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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-04-06, Page 11Fraser Institute grades area schools Wednesday; A4ri16, 701"1 • Lake,lforeAdvdnen 11 Most elementary schools in this district rank well above average, according to The Fraser institute's tnnual "report card." In terms of elementary schools, the Huron -Perth Catholic district school board took top spot with St. Aloysius and Our Lady of Mount Carmel both ranked 170 of 2,733 schools. Jeanne Sauve Catholic school was next at 262. The highest ranked Avon Mait- land District School Board was North Easthope public school at 288. liowick Central and Wallace public schools were next at 316 and 396, respectively. 'Ihe highest ranked public school within Stratford is Bedford with a ranking of 828 of 2,733. "Our report card answers this very important question: flow does a school rank academically, compared with other schools across Ontario?" said Michael'lho- mas, Fraser Institute associate director of school performance studies and co-author of the Report Card on Ontario's Elemen- tary Schools 2011. Local high schools tended to rank higher. Stratford Central is the top secondary school overall in the area at 39 of 722. St. Marys DCVI is next at 55, followed by Listowel District at 70, St, Michael Catholic at 119 and Northwestern at 155 of 722 schools. The ranking system has come under fire by educators in the past and five years later many still say the ranking isn't helpful. "We don't like to see any organi- zation rank schools," said Kim Black, superintendent of educa- tion at the Avon Maitland hoard. "1 don't think it sends the appropri- ate message about context in terms of numbers. It doesn't reflect the spirit or culture of a school, tvhich focuses on academic and social improvement," I ler counterpart at the separate board, loAnn MacGregor, hadn't looked at the rankings yet and said she doesn't consider thein terribly useful. Ai context academically by ranking it against other schools, "Many parents moving from one Many parents moving from one city to another find the Fraser Institute report card indispensable; it provides them with insight into a school's academic history and the demographic make-up of a school's population — Michael Thomas, Fraser Institute associate director of school performance studies "Ranking anything is probably not going to get you where you want to go," she said. The Fraser Institute suggests the ratings are useful for parents and helps place a child's school in 1,3PM,M,P)@ gi4OF8@i DOORS & WINDOWS Take A Close Look At One Gorgeous View Our windows and doors are the perfect combination. 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MacGregor did question whether it's possible to get a true sense of the demographics in any school, particularly when the institution is halfway across the country, "What would they know about Our Ludy of Carmel or St. Al's? What would they know about any of our schools?" Black questioned how interested parents would tw in the report. "I don't have a lot of people phoning me asking for the Fraser Institute's ranking. Most parents talk to other parents," she said. TORY - call: 238-5383 Ba LIFE COACH Eliz„, abeth Lotz f .l, (, ,1, It /IIT 1 iilll,'rlllc 1 it i!!o' elilttlsrlh Ilv,thlthtnlrt.1 11 itttt:t C1;'II `S T,, PET STYLIST PAWPRI :TS Iqsf'fl-F SAND SPA Nero To Make Your hstfrht>w b autlfull Michelle (:err! Pet StyNst Call to look 511-111.4717 or SI 121140111 This Space Could Be Yours Call 519-23841183 Today! 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