[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Robbinsdale NCLB scores

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Robbinsdale NCLB scores
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1218134830.shtml


   The 2008 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) scores are out, and the number of
   Minnesota schools not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) has
   increased. Even once stellar Edina made the list this time. So how did
   my own district 281 do? See the [1]excellent grid in the online
   Minneapolis Star Tribune.
   I summed the mathematics scores by Elementary, Middle, and High
   School. I really don't see a significant change over last year. There
   would appear to be a slight gain versus two years ago. What I find far
   more interesting though, are these weighted (math) averages:
     * Elementary: 71%
     * Middle: 56%
     * High: 36%

   This sort of trend has been observed in other writings. American and
   European students are about equal through the 4th grade, after which
   we fall behind, the gap quite dramatic by 12th grade.
   I have my own pet theory about this: size matters. Small schools work
   better than large schools, as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
   has found. And the smaller the school, the closer to your home. That's
   why I think Robbinsdale (and the rest) need to better understand and
   exploit the neighborhood school concept.

References

   1. http://ww2.startribune.com/dynamic/no_child/school.php?dst_num=0281&dst_type=01&dst=metpu