No trying to jab anyone here…But the mention of the honors student reminds me of a bumper sticker that makes me laugh every time i see it on a car. I don't know why I still get a big kick out of it.
As far as test scores, and best schools. My personal experience in a public school suggests that those aptitude test scores really mean didly.
I mean being at the average school at any school isn't too impressive. It's like saying you are at the average income of some area. It's not going to help you into a top school. So who cares about averages. It's what the individual can/can't do.
That said, how great a teacher at a school is or isn't really has no/little impact on your kid if you have the ability/time/patience to teach your own kids. Case in point. I remember a math teacher that I had once. During Parent/teacher conference, the teacher told my mom that I "needed help", and that I shouldn't pursue an engineering degree because I wouldn't be capable. He cited that I lacked attention and understanding interest.
Well, actually the real reason was this "teacher" was a surfer dude that could barely speak proper engrish. I don't know how he possibly could have gotten a teaching credential, let alone be teaching honors math in junior high. I would clasify him as a beach bum if I saw him outside of class. And this was in an afluent public school. Anyway, I ended up graduating from high school 20th out of 978 students in a fairly competitive and afluent community, where others had far much financial backing…At least it was enough for me to get in to an ivy school. Also, I pretty much AP'ed out of my first two years in college science and math. And pretty much graduated with a top 5 percent out of my engineering class. I loved math and science, but skipped class every other time just so I could hang out with a girl that was studying to be a doctor. Tells you how useful those teachers really are.
Public school math/science teachers was a joke, even in the best public schools. The only reason why I did well was I had a smart and patient father and I enjoyed learning on my own.
