By Great Schools Staff
So whats the magic formula that makes certain cities end up with stellar schools while others struggle to meet the most basic standards? An affordable home a diverse community and outstanding public schools. Is it too much for a family to ask? Maybe not.
Every year millions of U.S. parents consider pulling up stakes to make a city and school upgrade.
How do some school districts manage to recruit and retain motivate and develop great teachers so the whole system shines? And how do others like the school system in Sudbury Mass. offer students an enriching environment of artistic athletic and musical extracurriculars?
Our research of the countrys top districts uncovered some fascinating and at times downright surprising answers.
garbage flow in cities) these districts approach education not as a static system but as evolving knowledge.
use taxpayer resources."
Fishers Ind. spends its limited dollars in a few key areas especially early-intervention programs that catch kids while theyre young" says Superintendent Brian Smith. It also pours funds into high school classes like aerodynamics and financial services to prepare graduates for 21st-century challenges.
committed teachers an abiding focus on education suffuses the character of these cities.
Small is beautiful and effective
Small classrooms particularly in the lower grades seem to be crucial in helping kids thrive. Many of our top districts sustain remarkably low student-teacher ratios like in Allison Park Pa. (10.9 to 1) and Honolulu (14 to 1). Whats more small cities with small districts tend to win out over larger ones perhaps because they are easier to manage and hold accountable.Never stop innovating
Some of our ranking school districts have received so many awards they could easily rest on their laurels. Instead they exhibit a passion for innovation pushing teachers and students to excel beyond their comfort zone. Whether maintaining a commitment to cutting-edge technology like in Franklin Lakes N.J. or offering innovative programs like Issaquah Middle School in Sammamish Wash. (which teamed up with MIT to studygarbage flow in cities) these districts approach education not as a static system but as evolving knowledge.
Putting the super" in superintendents
Talk about going beyond the call of duty: The top dogs of our top school districts often approach their work with unflagging intensity and creativity. Heath Burns the recent superintendent of Angleton Texas devoted himself to helping the kids others give up on. He peppered his newsletter with impassioned pleas for parents to immerse their children in love and literacy. The most valuable gift you can give your babies (whatever their ages) is to love them fully and unconditionally ... Squeeze Em Kiss Em Play with Em Love Em" writes Burns who encourages parents to start reading with your babies early and dont stop reading to them until they wont fit in your lap." Superintendent John Williamson of Fort Thomas Ky. challenged the mayor to a Biggest Loser-style weight-loss competition then went on to reform the districts lunch program and add exercise science to the curriculum. In Mason Ohio everyone from the superintendent to the principals teaches a class to keep in touch with the districts educational values and vision. (They also do wacky things to stay in touch with the students like hold a principal tricycle race.)Money talks but not always
Want a superior education? Follow the money. (Or simply go to affluent Massachusetts home to 11 of the 90 best school districts.) Well-heeled well-educated communities like Weston Mass. and Potomac Md. have districts with high test scores college-bound student bodies state of-the-art facilities and enrichment opportunities. Its no surprise that it costs a pretty penny to live in these communities but its hardly doable for most of America where the median home price is $178000. The good news is that a lack of affluence doesnt translate to low-performing schools. In Bristol Tenn. your child can attend a top-rated public school and you can get a home for $85850. Not too shabby. How do such relatively modest cities succeed where others fail? They use their money very carefully says Deputy Superintendent Linda Lane of Pittsburgh: Theres been considerable effort here to make sure we efficientlyuse taxpayer resources."
Fishers Ind. spends its limited dollars in a few key areas especially early-intervention programs that catch kids while theyre young" says Superintendent Brian Smith. It also pours funds into high school classes like aerodynamics and financial services to prepare graduates for 21st-century challenges.
Community community community
If the key to prime real estate is location location location then the foundation of an exceptional education may be community community community. The secret to our success has to do with the parents and the community" says Williamson of Fort Thomas echoing every other superintendent interviewed for this story. With a median home price of just $176960 Fort Thomas is a far cry from the verdant Massachusetts suburbs. But says Williamson an intensely committed parent body the first line of fire when it comes to supporting a school makes all the difference. So too does greater community involvement like Fort Thomass dynamic partnerships with Western Kentucky University Thomas Moore College and the Cincinnati Ballet. For some cities community support happens in the voter booth: In Mesa Ariz. residents consistently support their schools by passing educational bonds and taxes in local elections. Education is a commodity everyone here values" explains Mesas superintendent Michael Cowan. However community support is not something you can simply purchase with high taxes or university partnerships. From parent involvement tocommitted teachers an abiding focus on education suffuses the character of these cities.
