Are Florida schools THAT bad?

[dpuck1998]

It really depends on the area and even in one county you can have such a wide range of schools and how they rate. Based on the Florida District rankings my county is rated fourth out of sixty-five for schools which isn't too bad. My DS's elementary school is in the top 10% of all of the FL elementary schools which also isn't too bad. Most of the schools in my county are ranked as either A or B schools. I'm sure there are areas where the schools are failing (just one county to my west has a few) but you'll get that in any state.

Honestly, I know exactly how they rate the schools in Michigan. I "failing" school around here really means nothing in real terms. The way they "grade" them is ridiculous. A school the performs excellent may fail they next year for failure to show enough improvement. The state system is flawed...like most things they do.

 

[catycatcat4]

I thought you were home schooled?

Yes but my first semester ended like a couple weeks ago i doubt the schools have changed that much in one semester and all my friends are still so i know what i'm talking about.

 

[schoen]

I know that when I was in college studying education we watched a documentary about the FL school system. Education is technically a state right, therefore, should be run by the state. There are federal programs that school are essentially forced to participate in (no child left behind). The way that FL has set up some of it's assessment schedules are pretty silly.

In the video, for example, there was a very gifted young woman who was ready to go to harvard, but she couldn't graduate because she couldn't pass some random test that is required by the state. I don't remember the specifics, but I do remember the profs telling us that we should be prepared if we decided to go to FL. to teach.

I graduated from Michigan State, which has one of, well, technically, if you look at lists and rankings... best schools of ed in the country. I get calls from FL districts at least two or three times a year offering me money to just come and interview.

I don't know a lot of specifics, but I do know that I got a negative impression of FL as a teaching state in college.

 

[catycatcat4]

I know that when I was in college studying education we watched a documentary about the FL school system. Education is technically a state right, therefore, should be run by the state. There are federal programs that school are essentially forced to participate in (no child left behind). The way that FL has set up some of it's assessment schedules are pretty silly.

In the video, for example, there was a very gifted young woman who was ready to go to harvard, but she couldn't graduate because she couldn't pass some random test that is required by the state. I don't remember the specifics, but I do remember the profs telling us that we should be prepared if we decided to go to FL. to teach.

I graduated from Michigan State, which has one of, well, technically, if you look at lists and rankings... best schools of ed in the country. I get calls from FL districts at least two or three times a year offering me money to just come and interview.

I don't know a lot of specifics, but I do know that I got a negative impression of FL as a teaching state in college.

The fcat, Things like that happen all time you could be an all A and B student and not be allowed to graduate of that stupid test.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

It may have changed but the last report I read on the Florida school system was that it ranked 49th in the nation. There was only one state that ranked lower than Florida.

I have no idea what the criteria was or how the system was set-up for the ranking - but that's a pretty scary number.

With that said there are also some school districts within the state that are very highly sought after - I can only assume it's because they have a better ranking of some some sort.

We talk about these on the show from time-to-time - Dr. Phillips area and Celebration area schools seems to be the ones people want to send their children to.

I don't know what external influences make one school better or worse than another. I assume it has to do with funds but all over this state I see signs that say XX Billion of Dollars has gone to schools so far from the Lottery.

Makes you wonder what exactly is going on.......

 

[dalt01]

once they lock us students up in the morning.

what does that mean?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I actually did alot of research on this before we moved here in July. FL has some really good schools and some really bad ones. So when you mix that all together with a state this large the numbers are not so great. But here is a comparison I found on two sites school digger and national stats.

Where I live now is very similar to Celebration rankings. My district has 4 elementary schools. Suntree, Quest, Manatee, and Ralph Williams. all in the top 2% in FL and 20% nationally. However 17 miles down the road has schools that are literally ranked almost last in the state and nationally. Now compared to DE where we moved from:

Manatee 10/10 possible points for test scores, class size, parents feelings and "A" rated school which is all test scores.

Olive B Loss 8/10 and "A" rated in DE. So we actually improved moving from suburb to suburb. Just look around and do your homework. Also go to the school and take a tour. That is what I found most helpful.

I love the school digger site because it breaks down everything you could possibly imagine, grades, class size, busing demographics. Very specific things that may matter to you. It also listed neighborhoods in walking distance to the schools. Which is how we went house hunting.

 

[disneymom8589]

Yes, they are absolutely awful.
The people in charge are idiots
Most of the teachers can't teach.
Most of the teachers don't give a crap.
Did i mention the people in charge of the schools are idiots?

As a teacher (although not in Florida), I am trying hard to keep from commenting on these statements.

 

[dalt01]

As a teacher (although not in Florida), I am trying hard to keep from commenting on these statements.

she is like 16 or 17. generally she gets a pass from us. as i would hope that if my 17 year old daughter made statements that were based more on peer insight than fact, she would get one also.

 

[vicki_c]

I actually did alot of research on this before we moved here in July. FL has some really good schools and some really bad ones. So when you mix that all together with a state this large the numbers are not so great. But here is a comparison I found on two sites school digger and national stats.

Where I live now is very similar to Celebration rankings. My district has 4 elementary schools. Suntree, Quest, Manatee, and Ralph Williams. all in the top 2% in FL and 20% nationally. However 17 miles down the road has schools that are literally ranked almost last in the state and nationally. Now compared to DE where we moved from:

Manatee 10/10 possible points for test scores, class size, parents feelings and "A" rated school which is all test scores.

Olive B Loss 8/10 and "A" rated in DE. So we actually improved moving from suburb to suburb. Just look around and do your homework. Also go to the school and take a tour. That is what I found most helpful.

I love the school digger site because it breaks down everything you could possibly imagine, grades, class size, busing demographics. Very specific things that may matter to you. It also listed neighborhoods in walking distance to the schools. Which is how we went house hunting.

My son could have gone to Ralph Williams but we still picked Ascension and paid for it! I would have done Suntree but we didn't live close enough. Ralph Williams kind of scared me despite its better rankings, but that might just be my own issue after seeing the school.

 

[catycatcat4]

As a teacher (although not in Florida), I am trying hard to keep from commenting on these statements.

Go a head and comment i'm mature enough to handle it.

she is like 16 or 17. generally she gets a pass from us. as i would hope that if my 17 year old daughter made statements that were based more on peer insight than fact, she would get one also.

Stupid question but i'm halve awake so.
Thats a good thing right?

 

[JoShan1719]

I can only speak for Broward County, which is where I attended school. In eight grade I left public school for homeschool. I actually did nothing for the entire year (seriously, I babysat my niece, no school work). When I returned to public school for ninth grade, I was still two grades above level. In my senior year I decided not to attend one of my classes for about six weeks. When I did finally come back I made up all of the missing work in one class period, scoring high marks on all the assignments, and still passed the class. Before I was born my family lived in New York. When they moved down here all three of my siblings were three tested grades above the rest of their classmates. As PPs said, most of it depends on the actual school district, mine just happened to suck royally.

 

[disneymom8589]

Go a head and comment i'm mature enough to handle it.


Stupid question but i'm halve awake so.
Thats a good thing right?

I'm sorry if you haven't had the best experience with your teachers. I do understand that there are teachers out there who don't put a lot into what they do, but I guess I get a little defensive when I see the word "most teachers" in your post. That's a pretty big general statement. I really hope your future educational experiences are more positive for you.

 

[Halbleib1]

Yes, they are absolutely awful.
The people in charge are idiots
Most of the teachers can't teach.
Most of the teachers don't give a crap.
Did i mention the people in charge of the schools are idiots?

When my grandparents moved to Florida years ago my aunt actually helped the teacher grade papers and to teach the class because she was so much further ahead of the other kids. And no my aunt was not ahead of the class here at home she was actually behind here. Years later we had a neighbor move to Florida for a couple of years and their kids said the same thing when they moved back. School was so much easier there than here they said. Things could have changed by now though.

 

[Halbleib1]

As a teacher (although not in Florida), I am trying hard to keep from commenting on these statements.

There are good teachers and bad teachers everywhere. I had some great teachers in school and I had some really awful teachers. Awful as in some were very mean with no reason and liked to intimidate you in front of the whole class if you did not understand something or if you did not have the right answer. One teacher that I had in high school actually banned tape recording in his class after someone tried to tape his class because he knew that if that tape got into the wrong hands he would no longer have a job. His whole class he sat there picking on people. It ranged from what the person wore to school to how smart they were or weren't. Yes he was reported but no one at the school would believe the students therefore he kept his job. Other awful teachers didn't actually teach you anything therefore you can't really call them teachers. You were expected to teach yourself. I had that in both high school and college actually.

 

[Halbleib1]

The fcat, Things like that happen all time you could be an all A and B student and not be allowed to graduate of that stupid test.

The year I graduated high school if we did not complete a senior project we would not have been allowed to graduate. It had nothing to do with grades it all came down to that one last project. Pretty stupid to have so much ride on that one project IMO.

 

[Halbleib1]

she is like 16 or 17. generally she gets a pass from us. as i would hope that if my 17 year old daughter made statements that were based more on peer insight than fact, she would get one also.

Maybe she is only 16 or 17 but we have all been there. How many times at that age or younger did we tell adults something and were not taken serious or believed when what we were telling them was the absolute truth. It does not mean that she does not know what she is talking about. Who best to tell you what the schools are really like than a student.

My parents had no idea what the school day was like for me because they were not there. They only had their experience to go by. Which in most cases was much worst than what I went through. Back when they were in school teachers were allowed to hit kids. My mom went to a catholic school which was much much stricter than my school. That being said we want better for our kids and how are we going to get better for them if we do not listen to what is really going on. Also it is easy for adults at the school to put on an act for the parents and to make things look better than they really are.

 

[FireDancer]

I imagine that there are additional pressures in FL that are not necessarily the same throughout the country. This is part educated guess, I am not a teacher in FL nor do I live there but I do know a lot of teachers up here and did live for two years in FL.

First, the population in parts of FL is steadily growing. This may have slowed due to the real estate bubble but when I lived in Clearwater from 2003-04 I had a neighbor that was a middle school teacher. We worked out together and the conversation of the schools did come up. He mentioned on many occasions that the schools have capacity issues and just run out of room. They can't expand at the same rate as the population so classes are bigger then they should be and there are not adequate facilities to even hold let alone educate the children.

Second, but related to the first, is that so many kids enter the schools at non-standard ages. In most schools kids naturally enter in set grades. The way most schools around me are structured they are first, 7th, or 9th grade. Of course kids move but schools in the general area are paced about the same. Most schools in the area are pretty close in material. When you have kids moving in not only from surrounding areas but from all over the country they enter with vastly different backgrounds and at vastly different levels. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned learning up north in 9th grade what his sister (I think it was) learned in 12th in FL. It puts the schools in a bad situation. If they base the education on the kids that are entering from areas that have advanced curriculum there are a lot of kids that skip a lot of info. If they go with the less advanced there are kids doing everything all over again.*

I imaging in the Phoenix and Las Vegas areas there are similar problems.

Now, don't take me as an apologist for the schools. Just because they have these problems doesn't excuse poor education. It just means you have to work harder to deal with it. I just wanted to put some info out there that comes from someone without a dog in the hunt. I am not a teacher or student and I am years away from spawning any at the current rate so I have no reason to be defensive about either.

*I am speaking merely about speed of introduction when I talk about advanced curriculum and not the difficulty of it.

 

[dalt01]

double post

 

[dalt01]

she is like 16 or 17. generally she gets a pass from us. as i would hope that if my 17 year old daughter made statements that were based more on peer insight than fact, she would get one also.

Stupid question but i'm halve awake so.
Thats a good thing right?

i was saying that we will defend you when we have to...........that is a good thing. i was also saying that some kids think their teachers are idiots when they are really not......sometimes we just think so.....and i understand that. and i also know that sometimes when they are grown some kids look back are realize that someone they hated may not have been so bad after all