Wheatley and National Rankings May 2013 1 Recent National - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Wheatley and National Rankings

May 2013

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Recent National Rankings

 Several national High School Rankings have been

published within the past several weeks

Wheatley Ranking National NYS LI US News & World Report #108 #19 #3 Challenge Index (Jay Matthews) #146 #7 #5 Newsweek #92 #25 #4

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US News & World Report

Rankings based on a three-step methodology:

1)

Comparison of school’s performance on state mathematics and English against the statistically expected performance

2)

Comparison of the performance of least-advantaged students (black, Hispanic, low-income) with state- wide results for these same groups.

3)

Schools that made it through these first two steps were then judged nationally on college-readiness. This metric took into account AP/IB participation and passing rates using a formula that combined the number of 12th Grade students that took and passed at least one AP/IB exam during high school with a simple AP/IB participation rate.

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Pros and Cons: US News

• Takes into account multiple measures, including

student performance on state and national exams

• Advantageous for economically and socially diverse

schools

• Looks at 22,000 schools and filters down to three

main designations: Gold, Silver and Bronze

Pros

• Relies solely on public data
• Does not verify data with schools

Cons

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US News & WR Recent Ranking

Wheatley’s Historical USN&WR Ranking

Year National Rank NYS Rank LI Rank Index Status 2009 88 19 4 63.6 Gold 2012* 246 / 146 40 / 27 13 / 8 56.7 / 66 Gold 2013 108 19 3 74.3 Gold

5 Notes:

• The 2012 Rankings were roundly criticized for using

erroneous data to arrive at the index values. The aforementioned table includes the data as reported by US News as well as the correct data.

Challenge Index Rankings

 The original high school ranking list, developed by Jay

Matthews (of the Washington Post).

 Previously reported as the Newsweek list, before

Newsweek was sold and decided to develop its own ranking system.

 Very simply methodology that relies on a ratio of two

data points:

1)

Total number of AP/IB exams given

2)

Size of graduating class Challenge Index =

/

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Pros and Cons: Challenge Index

• Simple calculation
• Takes into account the number of

AP/IB exams given each year

Pros

• No student performance factored

into the index

• Reliance solely on AP/IB exams

given makes it easy to manipulate

Cons

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Challenge Index Historical Ranking

Wheatley’s Historical Ranking

Year Rank Index 1998 1 2.862 2000 12 2.696 2003 30 3.146 2005 85 2.887 2006 178 2.591 2007 115 3.227 2008 67 4.025 2009 119 3.594 2010 154 3.518 2011 95 4.478 2012 117 4.600 2013 146 4.561

8 27% increase in Index value

Newsweek Rankings

 A relatively new ranking, using the following

methodology:

1)

4-year on-time graduation rate (25%)

2)

Percent of graduates accepted to college (25%)

3)

AP/IB tests per student (25%)

4)

Average SAT or ACT score (10%)

5)

Average AP/IB score (10%)

6)

% of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB courses (5%)

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Pros and Cons: Newsweek

• Graduation rate and college acceptance are

important factors

• AP/IB courses offered and AP participation rate

helps normalize schools by size

• Takes into account multiple measures, including

student performance on AP/IB exams

Pros

• Reliance on SAT and ACT scores, which are exams

that are not directly taught by most schools

• Change in criteria for 2013 led to dramatic changes

in Index values, making longitudinal comparisons challenging

Cons

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Newsweek Index Historical Ranking

Wheatley’s Historical Newsweek Ranking

Year National Rank NYS Rank LI Rank Index 2011 55 9 4 0.973 2012 62 9 4 1.150 2013 92 25 4 3.580

11 Notes:

• The top schools on Newsweek’s list tend to be magnet,

selective or charter schools

• Wheatley is ranked 22nd nationally and 8th in NYS

among schools with Open admissions

Points to Consider

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Index Improvements

 An improved index value does not necessarily result in

an improved ranking



In the Newsweek ranking (from 2011 to 2012):

 Wheatley, CSH, GNN, GNS, Manhassset, South Side

(RVC) and Syosset had improved index values even as their rankings decreased

 Jericho saw a 25% improvement in its index value, yet

their rank “improved” only 4 places (to 41 from 45)

 In the US News ranking (from 2009 to 2013), Wheatley,

CSH, GNS and Jericho each had improved Index values with a decrease in national ranking

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Different Types of Schools

 Magnet schools, select schools and charter schools

dominate the top echelons of these rankings.

 In Newsweek’s list, only three of top 50 schools are

Open enrollment

 The average Special Education enrollment for the top 50

schools on the Challenge Index is 3.6%

 The lists are stacked with schools having more

affluent populations

 Schools with the greatest challenges can appear to be

the greatest failures

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Final Thoughts

 Each index is a statement of values, ranking schools

based on attempts to measure academic achievement

 Art, music and theatre programs have little direct

impact on these rankings

 Dual enrollment courses such as those we have through

SUPA, Adelphi, Stony Brook, St. John’s and Molloy have no impact on the rankings

 Athletic opportunities and student clubs and activities

have no impact on the rankings

 “Chasing the Rankings” can have unintended

consequences to a school’s culture

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