As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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In the News: Northside Prep named top IL high school
By: Cassandra West / May 09, 2012
Northside College Prep is the top ranked Illinois school on the just-released U.S. News and World Report list of the best high schools in the country. In all, four Chicago high schools held the top spots on the state list.
On the nationwide list, California schools dominated with 97 in the top 500. New York also fared well with 68 in the highest gold medal category, and Texas had 46, with two of the top three in the Dallas Independent School District.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis appeared on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" on Tuesday to talk about a possible teachers' strike, pensions, longer school days and school reform.
Barbara Bowman, who is stepping down as CPS chief early childhood education officer after past eight years, joined WBEZ's "Afternoon Shift" for some lessons about her life and the lessons she's learned inside and outside the classroom.
Columbia College Chicago President Warrick L. Carter announced Tuesday he will retire in 2013, one year earlier than planned. A video posted on YouTube in March that showed Carter telling a student to "shut up" during his State of the College Address drew almost 18,000 hits.
IN THE STATE
The principal of Naperville’s Washington Junior High School has been named Naperville Unit District 203’s assistant superintendent for secondary education. (Daily Herald)
Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that he's found a way to plug a $73 million budget gap that would have cut off funding for child care services for low-income families across Illinois. (Tribune)
IN THE NATION
Schools should become a major focal point for preventing the spread of obesity in the United States, suggests a new report issued today by the Institute of Medicine. (Education Week)
The Los Angeles Board of Education votes to require grades of D or better in college-prep classes starting with incoming ninth-graders in the fall, raising requirements to a C for the Class of 2017. The Class of 2016, next year's ninth-graders, will be the first in the nation's second-largest school system who must take those courses needed to apply to a four-year state university. (Los Angeles Times)
California's public schools may be facing unprecedented levels of pressure as they try to teach an increasing number of children in poverty with fewer employees and a continual threat of cutbacks, a report finds. (Mercury News)
Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked consideration of a Democratic bill to prevent the doubling of some student loan interest rates, leaving the legislation in limbo less than two months before rates on subsidized federal loans are set to shoot upward. (NYT)
Best schools in Illinois.
In the May 8th U.S. News ranking of top schools,the four top schools in Illinois, and six of the top ten are Chicago Public Schools with union teachers. The number of charter schools on the best schools list for Illinois? Zero. So in what way are charters superior again?
Best schools
I'm sure these schools are great, but that's not hard when you enroll the highest-scoring students in the city. I'd like to see a ranking that includes the test scores of incoming students. Which schools do the best job with the students they recieve?
Best Schools
I totally agree with you anonymous!! Northside Prep can boast that they have recuited the highest scoring students. If the school in my neighborhood was able to do the same, maybe our school would be getting the same attention!
You folks have got it all
You folks have got it all wrong. It's not the kids that make Northside Prep a great school. It's the teachers! Remember - teachers are the single largest in-school factor in determining student educational outcomes.
The teachers at Northside Prep are outstanding! The teachers at Crane and Harper and Marshall and other poorly performing schools? Not so much.
There's a reason teachers are stuck in struggling neighborhood schools. The teachers in those buildings aren't good enough. So the schools struggle. This should be obvious to anyone who looks at student achievement levels on exams in high schools around the city.
Best Schools
My point was that charter schools seem to have not made this list at all. Also, these top schools are all unionized, yet the evil CTU has somehow avoided destroying the education for the students there. BTW, charters can pick and choose as well.
Teachers are only a part of the success.
Just like you can't blame teachers for all the failures, you can not give them full credit for the successes.
Remember, parent involvement, student motivation, and supportive staff and administration. That's what makes a school successful. Consider that when you look at 'failing' schools.
BTW there are more good teachers than 'bad' ones. It's a labor of love that goes unappreciated by those that have never been in a classroom. You who have it all wrong, you have no idea what you are talking about.
education
Education is a process that requires commitment from student, teachers and parents. No one of the three can do it alone, but you must have at least those three on the same page and committed to the education process. Unfortunately the American education process now is the same as in the 1800's and must be updated to reflect the change in time and technology.
If you look closely, you will see that the main problem in underperforming schools is that the students come into high schools reading at a 4th garage level. TURNAROUND that problem and 70% of the problems go away.
Education
Anonymous, I totally agree with you and a high school that has to accept students who operate at the 4th grade level and somehow has them operating at grade level by their senior year would be worth boasting about!! These teachers would had gone above and beyond the call of duty because it was the elementary level teachers that should have built their foundation for high school.
Best schools
Let's not dump indiscriminately on elementary teachers. Many kids are "behind" when they enter kindergarten and need preschool education. Many do not get the social services they need. And, yes, schools need to step up their game, and need the support to be able to do that.
What a Crock!
Well this made my day! It's the teachers that make a school's scores great! Uh, and where in the equation does the students who actually are used as the data measurement fit in? If you have a great school, with great resources, rigorous curriculum, funding for programs, supportive administration, textbooks, computers, iPads, working network infrastructure, and students who read higher than a 3rd or 4th grade level, have a solid home life with parents who support their education and achievement, haven't been corrupted by the streets, the gangs, the drugs, the social conditions, and have a genuine understanding of the importance of them getting the best education they can then you can't say a thing.
We aren't STUCK. Many of us CHOOSE to work in these schools and we, believe it or not, have great students that do achieve at the same levels as those at Northside Prep. We nuture, we push, we teach, we care. We can't save them all or make young people who don't want to want.
Don't point fingers or place blame when you don't know the real story and if you think you do and you are a teacher at an 'outstanding' school, then do the right thing and come teach at Crane, Harper, Marshall, Fenger, Dunbar, etc.
Don't think some people could cut the mustard.
"Best Schools"
Umm... can't say for certain, but I think Strike Info's comment should be read with your satire app. turned on.
What A Crock!
I think the teachers at Northside Prep should be transferred to a school like Dunbar. Likewise the teachers at Dunbar, Crane and Fenger should be transferred to Northside Prep. I'm sure the teachers at the lower performing schools could use some relieif from the many challenges they face from at risk kids everyday!
5th grade teacher
We get 5th graders reading at 1st grade level. Once they are this far behind, being in a clas with 34 students is not the solution...nor is pleading with them to make gains on the NWEA!!
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