Would agree West Plano is dragged down by decaying Central & East Plano?

[synchronicity]

Originally Posted by Transplanted99

Also, not hard to find stats that show that it is not the money spent on schools that counts (at least not beyond a certain threshold) - check out DC or Chicago average spend per pupil (some of the highest in the country) and their overall performance (e.g. graduation rates, college enrollments, SAT averages, etc.). One can argue that the districts here seem to know better how to get a return for our tax money.

Although I agree with most of your post, I would point out that when one compares "apples to apples" from the chicago area to DFW, it reflects higher test scores (SAT/ACT) practically across the board for the Chicago schools compared to DFW schools. I've posted on this in the past (Northside Prep and Whitney Young magnets vs. TAG and SEM magnets, New Trier HS vs. Highland Park, Stevenson HS vs....probably Plano ISD is a decent analog, although one could take some issue with that).

The majority of Chicago (city proper) public schools are bad, but the same holds true for most of DISD, save the magnets...but again, on standardized test scores the Chicago magnets outpace the DFW ones. DFW schools are ranked higher by US News because the students take more AP tests. The AP testing appears to vary by region.

None of this is a knock on DFW schools in general, but I don't want to see Chicagoland schools getting knocked unfairly, either.

[Transplanted99]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

Although I agree with most of your post, I would point out that when one compares "apples to apples" from the chicago area to DFW, it reflects higher test scores (SAT/ACT) practically across the board for the Chicago schools compared to DFW schools. I've posted on this in the past (Northside Prep and Whitney Young magnets vs. TAG and SEM magnets, New Trier HS vs. Highland Park, Stevenson HS vs....probably Plano ISD is a decent analog, although one could take some issue with that).

The majority of Chicago (city proper) public schools are bad, but the same holds true for most of DISD, save the magnets...but again, on standardized test scores the Chicago magnets outpace the DFW ones. DFW schools are ranked higher by US News because the students take more AP tests. The AP testing appears to vary by region.

None of this is a knock on DFW schools in general, but I don't want to see Chicagoland schools getting knocked unfairly, either.

I think you missed my point.

Best I could find without serious digging, but just Plano ISD (one of the "northern parts of DFW" I was actually referring to vs DISD) for one example:

Plano Independent School District for Plano
Naperville Community Unit District 2 for Dallas
City Of Chicago School District 299 for Chicago
Naperville Community Unit District 2 for Naperville

Chicago's budget is 21% higher than Dallas, but has comparable overall performance per the stats on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) measures. Similar results with the suburbs - e.g. Naperville (often cited as one of the best cities in America) vs Plano.

Having been in the midwest and north east, folks there always trash the "education in Texas". Even folks here do, saying "we need to spend more money". Rubbish!

Reality is very different when one gets specific about area, performance, and budget.

As you rightly point out, there are specific lines of schools that one can locate within that are superior. Likely true for every major metro area.

The point is value for money spent. And, no doubt, taxes in Chicago and area are higher to support that extra expenditure (vs in the DFW area). Money spent is not the differentiator.

[synchronicity]

Originally Posted by Transplanted99

I think you missed my point....
Chicago's budget is 21% higher than Dallas, but has comparable overall performance per the stats on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) measures. Similar results with the suburbs - e.g. Naperville (often cited as one of the best cities in America) vs Plano.

Having been in the midwest and north east, folks there always trash the "education in Texas". Even folks here do, saying "we need to spend more money". Rubbish! ...

The point is value for money spent. And, no doubt, taxes in Chicago and area are higher to support that extra expenditure (vs in the DFW area). Money spent is not the differentiator.

OK, got it. Although I might disagree to some extent with some of your points above, that's a far more nuanced discussion. I do think that the recent discussions in both Texas AND other states (including IL) about reducing education expenditures are an issue, but again, tangential discussion.

Back on point to the thread - Plano ISD is pretty much, pound for pound, the best district in all of DFW. Anyone knocking it makes me wonder WTH they're thinking.

[Transplanted99]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

OK, got it. Although I might disagree to some extent with some of your points above, that's a far more nuanced discussion. I do think that the recent discussions in both Texas AND other states (including IL) about reducing education expenditures are an issue, but again, tangential discussion.

Back on point to the thread - Plano ISD is pretty much, pound for pound, the best district in all of DFW. Anyone knocking it makes me wonder WTH they're thinking.

Yes, not much to disagree about, really. My original post was in response to the "Nouveaux Riche" and "Texas needs to spend more money" comments. Broad brush statements that lump districts like PISD in with the rest of Texas, which gives an extremely inaccurate picture, and is often used for a justification to up taxes. Maybe spend smarter is the answer...PISD seems to have the model figured out.

[RonnieinDallas]

I didn't know Chicago was a part of Plano. This thread is way off topic and closed.