Also I can say there is a massive textbook problem. While I was in school, the ONLY textbook that I was able to bring home with me was my Math Textbook. Every other textbook was to be kept in the classroom and you couldn't take it home with you because there wasn't enough of the books to go around. Anything that was absolutely needed would be provided via photocopies to us by the teachers. As for the Math books, they were in absolutely TERRIBLE condition and after talking with the teachers there, they have options to get new textbooks every 7 years or so but that is decided upon by the school. If you are going to be a school, I feel like you need to be able to provide enough textbooks to all of your students so that they can take it home with them if need be. This problem is still present 6 years later as my brother is still encountering this issue as a senior at Scott.

 

Question - anyone associated with a school where textbooks are bought or rented? Just wondering and don't mean to threadjack.

I don't know if the stuff about Scott that some parents and students are legitimate, but as was said earlier, ALL schools have issues! But to throw out the good in the school isn't addressing the bad.

 

Also, you could attend the worse school in the US, but if you are focused enough you most likely will succeed, even more that students at the best schools.

 

I absolutely agree that all schools have issues. Some are just bigger than others or are on a large scale. There is still plenty of good that Scott can offer. I do know that their AP and Honors classes are just fine as well as the teachers who are in charge of them. I cannot say the same for some of the more general education ones that virtually everyone has to take at some point.

 

And as for your last statement, I also agree. The ones that are motivated enough and have the will to do it, will be successful (or at least more likely to) regardless of the stature of the school they attend.

Question - anyone associated with a school where textbooks are bought or rented? Just wondering and don't mean to threadjack.

 

I don't know of any high schools that do that but it would be an interesting concept as it would put a bit more responsibility on the students to take care of the textbooks and could also help alleviate some of the textbook problems schools may have especially if its a result of financial issues. Textbook renting has really surged lately at the college level and has been successful there so its hard to imagine that it couldn't be used at the high school level. It would definitely put a smaller financial burden on schools and would also be a fairly cheap option for parents and students to use to get the textbooks they need without having to outright buy them.

Also I can say there is a massive textbook problem. While I was in school, the ONLY textbook that I was able to bring home with me was my Math Textbook. Every other textbook was to be kept in the classroom and you couldn't take it home with you because there wasn't enough of the books to go around. Anything that was absolutely needed would be provided via photocopies to us by the teachers. As for the Math books, they were in absolutely TERRIBLE condition and after talking with the teachers there, they have options to get new textbooks every 7 years or so but that is decided upon by the school. If you are going to be a school, I feel like you need to be able to provide enough textbooks to all of your students so that they can take it home with them if need be. This problem is still present 6 years later as my brother is still encountering this issue as a senior at Scott.

 

Again, I haven't noticed this issue. Both my kids have brought textbooks home on a fairly regular basis. I guess the question is, are textbooks a school responsibility or a District/BOE responsibility or a combination of the two. I don't know the answer. I do know that student fees which we used to pay every year have gone away, except for AP courses.

Again, I haven't noticed this issue. Both my kids have brought textbooks home on a fairly regular basis. I guess the question is, are textbooks a school responsibility or a District/BOE responsibility or a combination of the two. I don't know the answer. I do know that student fees which we used to pay every year have gone away, except for AP courses.

 

Any chance do you know what classes the the textbooks they brought home are for? Yes I also heard about them doing away with the fees from my family earlier in the year.

Question - anyone associated with a school where textbooks are bought or rented? Just wondering and don't mean to threadjack.

 

Covington Latin School used to, and I believe still does require their students to purchase all of their books.

Any chance do you know what classes the the textbooks they brought home are for? Yes I also heard about them doing away with the fees from my family earlier in the year.

 

I know I've seen Calculus, History and some science books come home (anatomy and chemistry) over the years.

I know I've seen Calculus, History and some science books come home (anatomy and chemistry) over the years.

 

Sounds like many of the AP/Honors and Electives that have the books. There is only one anatomy course there (my brother is in the course) so it wouldn't surprise me that they do have the books for that. I know for Calculus from my own experience at Scott, there was only one course and they had enough books for everyone. Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry were the same too.

 

When I spoke of the lack of textbooks, I was referring to the more general education courses where there definitely was a lacking of textbooks for everyone to use and thus they weren't allowed to leave the classroom. When I was there, I know this was a rather big problem for some of general English and Science courses we were required to take.

I was surprised to read Scott High School is in the 41st percentile. My concern is why has Scott dropped so low in testing? (Yes, I had a child graduate from Scott, and many family members attend or have attended as well). What are Simon Kenton and Dixie Heights doing to keep their scores around 87?

What you are seeing here is the impact of open enrollment. The better students are making their way to Dixie and Simon Kenton. The career academies that the county has adopted really only effect the top 25% of all students in the county and it seems that the academy that was set up at Scott to be a host is the weaker draw of the ones they are offering.

Also, you are seeing a shift in which Scott has a higher concentration of lower income students and I believe has the highest number of free and reduced lunch students of all of the county schools.

The demographics are changing at Scott and it faces more challenges than the other schools.

I wonder what the impact, positively, will be once all of the renovations are done?

What you are seeing here is the impact of open enrollment. The better students are making their way to Dixie and Simon Kenton. The career academies that the county has adopted really only effect the top 25% of all students in the county and it seems that the academy that was set up at Scott to be a host is the weaker draw of the ones they are offering.

Also, you are seeing a shift in which Scott has a higher concentration of lower income students and I believe has the highest number of free and reduced lunch students of all of the county schools.

The demographics are changing at Scott and it faces more challenges than the other schools.

I wonder what the impact, positively, will be once all of the renovations are done?

 

All good points. In my view there seems to be not many "average" students at Scott. The top 25% of Scott is strong (2 Governors Scholars) quite few 30+ACT scores. The middle of the bell curve is what seems to be missing. Again, this new story, I believe is the product of a few unsatisified parents (particularly with certain members of the administration) over a few programs that were cut/scaled back. The story as it was put out referred to some vague poll that was damning, but had no reference to its scope, audience or sample size. Very one sided reporting.

Maybe Scott should not be spending all this money on an addition with numbers dropping in students amd test scores. Should have put that money for text book and to make improvements with what has been going down hill and fast. Just a thought.

…..have they taken the flag down yet ? !

A recent survey of Scott teachers also shows educators there believe 18 percent of students follow school conduct rules and only 39 percent of respondents said the school’s administration makes a sufficient effort to manage students' behavior.

 

A couple of items I've recently had brought to my attention that may have some bearing on the portion quoted above (from the article)...

 

1) The number of expulsions, suspensions, and in-school suspensions that are given out in each school is followed closely by the state, and there are strict standards for the number of students of any particular race that can be suspended at any given time, and overall throughout the year. If you go over your allotment, you lose money from state funding. In other words, if the state tells you that you can only suspend 10 black students in your school for the year, but you suspend 11 - your school system loses money. As a result, administrators have to find other ways to try to punish students - and sometimes those punishments just don't fit the crime.

 

2) Administrators cannot report on what punishments are handed out to their students because of privacy laws. Often times there IS a punishment given, but that punishment cannot be made public.

1) The number of expulsions, suspensions, and in-school suspensions that are given out in each school is followed closely by the state, and there are strict standards for the number of students of any particular race that can be suspended at any given time, and overall throughout the year. If you go over your allotment, you lose money from state funding. In other words, if the state tells you that you can only suspend 10 black students in your school for the year, but you suspend 11 - your school system loses money. As a result, administrators have to find other ways to try to punish students - and sometimes those punishments just don't fit the crime.

 

I'm curious to read it if someone can link to the text of this policy.