School Rank by SAT Scores - 2008

First I would like to state my position, I do not think that standardized tests are the only way to rank schools. To take it further, I do not think lower schools should even have standardized tests.

However, I can understand and appreciate why high schools do test. Which brings me to the results of many months of research. Some schools are difficult to compare simply because they are Regents exempt. Therefore, they do not make Buffalo's School Ranking in Business First paper. This is why I took the time to do this.

I looked at the school ranking for Western NY. Then took the top 20, plus the Regent exempt schools for a comparison. I found the SAT scores for the year 2008. I put each school's Mean Reading and Math SAT score into a spreadsheet and sorted them by score. (I also have three year averages for some of the schools.) Here are the SAT scores.

1. Nardin
2. Nichols
3. City Honors
4. Canisius
5. Park Schools of Buffalo
6. Williamsville East
7. Buffalo Seminary
8. Mount St. Mary's
9. Clearance SHS


Nardin and Nichols were very close, less then a five points difference. Canisius and City Honors were only 10 points apart. Park Schools, Williamsville East and Buffalo Seminary had a tight grouping. To me when scrutinizing between two schools, if there is only 5, 10, 20 points between them I consider them "test taking equals".

From what I can tell, there is little difference between Nardin and Nichols' ability to perform on the SAT, whether you pull their three part or two part combined SAT scores. Their mean SAT scores were greater then 1800 and their two part combined reading & math were greater then 1200. I would think, that from year to year, they would flip back and forth between first and second place. Though, I would like to point out that between the top four spots there is only 22 points. With a little more work on reading (and writing for a three part SAT score) City honors could take on second place. They did well in Math. If it were based on Math, City honors wold be second place for 2008. Whereas Nardin has a very strong lead in Reading (and writing), first place by several points over all.

From City Honors on down to Buffalo Sem all schools scored greater then 1150 (1150 > 1200) on their two part combined reading and math. There is a 50 point drop to Mount St. Mary's and Clearance who hovered around 1100.

Why did this feel like I was at the horse races?

From the top score to ninth place there were 122 points. The reading and math scores are out of 1600 (two parts, 800 points each).

SAT scores are not weighted as are Regents exams. This may be part of the reason that Regents are use rather then SAT in school rankings. Note that Nichols, Canisius and Park Schools are Regents exempt. I did this little study because I want to understand how the Regents exempt schools fit into the academic picture, weighted or not.

Something I found interesting was the type of schools that ended up in the top tier for standardized tests. The top four of five schools are in the City of Buffalo's limits; Nardin (1st), Nichols (2nd), City Honors (3rd), Canisius (4th). The Park Schools of Buffalo (5th) use to be located in the city a long time ago. Three of the top five schools are progressive/magnet - "alternative learning methods" - Nardin has a Montessori (1st), City Honors (3rd) and Park Schools (5th).

Additional information - Three of nine are parochial, Catholic; Nardin (1st), Canisius (4th) and Mount St. Mary's (8th). Three of nine are public schools; City Honors (3rd), Williamsville (6th) and Clearance (9th).

Tuition Free Preschool

In New Haven the school district is using funds to offer free tuition preschool. "To attract students from neighboring districts, New Haven Public Schools offers tuition-free preschool."

"To support tuition-free preschools, the district redirects tuition money generated by interdistrict students in kindergarten through eighth grade back down to preschool."

To read further...

The Recession Hits The Preschools

I was doing a search for "tuition free preschools" and found this article about Texas preschools. The problem they are running into is that many middle class families make too high of an income to get financial aide and not high enough to afford the tuition.

The other dilemma is that daycare is a tax credit, dollar for dollar, whereas preschool is not tax deductible. So, if you had a choice between essentially free tuition at daycare vs. paying preschool tuition during this recession, the choice...well, there is no choice.

Paying for Preschool a Lesson in Economics

Tours and Applications

Many applications for the following school year become available in September and October but are not due right away. Applications for 2009/2010 school year would be picked up in Fall of 2008.

Example: The Buffalo Public Elementary and Secondary schools, "The choice application process begins each year in mid-September with an application submission deadline date the first week of December."

Many schools allow a tour before submitting an application. This gives you an opportunity to see if the school is a good fit for your child before the application is due. This is not always the case though, double check with the school to see if the tour or application comes first.

Some schools will be hosting open house nights in September or October that are open to potential candidates. Other schools prefer to do small group or one-on-one tour. You can look up the school's website or call the school ahead of time to find out how the the admission process works at each school on your list.

Additionally, some schools require an entrance exam like City Honors (public), Canisius, Nardin, Holy Angels, etc. Other will require an art portfolio or essay. This information will be on the school's website.

Here are some links to school admission pages on their websites. The Performing Arts and City Honor Schools go through the general school application process but require extra information for the admissions.

Public

Buffalo Public Schools General Application Information

City Honors - Public

School of the Performing Arts Elementary and High School - Public


Private

The Park School Of Buffalo - Private, Co-ed

Nichols - High School - Private, Co-ed


Canisius High School - Private, SS Boys

Buffalo Seminary High School - Private, SS Girls

Nardin - High School - Private, SS Girls

Holy Angels - Private, SS Girls


Charter

Tapestry Charter Crammer and High School

Westminster (They are having problems with their website)

Elmwood Charter School

Oracale Charter School

Schools - Too many to choose from

According to News Week, I went to a very good public school, top 5% in the nation. I am grateful for having such an opportunity. Today, I am faced with more choices then I imagined.

Websites
Once you know what you and your child's preferences are, it is time to start review the school websites. This will give you all the basics from teacher student ratio to the number of teachers with terminal degrees (they have completed all the education possible for their profession).

Internet
Do a search on the internet. It is not unusual for schools to make headlines. This is a valuable resource.

Friends & Neighbors
If you have friends with older children ask them if they will share some of their experiences from their school even if it is a school you do not think you will apply to. You may be surprised, or confirm your opinion of the school but most importantly you are building up a data base to compare to.

Gathering data can take a while, consider starting a year before the application is due.

Screening Schools

There are a plethora of attributes that a parent looks for in a school. Some parents have short lists, others rather long ones. Performance is usually near the top of the list for many parents, though it may not take the form in the highest test scoring schools. It may come out in the teaching method or focus on a talent, such as art or athletics. There are many other attributes that parents today have to identify as compared to when our own parents were looking for educational centers for us. Here are some items to consider. It may be helpful to list the ones you and your child find most important for later reference.

Core Focus
Academics
Vocational
Art/Music/Dance/Theater

Teaching Method
Magnate - Academic, Business or Talent focused
Conventional - Standard NYS education in publicly ran schools.
Classical / Liberal Arts - This method is often based on a liberal arts training. Extends from Grecian/Roman era.
Progressive - Montessori, Park, Waldorf, Emilio Reggio, and many more.

Athletics
Intramural - Team and Individual
Competitive - Team and Individual

Arts/Music/Dance/Theater
Art
Music
Dance
Theater

Social and Environmental Awareness
Classes - Social Skills Awareness & Environmental Awareness
Clubs - Social & Environmental
Activities - Social & Environmental - A chance to practice
Does the School practice what it preaches?

Travel and Field Trips
Local
State Wide
National
International

Health
Healthy food - Whole food, Allergens
Indoor physical activity (for winter)
Outdoor physical activity
Indoor Health of space (mold, Chemical odor, estrogen disruptor, carcinogens)
Outdoor Health of grounds (mold, chemical odor or spray, estrogen disruptor, carcinogens)