ME (& NH) high schools shut out of top 500

(from http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/923789-196/nh-high-schools-shut-out-of-top.html)

Granite State high schools were shut out in a ranking of the top 500 public high schools in America published by Newsweek Magazine this week.

New Hampshire didn’t have a single high school crack the list, which was based on a formula that used the following factors: graduation rate (25 percent); college matriculation rate (25 percent); AP tests taken per graduate (25 percent); the average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent); the average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent); and AP courses offered (5 percent).

Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island were the other New England States not to have a school make the list. Massachusetts had 11 schools, including Boston Latin School, which was ranked at 63 and has a 99 percent graduation rate and college-bound rate. It also had an average SAT score of 1911.

Connecticut had 12 schools on the list. Two Dallas magnet schools – School of Science and Engineering and School for the Talented and Gifted – topped the list, respectively.

Last year, Hollis-Brookline High School was ranked 1,155 in a field of 1,600 top high schools by Newsweek. It was the fourth year in a row Hollis/Brookline had made the top 1,600 list.

Newsweek changed its methodology this year. In the past, schools had only been ranked by AP tests per graduate. But the formula was changed this year, the development of which included several education experts.

To view the list and more on how schools were selected, visit www.newsweek.com/feature/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html

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Fewer Maine schools meeting standards

More details about RISC at the State level

Informational Letter:  12
Policy Code:  GCI
TO: Superintendents of Schools
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education
DATE: August 6, 2009
RE: Superintendent’s Conference Follow-Up – Standards Based Education

Thank you for your continued interest in Maine’s transition to a standards-based system of education and our work with the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition.  This week we engaged 100 more participants for the 2009 Maine RISC Summer Institute to deepen their understanding and build action plans for this exciting work. 
As promised at the Superintendents' Conference in Bar Harbor, Rich DeLorenzo, Co-Founder of the Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, will be returning to Maine in September from the 10th to the 18th for a series of statewide events that are currently being planned.  These events will provide the opportunities you requested in order for regions and districts to go deeper into the Model to gain increased awareness and understanding. 
At the Superintendents’ Conference the idea of bringing conversations about standards-based education to the regional level surfaced. To that end, we have organized a series of meetings for groups to explore, go deeper and actually have customized interactions with stakeholders for the next steps.
The schedule is as follows:
Performance-Based Systems Workshop for Administrators – Designed for educational leaders who have previously attended RISC workshops

WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday, September 11, 2009 8:00am – 4:00pm
WHERE: Holiday Inn Portland West, 81 Riverside Street, Portland
Directions – http://www.portlandholidayinn.com/Directions

2009 Maine Re-inventing Schools Coalition Fall Symposium

WHEN: Sunday, September 13, 2009 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Monday, September 14, 2009; 8:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday, September 15, 2009;  8:00am – 4:00pm
WHERE: Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, South Portland
Directions – http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/PWMHT/mapanddirections/main.wnt?param=1
- Please Provide Feedback Response -
Regional Opportunities for Building/Deepening Understanding of Performance-Based Educational Systems
 
Open for regional work with Superintendents and their shareholders.  I would like suggestions as to how to best utilize Rich’s knowledge and skills to build capacity for this work in your region. 
WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WHERE: Regions To Be Determined by Superintendent Responses
Please e-mail your ideas or suggestions for regional collaborative work to Tammy Morrill at tammy.morrill@maine.gov no later than Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 12:00 noon.  We will try to accommodate as many ideas as possible. 
Meeting with the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs

WHEN: Friday, September 18, 2009
WHERE: Burton M. Cross State Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta
2nd Floor - Room # 202
Directions – http://www.maine.gov/education/directions.htm

If you are interested in attending any of the meetings, please know that they are inclusive and you are most welcome.  The groups gathering for September 10-11 are a little more ahead in the planning/implementation process, while the meetings scheduled for September 13,14,15 are for a broader awareness of the work.
I realize that the September dates may present a challenge with schools just getting started, but wanted to make the opportunity available to those who may be able to participate.  It is also important to note that the Winter Institute dates are being determined and will provide, yet, another opportunity.  In the meantime please visit the Maine Department of Education website with the latest resources on Standards Based Education at  http://www.maine.gov/education/sbs/index.html
Thank you again for your continued interest in this exciting work to deliver on the promise of Maine’s Learning Results.

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Home schooling, education jobs and Social Security: An education roundup

Interesting article and very interesting comments from readers at the bottom of the article. 

Report Card: A close look at the world of Maine Education

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Your Child Left Behind

Dec 2010 - Atlantic Magazine

Massachusetts used to "lag behind" states like Maine & Connecticut. Now they just "lag behind" other countries.

Today, Maine's largest demographic ranks approximately 38th in 4th/8th grade math....Massachusetts ranks #1 (regardless of demographic).