The Boston Business Journal has the comparative data.
| Newton SATs | |
| Tests taken | 822 |
| Cumulative SAT score | 1,785 |
| Statewide rank | 12 |
| Reading – average score | 588 |
| Statewide rank | 17 |
| Writing – average score | 589 |
| Statewide rank | 15 |
| Math – average score | 608 |
| Statewide rank | 14 |
Interesting that we would be 12th overall but never better than 14th on any one section. I suppose that means there are districts that score unevenly compared to us? Seems like an odd result though.
Belmont spends 36% less per student yet does better on the MCAS and the SAT than Newton does.
Then again, compared to Newton, they negotiated contracts that don’t give away the store when it comes to fringe benefits.
Josh–
Can you breakdown the 36% difference? Is it teacher compensation? Administration?
Are you sure you’re comparing apples-to-apples?
Paul, the real question you should be asking is why does the Newton School Committee rubber stamp a budget in which Newton spends 36% more per student than Belmont, yet Belmont does better on the MCAS and the SAT?
The answer to your question is Newton spends more because of compensation. Newton teachers serve 38% less students per teacher than Belmont teachers and Belmont teachers don’t have a generous a fringe benefit package as Newton teachers. In addition, Newton spends much more per student on administration and overhead than Belmont.
Belmont taxpayers get more for less.
Newton taxpayers pay more and get less.
The real question is why anyone would be so thick as to think that SAT and MCAS are useful (determinative) metrics by which to judge even a student much less and entire school system. Mr. Norman may self-chuckle at his ever-witty turn of phrase, but the simple fact is that SAT/MCAS scores are far from sufficient to even begin to make the argument he would like to make.
How much does an average Newton Public School teacher make per year in salary? Just wondering.
Alison – A better metric than the average is to look at the salary scale for Newton teachers. In the past, teachers tended to stay in the profession for the duration of their career (I’m of that generation). But nowadays, for better or worse, young people change jobs and professions more freely. Statistically, 50% of teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years, so that makes figuring out the average quite difficult.
I know parents and other community members who don’t actually attend schools think that schools are factories they pay taxes into and expect to get test scores out of, but that’s really not what schools are. Newton Public Schools do an excellent job producing stable, well-adjusted adults who (my anecdotal experiences tell me) feel very well prepared for college. Suggesting that schools should be reduced to factories where money goes in and better test scores come out is alienating and gets to the heart of everything that’s wrong with the contemporary American “ed reform” movement.
Hear, hear, Jordan!
@ Jordan-a wonderful comment from a recent graduate!
Thank you Jordan.
best comment award goes to Jordan…
I think worst comment goes to Jordan, best comments go to me.
In 2012-2013 the average teacher salary in Newton was $76,904.
In March of 2012, a first year teacher with a Master’s earned $47,070, a teacher with 7 years experience earned $58,400, and a teacher at the top of the scale with a Master’s earned $81,859. The year I retired (2008), I made about what is reported as the average salary just 3 years later. The salary reports that DESE provides are always inflated, and have been for years. One year they reported the average salary was off the scale altogether. I suspect coaching and other stipends are counted as part of the teaching salary.
North does a great job at churning out well-educated students. Education cannot be measured by a single test that is as much about memorization as it is intelligence. Down with the SATs and ¡Viva NNHS!
@Filip – Out of curiosity – how do you know that NNHS does a “great job”? Are there any statistics (i.e. – 10 year post graduation salary or role) or any quantifiable data that you are basing your statement on?
Also for those SAT haters/skeptics – Do you have a different/better measure of achievement or readiness for college?
I am interested in this topic, and this summer will conduct some research around it. However, I am sure people on this board have an educated opinion..
Sam S – High school is just 4 of the 13 years that students spend in the Newton Public Schools. I hope you will base your research on the total educational experience, K-12. If students leave elementary school without a solid educational foundation in ELA, math, science, and social studies and substantive experiences in the arts and PE, then the middle and high school experience is diminished.
Jane – Colleges look at HS achievement before admitting a student, while MS and Elementary are considered more of a foundation.
My question still stands even for Elementary/ Middle – what data do we look at to see if the school system is performing well – MCAS? Something else?