[quote=outtamojo]The important number imo is the “similar schools “rank where they adjust for demographics. For example, Carlsbad High is a 9 state rank but a 4 similar schools rank but San Marcos High is a 9 state rank and a 9 similar schools rank. The similar schools rank tells me how much teaching/hard work is going on rather than just having good socioeconomics and from the looks of Carlsbad High ( as an example, don’t mean to pick on them), other schools with a similar demographic work much harder and score much higher. Mira Mesa having 5 out of six elementary 9 and above is very impressive btw. Oh, one more point about test scores and property values if in fact they correlate – if you live in SEH or Mira Mesa or some other less vaunted but still good school system and you transfer your high performing kids out of your local school district, aren’t you shooting yourself in the foot brain-draining your own neighborhood and lowering your property values and enhancing someone else’s proprty values and test scores?[/quote]
I don’t know if I would put as much weight on “similar schools” rank. Here are two examples:
Mason Elementary: (API rank 9, similar school rank 10)
Asian 919
Filipino 907
Hispanic or Latino 792
White (not of Hispanic origin) 875
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 825
English Learners 832
Sandburg Elementary: (API rank 10, similar school rank 8)
Asian 907
Filipino 909
White (not of Hispanic origin) 925
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 872
English Learners 875
So, if you’re white, Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, or English learner, you’re probably better off at Sandburg if API score is representative of the capability of the school. Yet, similar school rank is lower at Sandburg.
I don’t believe in the brain drain affecting property value theory either. If a voucher system is enacted and you can go to any schools you want, I would think the premium for school in certain area would go away.
