New York Schools Cited as Among the Best in the Nation

According to the National Education Association, the New York schools have made significant strides in academic achievement over the past few years. In a nationwide comparison, the New York schools have improved student achievement, as well as the schools themselves. Though issues remain that challenge the New York educators, parents and the community can be assured that the New York schools are doing everything in their power to remedy these.

Students Are Achieving

Essential scoring on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) exam has risen for the New York schools.

Fourth grader reading scores have risen by 26 percent between 1992 and 2003 for those students scoring in the highest two levels.

Writing scores have increased in the NY schools, making them among the nation's best. Fourth graders now rank third in the nation on the NAEP, while eighth graders increased scoring by 43 percent between 1998 and 2002 in the highest two levels of the exam.

Math scores also have improved. Fourth grader scores nearly doubled between 1992 and 2003 at the two highest levels of the exam. Eight grader scores more than doubled at the highest two levels between 1990 and 2003.

The public New York schools have outperformed the private ones on Advanced Placement exams, courses through which high school students may earn college credit. Students attending public schools score higher in calculus, computer science, and physics.

College Entrance Exam scores have improved. More NY schools students are getting high scores on the SAT exam. Graduating seniors also have increased their scores on the math portion of the SAT by 28 percent since 1994, with a high score being 600 or above. Additionally, the New York schools are one of the top ten states, with high school graduates scoring in the top 20 percent nationally on the ACT and SAT exams.

More New York schools students are college bound! The schools in New York are among the top eight states in the percentage of 18-24 year olds enrolling in college. This is good news for parents, the communities, and the businesses in New York.

New York Named One of Smartest States

New York has been named one of ten "smartest states" in the nation for its quality public elementary and secondary schools. Education Week gives the New York schools a grade of "A"  for the high standards and accountability of the public schools.

Advanced Placement coursework is offered by 85 percent of the public schools, while only 60 percent of private schools offer them in the New York schools.

The New York students take more advanced coursework. The schools in New York are among the top eight states in percentage of high school students taking upper level math courses and among the top ten states for advanced science coursework taken.

The schools in New York are leading the nation in cutting edge Foreign Language Immersion Programs . They are among the top ten states nationally in the percentage of public elementary schools offering FLIP coursework.

Quality teachers also push the New York schools in front of other states, with their middle and high school teachers among the most qualified in the nation.. The number of school teachers in New York that are nationally certified by the prestigious National Board of Testing Standards has nearly tripled since 2000. Math teachers with majors in their field for the seventh through twelfth grades place the schools in New York among the top eight states, with similarly-qualified science teachers for the same grades placing the schools in New York among the top seven states.

written by  Patricia Hawke

Elementary Education Excellence

Pity the poor children of Sanibel island. Children in grades K-8 attend school amidst the lush beauty and exotic wildlife for which Sanibel is well-known. The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is right outside the back door, providing students with a unique opportunity to learn about ecology in their own backyard. And, while the school is surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the attitude inside the school is far from a "life's a beach" mantra. In fact, the Sanibel School is widely recognized as one of the best elementary schools in the state of Florida. Students consistently outperform state and even national schools across a wide range of subjects.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Education selected the Sanibel School as a "Blue Ribbon School," the highest honor an American school can receive. The school attributes its success to combining a challenging curriculum with an active community and strong parent/teacher organization. The school's Web site notes, "Teachers and staff work very hard to create an atmosphere that encourages children to discover their individual interests in a safe and supportive atmosphere." Not surprisingly, one of the school's crowning achievements is its emphasis on environmental education.

Starting in Kindergarten, Sanibel students are active participants in numerous walking and biking tours to observe plant and animal life up close. They research environmental issues related to the islands, plant native vegetation, and serve as volunteers at many island functions. In support of this continuing objective, members of the Ding Darling Wildlife Society recently announced plans to build a 200-foot boardwalk from their trail to the school. The idea is for students to explore nature as they walk to the refuge, learning about the fresh water system that is an integral part of the trail.

Students also participate in other community-led programs sponsored by the City of Sanibel, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and the Sanibel Shell Club. This special community/school relationship extends to a number of recreational programs. New students who can't swim receive free swimming lessons in the city pool during school hours. Sanibel Recreation also runs summer camps for a small fee with free after-school programs.

The school's approximately 400 students are the children of families who live on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Parents who work on the island but live on the mainland can also apply for a waiver for their children to attend. Each grade includes 40 - 50 total students with a student/teacher ratio of 1:17.