Comparing Schools

I thought it interesting to compare our current "District of Choice" TPS elementary school with the new school my kids will be going to in Union. I'll preface the discussion this is likely to create with the following statement:

I have been generally impressed with most of the teachers and educators I have encountered at our current TPS school. They seem to be genuine in their desire to provide a good education. However, when looking at test scores, they just aren't getting the job done. I understand that our current school may have a whole host of challenges with which they face, and that the looking only at the scores may not be fair, but I'm not particularly interested in fair when it comes to my kids. The measure has been provided, I'm going to take note, and the contrast is stark.

Comparing the new school in Union with the old school in the "District of Choice"

Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests 2006

Third Grade
New school reading: 94% satisfactory
Old school reading: 67% satisfactory
The state average: 82% satisfactory

New school math: 87% satisfactory
Old school math: 54% satisfactory
The state average: 72% satisfactory

Fourth Grade
New school reading: 95% satisfactory
Old school reading: 82% satisfactory
The state average: 86% satisfactory

New school math: 93% satisfactory
Old school math: 63% satisfactory
The state average: 79% satisfactory

Fifth Grade
New school reading: 90% satisfactory
Old school reading: 60% satisfactory
The state average: 75% satisfactory

New school math: 86% satisfactory
Old school math: 59% satisfactory
The state average: 76% satisfactory

Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program (2005-2006)
New school: 9%
Old school: 100%
The state average: 55%

Spending Per Pupil
Union: $5,553
TPS: $7,057
The state average: $6,610


I got my data from greatschools.net who got their data from the NCES and the OK SDE

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