But report cards aren't uniform from district to district. And since each state administers a different test, schools cannot be compared nationwide. Many communities can point to a school with killer SATs, and yet deadly curriculum, pedestrian teachers, troubled students, and low parent involvement. Taking challenging courses in high school is the best indicator that a student will do well in college, Education Department researcher Clifford Adelman has found, and high participation rates also indicates a school that aims its students towards college. You want to see instructors with high school certification who majored or minored in college in the subject they teach.
Turnover is important, too.
Above all, get off the Internet and tour the school, asking kids what they like or dislike about the place. If they have the opportunity to learn, they should tell you. A few districts are beginning to experiment with customer-satisfaction surveys. And Chicago Public Schools really turns the tables. World Report Inc. All rights reserved.