[Mpls] School Choice: Minneapolis

[Michael Atherton]

Mark Anderson replies:

> If I were in your shoes the choice would be obvious; go with Hale.

Sure, I suppose if my family was going with the public schools
I might select one that was 66% White and not worry that
the District average is 28%, but personal decisions such as 
these will not improve educational outcomes for the City as 
a whole.

Susan Young wrote:

> Brief Commercial Announcement:  Pillsbury Math Science 
> Technology Magnet is an undiscovered gem in the District.  
...
> Pillsbury 4th and 5th grade teams took third and 1st place, 
> respectively, in the all-district math competitions that were 
> held during the National Math Teachers conference that came 
> to Minneapolis this fall.  

It is important to keep in mind the concept of "outliers."
I've tried to get this concept across previously, but failed.
What a few students are able to accomplish may not be typical
of the student body as a whole or reflect anything special
about the school or its curriculum.  What strikes me as 
important is that this "Math/Science Magnet" has only 42% 
of third graders rated as proficient in Math.  The percentage 
raises to 59% in fifth grade (a good sign), but still far 
below the level I would accept before sending my child to school 
there.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park