Efficiency Ranking of Arkansas Schools

[porque]

Presumeably all who are interested have had time to note the posting in the Democrat Gazette on Saturday - 9-6-03'
The list shows Eureka Springs to be 142 out of 309 or about half way down the list of Efficiency.

What is now needed is for Eureka Springs to post - 1. where ES is on the scale of average teacher salaries and what is the average salary?
2. What position is ES on with regard to average administrative costs?
3. Where does ES rank on scores on state and national standardized tests?

Why are we 142nd while all the neighboring schools are way ahead of ES. Little ole Alpena is 118th, Green Forest is 84th, Berryville is 68th and so on.

ES should explain why we are so low. Would like to know the next time more money is requested. The Washington D.C. school district is given the most money of any school district in the country, yet has the poorest record. Why is Little Rock, the largest school district and probably the most money, in Arkansas, all the way down to 252nd.

Wouldn't, shouldn't we be told why?

[Kim]

We have random drug tests of kids involved in extracurricular activities. This must be our most imporant educational task. Right?

[MotherMoon12]

May I brag? Huntsville is #28 on this list. It seems you get what you pay for. They have excellent teachers.

[Royal Alcott]

Excellent parents start the process and keep it going.

[hawkeye]

Very interesting. We have a vote coming up to increase the millage for the school and yet very few seem interested in the dismal ranking of the Eureka School District.

I guess people just like throwing more money at them without knowing why.

[EurekaMom]

I guess my question is, what is their defintion of "efficency"??

Thursday night the elem. held a patriotic program--the kids got up and sang songs. Before that was their annual report. As always, the schools test scores were very good. We're always told that our scores are very good and I believe they said that we had some of the top scores in Northwest Arkansas. I'm sorry I'm a little vague on the facts, but after 8 years of sitting through these I get a little bleary eyed after a while!

I also know that what our school gets from the state per child is very, very little compared what to the other schools in the county get. Our teachers are paid less, yet they are still excellent teachers and we have good test scores. To me that is efficent--we have better results with less money.

You can get lots of information from the Arkansas Department of Education web site and also school report cards at:
http://www.as-is.org/reportcard/rc2002/

http://arkedu.state.ar.us/

http://scottie.k12.ar.us
http://celticdragons.k12.ar.us/
http://www.eurekaspringshighschool.com

If you have more questions, I would call Reck Wallis, the school superitendent.

My 3 kids have really excelled in the Eureka Springs public schools. I don't think you can put a score on most of our teachers that go above and beyond!

EM

[Barn Boss]

may i brag. we here in mountain view were 4th. royal i agree that parents are the starting point but there is much more. i know there are great parents in eureka also and they care very much about their childrens education.
eurekamom. this is like my check book, i make the numbers read what i want but that does not mean they are right.

[porque]

Eurekamom - I am sure you are very proud of your kids and I am sure that singing songs is a strong indication that all is well - however - the index that ranks the schools has 23 variables,including multiple measures of district spending and student achievment. For example if a district has higher than average teacher salaries and lower than average administrative costs, while at the same time achieving high scores on state and national standardized tests, it will have a high efficiency ranking.

This is only a small example of the index arrived at by the UofA and which is used to rank school districts. Right or wrong.

I appreciate they told you that the test scores were very good and perhaps were the tops in NW Arkansas - but what were the scores? and what was the comparison?

How do you know that ES gets less per student than other schools in the area? How much do they get and how much does ES get? Have you seen the figures or just heard the talk? What is the average teacher salary in ES? and what is the average salary in adjacent schools? Based on the index if we get better result with less money, would ES not be higher in the rankings?

Do you believe everything you hear or do you check it out? Do you think Wallis is going to say anything negative? Every Superintendant is going to protect his/her dungpile at any cost.

I am delighted that your children excell, I only hope that if they transferred to a higher ranked school or a different state they would excell as well. Remember, you have a limited view of ES only ,it appears.

You said ES scores were the best in the NW and teachers were paid less -- Look around again at Berryville,Green Forest, Pea Ridge, Alpena - all ranking higher than ES -How Come???

I hope Eureka is best and the rankings are wrong - BUT - When are they going to come out with figures and prove it? Why is ES ranking half way to the bottom?

I will wait for explainations from the school (not much time) before I vote yes on a millage increase. The same for the 1% sales tax which will be requested. You recognize that if the vote fails the Quorum court will still mandate the increase. Is that a stacked deck?

Remember the old Addage - Liars figure and figurers lie.

[just wondering]

porque, please read your state constitution, amendment #74, the Quorum Court CANNOT mandate the increase, this is nothing more than lies put out by the school board. Don't believe everything you read in the paper. If this be true, why vote? Voting NO on both the 2.45 millage and the 1% sales tax!!!

[Kim]

Originally posted by Barn Boss:
may i brag. we here in mountain view were 4th.

Congrats to Mountain View, Barn Boss! I've seen the MV students at Quiz Bowl, and they're amazing. It's really obvious when you see the MV kids in a purely academic setting that your educational standards are very high o'er there. I've always been very impressed with the MV kids.

[Kim]

Originally posted by MotherMoon12:
May I brag? Huntsville is #28 on this list. It seems you get what you pay for. They have excellent teachers.

Would it be to contentious to tell a little story here? (Am I known for fretting about being too contentious? http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/wink.gif)

I know this fabulous teacher who is certified in multiple disciplines. He's a creative guy, and very dedicated to his craft. He's always thinking ... thinking ... about how to enflame young minds. He's one of those life-changers that kids always remember.

But he couldn't be hired in Eureka because somebody heard from somebody who heard from somebody (maybe) that he's Not Our Kind, Dear.

So he went to Huntsville. Our loss; Madison County's gain. Congrats to Huntsville for the great score.

Of course, we WILL whup your ass at AAA intramural foot-shooting. http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/wink.gif

[sweetness&light]

Of course, we WILL whup your ass at AAA intramural foot-shooting.

And don't forget the new intermural Whiz Quiz...urine testing to check for functioning kidneys and bladders.

[EurekaMom]

Originally posted by porque:
[B]I appreciate they told you that the test scores were very good and perhaps were the tops in NW Arkansas - but what were the scores? and what was the comparison? [B]

If you look at the links I posted, one pointed directly to our test scores. If you

[B]How do you know that ES gets less per student than other schools in the area? How much do they get and how much does ES get? Have you seen the figures or just heard the talk? [B]

I have seen the figures and I know that our students get $400 less per student than the state average. I don't recall the numbers off the top of my head nor do I feel any need to go searching for them for you. I posted several web sites that will start you in the right direction.

[B]What is the average teacher salary in ES? and what is the average salary in adjacent schools? [B]

Run those report cards and see for yourself. I don't have these exact numbers. Keep in mind that our average might be higher because we have so many veteran teachers here that have earned years and years of raises. I know our young teachers' pay is much below average.

[B]Do you believe everything you hear or do you check it out? Do you think Wallis is going to say anything negative? [B]

I absolutely do not believe everything I hear. I have seen figures and they are available to anyone who asks. I'm sure you can also get any facts and figures from the Arkansas Department of Education. Don't come complain at a local message board and expect these answers. If you really want the correct information, go to the sources....I believe I've said that to you specificially more than once on this board.

EM

[PMilam]

Eureka Mom.. many folks without kids at home have more time on their hands than they know what to do with.

[Royal Alcott]

Ms Milam-

Many teachers have no children in school. Do they care less too in your mind?

[PMilam]

Mr. Alcott,

bla, bla, bla, Ginger, bla, bla, bla.

In other words... there is no point in responding to your posts.

I was not aware that "have more time on their hands" = "do not care".. not that it matters to you.

You simply have your bla, bla, bla.
http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/redface.gif
And it matters not, what anyone else may say.
Bla, bla, bla, bla...
http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/redface.gif

[PMilam]

Es war ein Witz!!!

You, too, can post in a variety of languages.

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/

[PenDragon]

Originally posted by PMilam:
Es war ein Witz!!!

You, too, can post in a variety of languages.

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/

Sucrerie d'Oh ! C'est fabuleux ! Pourquoi est-ce que j'ai perdu toute cette fois étudiant l'allemand dans le lycée quand je pourrais être juste venu ici et parlé en une langue que j'ai voulue ? L'attente d'Oh, là n'était aucun Internet en 1972. Ça ne fait rien.

It loses something in the translatiion... http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[PMilam]

Il sûr !

[Royal Alcott]

Ms MIlam-

Your edict was quite clear. People without children in school should not question people who do.

[PMilam]

Edict?!?!?!
http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif
Es war ein Witz!!!

I'm rubber, you are glue, what you say bounces of me and sticks to you. http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Nanny nanny boo boo!

Good Grief! (in Charlie Brown voice)

I'm taking my ball and going home. (you know you wish I would!)

Nhh Huuhhh!

http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[Royal Alcott]

Truth bounces off of you? I'm not surprised.

How are the murdering kidnappers?

[American Idol]

Green Forest may have had higher scores in the past , but with the new superintendent in town that school is falling to S--T..!!
I thank god my kids don't go there.

[Barn Boss]

thank you kim. our kids are in the beginning of their third year in the mtn view school district and are doing very well. at open house just before school started they gave scholarship award figures and other stats on the high marks the school kids achieved during the past year and they were all very impressive. even beat out some of the larger schools in certain achievement test.

[Carriageguy]

Originally posted by Royal Alcott:
Excellent parents start the process and keep it going.

I am sittin here, and it scares me, but I atually AGREE with ROYAL on this.

I know ........ sombdoy check my forhead.

But he is right, it DOES start at home.
A teacher can only do SO much.
They cant be expected to RAISE these kids.
Yes, they DO deserve more pay and better benefits etc. But a good solid start at home would help the teachers more than any of that.

[Carriageguy]

Originally posted by Royal Alcott:
Truth bounces off of you? I'm not surprised.

How are the murdering kidnappers?



And then he went from great logical common sense right back to the dumpster which so greatly occupies his mind.

I am now sorry I agreed with him.
That's what I get for looking for the good in someone

[PMilam]

You know that you can't beat me down by calling me a liar, so you resort to slipping "How are the murdering kidnappers?" into the conversation? Just what is that supposed to mean? And, please, answer in english. Babel Fish doesn't always get it just right. I certainly would not want to miss your explanation. Oh, it slipped my mind for a moment there.. you don't explain anything.

You are getting scary, Mr. Alcott.

[Carriageguy]

Mrs. Milam, just a thought, but I'd say that calling ANY of your family murdering kidnappers falls under liable and slander, and is VERY prosecutable.
But you better hurry before he deletes it and trys to deny he said it.

[PMilam]

Jan &/or Kim, is it true that you can retrieve things that have been edited?
Yes, Carriage Guy, it is disturbing.

[sweetness&light]

You can always print it for a hard copy.

[Kim]

Patt ... the absolute, unequivocal answer is:

Sometimes.

It depends.

[Lucinda]

Patt, just ask Kim or Jan to copy to "Chief Earl's files". That way Oldguy and Royal can keep each other company.