Test scores. although very accessible now especially due to the internet, say something more than the quality of education there. There is an undeniable correlation between a school’s location as to the socio-economic status of the students studying there. Test scores say something more than academic performance. It also tells about diversity and other things.
One is, as mentioned, socio-economic status. Highly educated parents with high socio economic status would probably be living in a school where economic status is of importance rather than daily reading sessions, intact families, or households with stay at home mothers. Meaning, this kind of school would be that when someone hears its name, the most immediate and probable reaction would be, “It’s so costly to bring your child there!” rather than “It’s a school for the intelligents”
Another factor would be for those parents with rather high academic achievements. To continue the lifestyle of being regarded as a scholar and intelligently dignified, these parents would probably bring their kids to schools where it is tough to get accepted due to high academic expectations.
Both kinds most probably have children being able to concentrate more on their studies due to the fact that they do not need to think of necessities for they may be well-provided for. Safety in these schools would also be at the end of the list that could be questioned. Although, of course, these things might be that when one generally categorize schools as to these indicators.
There are still other factors to be considered. Safety, direct involvement of families to the school and vice versa, facilities, faculty, management, and many others would also be able to have an impact on test scores of students. All these put together can influence test scores achieved in the institution.
At the end, both parents and teachers should not be satisfied with the question of being the best school just because of test scores. Instead, parents should be more critics of whether a school is the best for the child. As for the teachers, be more involved and dynamic to making the academic institution the best there is not only because of test scores achievements but much more than that.
References:
Popham, W.J. (1999). Why standardized tests don’t measure educational quality. Educational Leadership, 56(6), 8–15.
Testing Our Schools. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/schools/interviews/paige.html on June 18, 2014.
What’s Wrong With Standardized Testing? FairTest.org. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
By: MARIA MAY S. FORIO | MT-I | BEPZ Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
