Newsweek's Top High Schools

[GaryVoshol]

I have seen lists where you only get on the list if someone at the school submits an application or returns a request for information. The list in effect is "The 10 best students in the metro area out of the 127 that applied", not "The 10 best". (I have no idea if this list was generated that way or not.)

[Tom Line]

I find the ranking system serverely flawed when some of those schools are conglomerations of a number of schools: the schools banded together to create another school where they only allow students with extremely GPA's to attend and only in very limited numbers.

That's not to say it isn't a GREAT idea on the school district's part to help their kids out in that manner. It's merely a reflection that the 'measurement' system in this case is garbage when they compare a normal public school to an academy of the 'best of the best' that were hand picked.

Big grain of salt, indeed.

The schools on that list do have a right to be proud though - they're obviously doing something very right!

P.S. - Our robotics team comes from an academy - a conglomeration of schools who only send their better students. So obviously I'm not against it - just the measurement system that compares apples to oranges.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I have seen lists where you only get on the list if someone at the school submits an application or returns a request for information. The list in effect is "The 10 best students in the metro area out of the 127 that applied", not "The 10 best". (I have no idea if this list was generated that way or not.)

At the very least, a school has to agree to participate. My high school (#59, MSSM) has been on the list since 2007, but I know that he had to okay us being ranked. At the very least, I can say I'm very happy with the education I received.

Here you can see the number of schools in a state versus the number who are ranked.

It's also worth noting that this data lags a bit, it's based off of the AP scores of the graduating class of 2008.

[Jon Jack]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

If all goes well, then #11 High Tech High will have an FRC team soon.

Actually, High Technology High already had a FIRST team, but they folded after the 2003 season to compete in a underwater robotics competition (not sure which). I've worked with an alumnus who was on their FIRST team and spearheaded the effort to compete in the underwater competition.

I agree with Jason, this list is pretty arbitrary and not very credible.

An example:
High Tech High (not to be confused with the aforementioned school) has never made this list. Yet schools from around the world, including many on this list, spend weeks at High Tech High figuring out how they can replicate its success at their school. I'm not saying High Tech High should be #1, but certainly it deserves placement on this list in my opinion...

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

#1, Thomas Jefferson HS, does NOT have a FIRST team at any level. They do have a Botball team.

However at least one of TJHS' students is a member of a Vex team that owns a few trophies.

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by EricH

#3 had FRC 1135 (not competing any more); not sure of VRC or FTC numbers. Also FLL.
#22 has FRC 687.
#32 has FRC 812.
#67 has FRC 192.
#70 has FRC 115.
#80 is in FRC 2404, IIRC.
#83 has FRC 8.

There are a couple of others that I think have teams, but I'm not sure which teams. (#1, #10, #21, #58, #73, #78, #79, #81)

I also noticed the #2 school, Chris.

Actually, #80 has FRC2429 (2008 Rookie All-Star in Los Angeles). FRC2404 was Rookie All-Star at the same event. BTW, their schools are less than 2 miles apart.

[darkember]

375 is ranked #34 but we agree along with teams 1346 and 1718 that these numbers are arbitrary, and statistical data can be manipulated. What really counts is the education you receive not the ranking.

[Trent B]

I went to the drop down hit search schools by state and picked Minnesota. Eden Prairie High School isn't even on the State List so it goes to show that not all schools are being represented and thus the presence of or lack of a school on a list should be taken with a grain of salt.

[preussrobotics]

#32 is Team 812....The Preuss School at UCSD