Idaho Schools - Better Than You Have Heard?
Do Idaho Schools get a bad rap? You may have heard the ads, particularly at election time, about how poor our schools are in Idaho. I don't think anyone is naive enough to believe everything stated as "fact" in political ads. There is an old adage that figures lie and liars figure, and that is certainly true during a heated election. While I certainly agree that our schools need attention, lately I have been questioning whether things are as bleak as the ads make it sound. Recent ads make claims that Idaho ranks 48th in education. Where do those numbers originate? Are they accurate? It seems that the source of this ranking is Education Week, an independent news organization that covers K-12 education.
Let's look behind Education Week's numbers. First of all, for 2018 Education Week has Idaho at 45th, not 48th. Not stellar, but let's dig deeper. Their rankings are based on three factors: Chance for Success, School Finance, and K-12 Achievement. So where does Idaho score in these areas? In Chance for Success, Idaho ranks 36th nationally; in School Finance the ranking is 49th; for K-12 Achievement, Idaho ranks 24th. So, Idaho does a poor job in spending money on our schools and teachers. A corresponding study indicates that Idaho is near the bottom in average wages, so is it surprising that we are near the bottom in teacher pay?
There are a number of other publications that rank schools nationally. US News and World Report, which also publishes Best States rankings annually, ranks Idaho Education as #30. Specific underlying US News rankings has Idaho at #25 in PreK-12 Education, #5 in College Readiness, #23 in NAEP math scores, and #13 in NAEP reading scores. Certainly not at the top, but not at the bottom either.
So what about the Treasure Valley? Those of us with kids in school who live here or are considering a move here want to know how it affects us personally. Recent studies have confirmed what most people would suspect -- affluence vs. poverty has a big impact on schools. Idaho's rankings are directly affected by the economic strength of individual areas within the state. The State of Idaho Department of Education recently identified the lowest-performing and highest-performing public schools. Not surprisingly, of the 29 schools on the low-performing list, 23 are designated as Title 1 Schools, a designation for those schools with a high number of low-income students. Most of these schools are located in rural areas of the state. The only schools on the list from the Treasure Valley are "alternative schools" for students struggling in a regular public school environment -- Crossroads Middle School and Pathways Middle School in Meridian, and Riverview Academy Alternative School in Caldwell. Conversely, the State Department of Education identified 44 of the top high schools in the state, based on scoring in 90th percentile in math and English scores, graduation rates, and advance education opportunities. West Ada School District which serves Meridian, Eagle and Star had the highest number of top performing schools in the state. What's the bottom line? Money matters! As the Treasure Valley continues to grow and prosper, the school in Southwest Idaho will continue to improve.
Personally, we moved to Idaho for a better environment to live and raise our kids. Walking onto the campus of my daughters Southern California middle school, surrounded by a chain-link fence, and monitored by guards, made me realize that it was not where I wanted her to be. That is not an indictment on California schools -- many are among the best in the country. However, there is a reason Idaho continues to be on most "Best Places to Live" lists. We have never regretted our move to Idaho. Our kids passed through the Idaho school system with one common result: they received an education commensurate with the effort they put in. We now have one studying in New York, one studying abroad in Germany (through BSU), one studying business at U of I, and one graduating from high school in May with plans to attend U of I. Not too bad for such a "low-ranking state".
In my opinion, a child's education begins and ends at home. If we are relying on the public education system to fulfill all of our children's education needs, we may be disappointed in the result. That said, we have plenty of room for improvement, both statewide and nationwide. We need to spend more money on our schools, and provide better incomes for our teachers. I understand the purpose of the political ads, the surveys, and the "Don't Fail Idaho" ad campaigns. We need to focus on education, and that focus most often comes in the form of more money. But I am confident that as we grow, we will improve. Incomes in Idaho are rising and more tax-payers are moving in every day. With growth comes progress.
What's the take-away? While Idaho schools definitely have room for improvement, they certainly aren't as bad as advertised. And it goes without saying that you can't believe everything you hear on a sponsored political ad!