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| ranking the Prep |
Today’s parents have access to an amazing array of resources when searching for a school. In addition to the traditional word-of-mouth from friends
and family, information is available online through school websites, school report cards, and a growing number of independent sites that claim to give
the “inside scoop.” Most of these independent sites show test scores, demographics, ratings, comparisons, and parent comments.
“Our parents and students are awesome and already do a great job spreading the word about the excellent programs here at the Prep,” said Principal
Richard Gow. “However, we also want to arm them with tips and specific information to help them respond when someone they know sees inaccurate or
misleading information on the web.”
There are many valid ways to rate schools. The state of Arizona uses AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) and Arizona Learns (a formula that takes into
account test scores, attendance, and graduation rates, among other things). Newsweek Magazine determines the Best High Schools in America using
Advanced Placement information. Greatschools.net uses a formula that looks at the state’s standardized tests and the percentage of students scoring
at or above the proficient level at each grade, in each subject, and in each subcategory (e.g. grade 5/reading/females). As long as the data is accurate
and aligns with the parent’s priorities, this type of information can be useful. However, websites can show up on a search engine long after their
information is current or accurate. For example: publicschoolreview.com says North Pointe Preparatory has 397 students and is on Union Hills Drive.
We are actually located on 43rd Avenue with an enrollment of over 700. (We were located on Union Hills…back in 2001; and we did have an enrollment
of 397…back in 2004!)
Even when information is current and accurate, faulty logic and/or bad formulas can still skew the results. Just because a site claims to measure
something doesn’t mean it actually does. Parents need to read the fine print carefully.
For example: Schooldigger.com ranks schools by adding a school’s average AIMS Math score to the average AIMS Reading score for a combined
average raw score. The school with the highest combined average raw score is ranked #1, the next #2, etc. Although this sounds logical at first and the
website’s data is current and accurate, the rankings are actually still misleading. The problem begins when they use the average raw score to compare
schools. The AIMS test is not a standardized test and its raw scores were not designed to be compared from grade to grade or even from one year to
the next. Instead, the state sets benchmarks for each grade to determine exceeds, meets, approaches, and falls far below. The problem is further
compounded when Schooldigger.com places schools into one of three categories; elementary, junior high, and high school, with no regard to the actual
grades served. Schools with alternative configurations are directly compared to schools with traditional configurations. In other words, North Pointe
Preparatory’s (7-12) is directly compared to Mesa high schools (10-12) and the rest of the valley’s 9-12 schools. (Similarly K-6 elementary schools are
directly compared to schools with grades K-5 and K-8.) The top-ranked school in each category on Schooldigger.com shows the differences in scores:
high school – 1557; junior high – 1170; elementary - 1130.
As long as the schools being compared serve the same grade level, the formula might still be useful, however, Schooldigger.com compares schools
with different grade configurations without warning parents. North Pointe Preparatory (all grades, 7-12) is listed as a high school with a combined
average rank score of 1262.5, ranking it 300 out of 312 for all high schools in Arizona. However, if they had decided to list us as a junior high and used
the same logic, we would have been ranked #1. In reality, the combined average raw score for our 9-12 is 1423, placing us 43rd out of 312. Our 7-8
has a combined average raw score of 1100.5, which would place us 44th out of 242. Even this data is meaningless unless every school on the list has
the same grade configuration (which, as of the writing of this article, they do not).
Pointe Schools contacted Schooldigger.com about their ranking process. "Thank you for your thoughtful email," Bruce Hammond wrote in response.
"I'm passing this along to our data team for discussion. It looks like we will be revisiting AZ rankings because of your feedback. We appreciate your
help."
The final caveat for parents concerns the public comments on many of these sites. Most people post anonymously and there is no guarantee people
on these sites are who they say they are. Also, what one person thinks is wonderful may not be so great for another family. Finally, it is important to
remember the posts only show one side of a story. Schools are bound by student privacy laws and cannot respond to many allegations.
and family, information is available online through school websites, school report cards, and a growing number of independent sites that claim to give
the “inside scoop.” Most of these independent sites show test scores, demographics, ratings, comparisons, and parent comments.
“Our parents and students are awesome and already do a great job spreading the word about the excellent programs here at the Prep,” said Principal
Richard Gow. “However, we also want to arm them with tips and specific information to help them respond when someone they know sees inaccurate or
misleading information on the web.”
There are many valid ways to rate schools. The state of Arizona uses AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) and Arizona Learns (a formula that takes into
account test scores, attendance, and graduation rates, among other things). Newsweek Magazine determines the Best High Schools in America using
Advanced Placement information. Greatschools.net uses a formula that looks at the state’s standardized tests and the percentage of students scoring
at or above the proficient level at each grade, in each subject, and in each subcategory (e.g. grade 5/reading/females). As long as the data is accurate
and aligns with the parent’s priorities, this type of information can be useful. However, websites can show up on a search engine long after their
information is current or accurate. For example: publicschoolreview.com says North Pointe Preparatory has 397 students and is on Union Hills Drive.
We are actually located on 43rd Avenue with an enrollment of over 700. (We were located on Union Hills…back in 2001; and we did have an enrollment
of 397…back in 2004!)
Even when information is current and accurate, faulty logic and/or bad formulas can still skew the results. Just because a site claims to measure
something doesn’t mean it actually does. Parents need to read the fine print carefully.
For example: Schooldigger.com ranks schools by adding a school’s average AIMS Math score to the average AIMS Reading score for a combined
average raw score. The school with the highest combined average raw score is ranked #1, the next #2, etc. Although this sounds logical at first and the
website’s data is current and accurate, the rankings are actually still misleading. The problem begins when they use the average raw score to compare
schools. The AIMS test is not a standardized test and its raw scores were not designed to be compared from grade to grade or even from one year to
the next. Instead, the state sets benchmarks for each grade to determine exceeds, meets, approaches, and falls far below. The problem is further
compounded when Schooldigger.com places schools into one of three categories; elementary, junior high, and high school, with no regard to the actual
grades served. Schools with alternative configurations are directly compared to schools with traditional configurations. In other words, North Pointe
Preparatory’s (7-12) is directly compared to Mesa high schools (10-12) and the rest of the valley’s 9-12 schools. (Similarly K-6 elementary schools are
directly compared to schools with grades K-5 and K-8.) The top-ranked school in each category on Schooldigger.com shows the differences in scores:
high school – 1557; junior high – 1170; elementary - 1130.
As long as the schools being compared serve the same grade level, the formula might still be useful, however, Schooldigger.com compares schools
with different grade configurations without warning parents. North Pointe Preparatory (all grades, 7-12) is listed as a high school with a combined
average rank score of 1262.5, ranking it 300 out of 312 for all high schools in Arizona. However, if they had decided to list us as a junior high and used
the same logic, we would have been ranked #1. In reality, the combined average raw score for our 9-12 is 1423, placing us 43rd out of 312. Our 7-8
has a combined average raw score of 1100.5, which would place us 44th out of 242. Even this data is meaningless unless every school on the list has
the same grade configuration (which, as of the writing of this article, they do not).
Pointe Schools contacted Schooldigger.com about their ranking process. "Thank you for your thoughtful email," Bruce Hammond wrote in response.
"I'm passing this along to our data team for discussion. It looks like we will be revisiting AZ rankings because of your feedback. We appreciate your
help."
The final caveat for parents concerns the public comments on many of these sites. Most people post anonymously and there is no guarantee people
on these sites are who they say they are. Also, what one person thinks is wonderful may not be so great for another family. Finally, it is important to
remember the posts only show one side of a story. Schools are bound by student privacy laws and cannot respond to many allegations.
North Pointe's standing compared to other schools
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