The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
The city's public schools have been named among the top 10 large city school divisions by GreatSchools, which runs a website that collects information on public and private schools to encourage parent choice.
They ranked public schools in U.S. cities with below-average unemployment rates based on test scores. Virginia Beach ranked fifth on their top-10 list for cities with populations over 300,000.
The No. 5 ranking for Virginia Beach described the division this way:
"With rising SAT scores, AP tests above the national average, state awards for excellence for most of its schools, and more than 84% of its students planning higher education, Virginia Beach City Public Schools is focused on high performance."
The Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, N.C., ranked first.
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You people cheering here are making me laugh my butt off
You don't realize that fifth on the list of the largest school districts in the country really is bad? You are being compared to school systems like Washington, DC, New York City, and Phoenix where the standards are quite subpar. In other words, aout of all the crummy large and sometimes inner-city school districts in the country, you are fifth.
The Hampton Roads area school system is what actually pulls the state of Virginia down in state academic score testing results. I really don't mean to pee on your parade, but these are the known facts.
I have witnessed first hand the gap between students coming in to the university system from the Va. Beach area versus Northern Virginia. The students are far less prepared for many of the basic English and Math classes unfortunately. Again, sorry to burst the bubble, but the facts need to be told.
I probably would have
I probably would have thought about comparisons to "smart" cities like Boston, Charlotte, San Francisco, Austin, San Jose, or Seattle. But I don't suck at life.
Thank you Mr.John Tucker for your inside information
According to your logic, ever 1st in the country would not be enough! When I looked at the list I saw Raleigh, Colorado Springs, Hawaii, Portland, Mesa, San Jose... I am sure there were several hundreds suburban large cities with population over 250,000 in the list... If Northern VA was better, how come Fairfax, Prince William and the other school divisions that are larger that Virginia Beach did not make the list? But then again what do they know? ... you know best because you have seen it first hand...
I feel sorry for the people that have to be around you with your negativity.
Well if you have to ask....
Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties are not "cities." I think the key word is "county." Got it Einstein? And no, they don't include these counties as they are some of the highest esteemed counties in the country, education wise. That's of ALL school districts by the way. When we look at applicants, well.....I better not comment any further.
Congrats! But the beatings will continue till morale improves.
Congratulations, teachers for succeeding in spite of central office rhetoric and policies! But the beatings will continue until morale improves. Thank God for the bad economy, because I'm not so certain that the Virginia Beach City Public schools would be able to hold onto so many wonderful teachers during a healthier economy. Many of the greats want out, but can't. Hopefully the VBCPS will now realize their mistake when they passed up the opportunity to give teachers a bonus.
Contrary to....
I used to think that teachers were not paid very well. But that changed when the pilot published the salaries not too long ago. They are paid VERY well, and to cry over a "bonus" is just sad.
Overpaid? Really? Despite
Overpaid? Really?
Despite having at least a Bachelor's in their subject area, they have to pay out-of-pocket for the privilege of being a volunteer (student) teacher to get certified. They are required to attend multiple seminars and classes every year. In addition, they spend their own money on pencils, paper, staples, paper clips and other classroom materials that parents either can't afford or are too disinterested and uninvolved to provide.
And unlike you and your job, they frequently have homework. Grading tests, papers, and projects at home so your darling little angel can receive the instant gratification you demand -- on the assignment you completed for him.
They also teach your kids common courtesies and manners, instill a sense of community and patriotism, how to balance a checkbook and fill out a W-4 and 1040. You know, stuff parents should be doing.
And for all of that they start at 38k per year. But yeah, you're right. They probably make too much, after all, your kids aren't worth it. *rolls eyes*
I'm rolling my eyes
And you think that your profession is the only one that requires a bachelor degree, internship, cost out of pocket? Seriously? If you are an educator, you should know better. And to start out at $38K/yr? Here's some news for you shortcake, most Attorneys who spent an extra couple years in college start out making LESS than that and they may have more debt. Some physicians, mainly general practitioners, don't realize as much after taxes that a teacher makes due to the medical school debt they've accrued. And your ultimately brilliant comment about my job and how I don't have homework? You don't know me or what my job entails or that I may be called 24x7x365. Is your job like that or do you have the summers off when you can choose to work another job or vacation?
Even stating that, I do agree that teachers put up with some tasks that parents should be responsible for. But you won't have to worry about that with MY kids, because they will know more than you ever will in relation to finance, manners, etc.
Besides, who has ever heard of this organization?
Dan Edwards, Will “choo choo” Sessoms, School Board, City Council will all gloat on what a wonderful job the teachers do in Virginia Beach to make it a great school system. The problem is not one of them is willing to pay for it.
Teachers and other school employees are now three years with no additional pay.
Mr. Edwards considers teachers a liability when it come to the budget.
These people are no friends to education.
you should be happy they are employed
Tell you sob story to the many, many Americans suffering HEAVILY from this recession.