduation rates, etc. There are many other factors that influence a parent’s decision, but standard measures are usually the first place they start. These rankings are interesting and speak to a particular school characteristic, but how about giving us rankings based on % of students who take the test and get a 4 or 5 also. Then a parent could put both of these statistics in perspective with others and piece together their particular requirements from a school and which schools best meet their needs.
Ole Guy
June 14th, 2010
9:18 pm
When I was a kid, I acquired, through various trades of one sort or another, five bikes. They were all completely useless…something was wrong with each one; broken this, lost that, etc, etc, etc. They were all completely FUBAR; when my Mom saw the “great deals” I had negotiated, she was convinced that I, to, had gone completely FUBAR.
Inspecting each bike thoroughly, I extracted the useable components and, with a can of paint, wound up with a shiny “like new” bike.
Why can’t the geniuses at DOE conduct inspections of a cross section of schools…the great ones, the not-too-great, and the FUBARs; determine what works, what don’t, and assemble a workable system…paint is optional.