Covering the business of education and training

Apollo Group, owner of University of Phoenix and home based in Phoenix is going great guns, meeting needs and educating students.

Other Arizona schools cannot make that same boast.

Randy Harrington writes in the American Chronicle of his experience with his 17 year old. He adds some interesting figures he learned from some belated research.

Despite Arizona charter schools being among the most progressive in the charter school movement, in one school, according to Harrington, the school where his son attends...only 10% met state proficiency standards in math compared to 49% of all high schools in AZ.

Only 35% met standards at the charter high school in reading compared to 63% state-wide.

Finally, 39% met standards in writing at his son's school compred to 63% state-wide.

The promotion rate was 48% at his son's high school compared to 82% state-wide.

Only 43% of seniors graduated compared to 79% state-wide.

It might be argued that the public high schools are just pushing them out the door regardless. To know for sure, more research is needed.

Still, his son's high school failed to meet federal No Child Left Behind standards for the past two years.

Less this was an isolated incident, Harrington did further research. He learned that drop out rates in 25 charter schools were almost triple that of public schools!

Harrington is to be commended for sharing his negative experience so that others might not repeat the same mistake.

In the end, research is needed to find out what is best for our kids to determine the best learning atmosphere for them.

For those in AZ...www.ade.az.gov is a good place to start.