Fairborn commencement
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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > September > 25 > Entry
Here’s the list of overachieving and underachieving school districts
In my column today, I suggested school districts should get extra credit, or at least recognition, from the state if their state rank for test scores out pace their rank in the state for median income, given the demonstrated strong connection between wealth and standardized test performance. For more on this, see my 2006 study of the link between test scores and income in Ohio.
By clicking the “continued” link, you can view the full list of the 60 Miami Valley school districts and the difference between their state rank for performance index score — a state measure of test performance across all grades — compared to their rank for median incomes among Ohio’s 610 school districts.
Positive numbers mean those district score better than their wealth would predict. I call these district “overachievers.” Districts that show negative numbers — lower ranks for test performance vs. median income — are “underachievers” in my view.
If you want to see the actual rankings for test performance and median income check out this post at the Get on the Bus education blog.
Sidney 231
Botkins 191
Versailles 184
Ansonia 177
Fort Loramie 156
Piqua 151
Milton-Union 116
Russia 107
Cedar Cliff 102
Anna 73
Brookville 69
Troy 64
Mississinawa Valley 54
Vandalia-Butler 46
Kettering 34
Greenville 25
Wayne 24
Newton 23
Northridge 17
Covington 16
Kings 15
Miami East 13
Mason 9
Tipp City 4
Oakwood 2
Northmont 2
Hardin-Houston -7
Centerville -14
Arcanum -17
Lebanon -18
Franklin Monroe -19
Dayton -20
Franklin -26
Sugarcreek -29
Mad River -29
Miamisburg -35
Yellow Springs -36
West Carrollton -45
Springboro -51
Trotwood-Madison -52
Beavercreek -55
Fairborn -64
New Lebanon -66
Bethel -67
Valley View -68
Xenia -100
Bradford -109
Little Miami -119
Eaton -132
Tri-County North -132
Twin Valley -147
Tri-Village -150
Greeneview -158
National Trail -159
Fairlawn -161
Preble Shawnee -193
Jefferson Twp. -206
Huber Heights -208
Jackson Center -218
Carlisle -226
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Education
Comments
By Lea
September 25, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
If Beavercreek has an “Excellent” rating, how exactly can they be underachievers? Keep in mind that a lot of kids from Riverside and Fairborn are actually in the Beavercreek school district, too.By brenda
September 25, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Scott, I’ve always believed districts like Kettering were getting the short end of the stick. Thanks for showing us how/why.By Harold Poppe
September 25, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Was glad to see your article on the “overachievers” in today’s paper. It prompted me to look at you blog entries related to the article. I do think you need to relook at how you calculated Botkins. According to my calculations, you shorted them 200 points. This makes them the high “overachiever” in your study. I am sure that this was a mathematical oversight in your report. Thank you for relooking at your figures.By Mary
September 25, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
How do you identify “overachievers” with a minimum standards test?By lou
September 26, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Lea, Beavercreek would be overachievers. They have a neg. number.By lou
September 26, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Sorry Lea, this blog is opposite the other blog. Scott, which is over and which is under achievers, neg. or pos.?By Scott Elliott
September 26, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
The positive numbers are overachievers, the negative numbers are underachievers. Beavercreek is mildly underachieving. Beavercreek ranks 79th in Ohio for test scores and 24th for median income. Both of those numbers are very high. The difference for Beavercreek of -55 is, in my view, just starting to border on big enough to worry about. Really, though, its districts that are probably 100 places or more away from where you would predict where I’d say there is something significant going on.By Mary
September 26, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Scott, less than 3 years ago, the Dayton Daily News ran a commentary (by Diane Ravitch?)on its editorial pages about how these test scores are misleading the public and are minimum standards. Maybe you can link that old commentary to the current discussion.By Tim
September 29, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Mary, If Scott is using Performance index as the measure of success, that takes into account and awards points to students accordingly on 5 levels of achievement (limited, basic, proficient, accelerated, and advanced). So even though “proficient” means students have met minimum standards, they have the opportunity to test into higher levels of achievement.By Terri Kemper
September 30, 2008 3:28 AM | Link to this
I read your editorial with considerable interest. Haven’t you oversimplified educaton by attaching “money” to it? Money does NOT guarantee a “good report card”. However, funding can make a teacher’s task easier. What affects education and a student’s acceptance of it is intangible, not tied to money in any obvious way. It comes from “attitude” and a home where education is cherished. With such a family, there’s a “wealth” of good values, goals, and love. Without obvious strategy, the techniques become transparent to all but the most educated. A young child learns to accomplish small tasks which develop ino bigger tasks as he matures. He/she sets goals, knows the purpose for his/her task, believes in his/her on abiliies,and stays focused. Small setbacks don’t defeat this individual. Rather, this child learns that small delays make the eventual success more valuable/worthwhile. Home and family keep the child “on task”. Now, this is the “wealth” which motivates good “report cards”. Success can empower the child to do better and better whether in schoolwork, athletics, or a job after formal education is complete. What do you think of my “wealth”?