A new way to compare schools

A new state website has been launched to help parents and others compare schools. School Finder includes information such as graduation rates, Academic Performance Index scores and the availability of Advanced Placement courses.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the launch today. It was created in a partnership with Google and Microsoft.

(Try using School Finder and let us know what you think.)

"In a few simple clicks it will be easy to find a wealth of information," the governor said at a Sacramento news conference. He compared the new site with those consumers use when they're shopping for a new car and want to make side-by-side comparisons.

"This will keep schools on their toes, allow parents to make better choices and allow our children to have a better education.... We want parents to literally know everything about every school."

The site will use data that were already being compiled by the state. But the governor said that data had been difficult for parents to access, and some underperforming schools have been slow to report it. Schwarzenegger said he hopes the website will increase transparency and put pressure on schools to meet deadlines for reporting data.

"There has been a tradition of withholding information," he said.

-- Evan Halper

Comments

[anon]

It's really not much more information than what you get on Greatschools.net. I guess you get information about courses, but that is a lot less important below the high school level because there is less variability. The information is still a year behind too. You would think the state would at least have current year enrollment data even if the test results aren't back yet.

[LBGrrl]

Typical governmental quality--site doesn't even function. Tried two browsers (Safari and Firefox). Ever heard of testing your site before launch?