posted by Mike Madison at 3:16 PM /
Based on occasional conversations with neighbors and friends, my informal and anecdotal sense these days is that the number of Mt. Lebanon adolescents now attending private schools rather than Mt. Lebanon High School -- not parochial schools, but private schools -- is slowly increasing.
Do others share this sense? Is there data available that might confirm it or discredit it?
And if these numbers are on the rise, the obvious questions are: Why? And why now?
Do others share this sense? Is there data available that might confirm it or discredit it?
And if these numbers are on the rise, the obvious questions are: Why? And why now?
Labels: mt. lebanon school district
5 Comments:
The School District used to include this data in the Statistical Information sections of the annual Budget book and CAFR up until only a few years ago... there has been no explanation as to why the information was discontinued.
The District conducts an annual mail "census" of all households in Mt. Lebanon that requires all recipients to complete and return information on or about all children (infant through 18 or so)living in the household, indicating, for school ages, the schools they attend.
The District has the information you are seeking... and I recall that the numbers attending private schools was increasing while MTLSD enrollments were decreasing.
Why don't you attend a School Board meeting and formally request such information as well as a District response to your question as to why if the trend is continuing ? Alternatively, you could email the request to the Board and/or Mr. Allison.
I also sense that these numbers have increased over the years, but I still don't believe that it is at a level that should be characterized as unusual or alarming. First, Mt. Lebanon has a healthy population of folks who can afford private schools, and parents will always have varying views on what's best for their children. The college admission process has also become increasingly competitive and I'm sure that many folks believe that paying $15- 20,000/year for a private school diploma will serve their children better in their college search. However, I don't think there's a message to be found in the slight increase and I certainly don't think that it is a sign that the local school district is failing.
Here's a perfect example -- Quaker Valley High School led our region in a nationwide study of high schools that was published in the most recent "Best High Schools" issue of Newsweek (See today's P-G). I have no idea what the criteria were for this study, but I'd venture that a significantly higher percentage of students living in the QV District attend Sewickley Academy (when compared to the % of Mt. Lebanon students venturing out to Sewickley or Shadyside). Certainly, this would have to do with QV's proximity to Sewickley Academy, but I think you get my point. No one is ready to close the doors at QV.
I'd be interested in seeing the numbers. The "criteria" used in the Newsweek article is a singular measurement: proportion of advanced placement and/or international baccalaureate tests taken by graduating senior. Hardly a well rounded look at a school.
I'm surprised its not the other way around: sending elementary kids to private versus teens. At the elementary level the public schools are faced with testing and test prep under NCLB leaving, from my informal and anecdotal sense, very little room for teacher creativity. e.g., most of the time is spent teaching to the test. Whereas in the high school there is enough of an offering for students to sink their teeth into solid academic, honors, AP level stuff if they so desire. I've actually heard some send their kids to private for elementary but then put them in Mt. Lebo because its better on the highschool level (especially in science and math) than the privates. All one has to do is look at Mr. Ober's Honor's Physics website (or even his regular physics page!) and you'll see at least in this class we are as good if not better than any private school.
Course that is measuring academics. Maybe its the non-academic side of things (partying, kid threatening to bring a weapon to school, top 25 list, the recent attack by the T, etc) that plays a factor. I have noticed that private schools are advertising in the mtl magazine (Shadyside Academy) but I doubt this is causing a flood of folks to leave the public school. BTW, some parochials could be deemed private because they have the reputation...thinking Central Catholic.
This is a note to "Mary Beth" who posted a comment on this thread. The comment was rejected -- and others that you posted have been rejected -- because your full name doesn't show up in the comment. Using your full name in your Google login isn't enough; in the "Choose an identity" part of the commenting interface, be sure that your full name shows up. (Check your options in your Google account if you want to change your "identity.") Alternatively, and more simply, type your full name at the bottom of the comment.
Statewide from the 1998 school year until the 2007 school year:
Private and non-public elementary school enrollment fell 22%,
Public elementary school enrollment fell 6%.
At the secondary level:
Private and non-public secondary school enrollment fell 5%,
Public secondary school enrollment rose 8%.
Source: Pa Dept. Of Education
John Ewing
John.ewing1@verizon.net
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