The Fraser Institute released the latest in its series of report cards assessing 283 public, private, separate and charter high schools in Alberta. Each year these report cards raise some controversy between those who find them to be valuable resources in assessing school performance or choosing a school and those who find them inaccurate or incomplete and not a reliable measure of quality. Regardless of one’s opinion, though, the report does serve as a discussion point and can highlight success stories or expose questions that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
One of the significant findings this year, for example, is where many of the schools earning high marks are located. “Almost half of the highest performing high schools in the province are found in small, rural communities scattered across Alberta,” said Peter Cowley, Fraser Institute director of school performance studies. “Teachers and administrators in these schools have found ways to ensure student success, regardless of the families’ income or the location of the school.”
It can be easy to associate higher income with better education or more expensive schools with better teaching, but this report highlights that money isn’t the key factor; the quality of the teachers and the community make a significant impact in the quality of the education. Even for those who disagree with the rankings – maybe Redwater High School, the highest ranked rural school at 7th is actually 1st or 15th, for example – understanding that the best school for one’s child is not necessarily the most expensive, or where the most money is spent per pupil, is an important lesson.
The school search process is not an easy one for any parent, and it isn’t one that is blind to the cost of private education for most families. That’s why I find these reports useful, to a certain degree. Regardless of whether I may choose public or private school, knowing what sorts of schools or programs tend to do well is invaluable in the selection process, and gives me a good idea of what kinds of questions I may want to ask at different schools.
After all, regardless of where a child goes to school or how much it will cost, there’s no doubt that the choice of school is one of the bigger decisions a parent will make for their child. There’s no harm in being as well informed as possible.
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