Here s why: 1. Politics brings up strong emotions. Your essay may bias graders in your favor if they agree with you and they may drop your score without realizing it if they disagree with you.

2. Present-day politics is something "everyone knows." sat essay topic graders love it when a student shows they learned something IN school. The best way to do this is to write about things that you would only learn about in school--like French Revolution or To Kill A Mockingbird. Contemporary politics is just doesn t cut it.

3. Thousands of students will be writing about the exact same thing. This wouldn t be so bad except that many of these students won t know what they are talking about because their opinions are based on cable and internet news. If you write about the same thing you ll immediately be put into the same class and lose points.

Fortunately for you there is an easy way to make sure you have all the examples you need for your sat essay topic on test day. In the SAT Essay Formula I teach the 3-part strategy that allows you to use your current knowledge to answer any test prompt.

When you take the test you ll already have your examples ready to go and you won t need to resort to using recent politics to answer the sat essay prompt. To reserve your copy visit: sat essay questions.

When you do make sure you check out your free bonus "The Best Quotes To Use in SAT Essays." As it gives you a secret edge against the other students who don t know them.

Rodney

PS The next SAT is on October 4th. Get your copy of the SAT Essay Formula before it s too late! Order SAT Essay Test today.

Original Post: Online Schools

Will Sarah Palin Lower Your Sat Essay Practice Question Score

What are the Basis of High School Rankings?

When you look at high school rankings, information other than the test scores may also be included. Along with the test results, the total number of students attending the school, and the student-to-teacher ratio is also provided. The percentage of students receiving a free or discounted lunch is also tracked.

Since the high school rankings do show that it is possible to have a good number of students getting a free or discounted lunch yet do well on tests, why is this figure included in the numbers prepared for publication?

Again, the administrators and the public are basing their opinion about what makes a school a good one simply on a snapshot of the test results from a single day. This view of high school rankings is a very narrow one. What about intangibles? What about facility attitudes toward teaching? What about student safety? Is the environment encouraging or discouraging. For example, taking California’s API scores, a school catering to a naturally above average student body in aptitude may end up with the highest test scores without teaching or challenging its students. Another school that begins with a student body collectively average or below in natural aptitude may score much lower but provide a challenge and significant improvement to the student body. Which school is then doing its job better? Put another way, if we truly want to get a good handle on high school rankings and what they mean, we need to keep in mind that they only tell one part of the story. Consider, if you will, a competition of any kind. It could be an athletic or academic one. At the end of the day, the winners will be selected. The standings don't show what the competitors went through to prepare for that day, who competed while battling symptoms of the flu, or which ones had trouble concentrating on the task at hand because of problems at home.

High school rankings do the same thing. They show a snapshot of one day but don't take into consideration the hard work the students are putting forward when they go to school or how much progress they have made over the school year. The high school rankings don't indicate which students were fortunate enough to have teachers who were willing to offer extra help or lend an ear when students had a problem they wanted to discuss.

All of these elements have a bearing on high school rankings. You simply can't take all the work that goes into a school year and choose one day that will indicate whether the students are a success or not. Check out the high school rankings if you want to, but do keep in mind that a set of figures does not tell the whole story about a school.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit High School Rankings

Original Post: Online Schools

Why High School Rankings Are Not Enough?

California high schools range, like most across the nation, from those high in standards to those severely lacking?in quality, in tools and materials, and in morale.

But as a community college instructor who taught at-risk students from the ?feeder? California high schools in the summer, I would like to focus on the quality institutions?using the same information you can find on a number of websites.

HIGHEST RANKED CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS

The ?no child left behind? policy/program came along long after most of these schools were already reaching high. Such schools are ranked by the California Department of Education, given how they sit on the scale: the 1-10 indicating whether the school is in the top one percent through the top ten percent?of all schools in the state. (Such demographics as follows are included in the ranking process: grade level, level of parents? education, and number of students getting free or reduced-price lunch [according to greatschools.net].)

Here are some of the highest ranking schools, for example, in the San Mateo and San Francisco County districts:

At 9 are Aragon High School, Burlingame High School, and Carlmont High School.

At 8 is Hillsdale High School, which is in a more upscale neighborhood, by the way.

At 7, in primarily working-class surroundings, are El Camino High School, Capuchino High School, and Half Moon Bay High School.

And at 2, in the heart of San Francisco on Mission Street, is Jefferson High School.

MOST MANAGABLE CLASSROOM SIZED CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS

Another important criterion in the evaluation of high schools is how small the classrooms remain?the teachers clearly able to provide more quality instruction to the more controlled sizes.

Keep in mind that while average size protocol hasn?t changed all that much in many years, population changes have impacted the attempts to keep the average number of students per classroom down to between 20-30.

The following averages, then, according to the standards set by and the reports made by the Dept of Education and others, do not account for classes with more than 50 students (lecture classes, for example), classes taught by department chairs, or special education classes (according to CADOE, 2005-06):

With an average of 25 students per classroom, Jefferson might use this stat to account for its high success/ranking. Close behind 27 students per class on average is Hillsdale. Capuchino and El Camino follow with an average of 28 students per classroom. And with 30 per class on average are Carlmont, Half Moon Bay, and Burlingame. Aragon has 31.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS WITH SPECIAL SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS

Might affordable nourishment also account for highly ranking success?
At Burlingame and Aragon high schools, 2 and 5 percent of the students reportedly participate in the federal free and reduced-price lunch program(s). 8 percent do so at Hillsdale High. Respectively, 13, 14, and 17 percent participate in the program(s) at El Camino, Carlmont, and Capuchino. And 24, 25, and 26 percent receive free or reduced cost lunches at High Tech High, Half Moon Bay, and Baden. And again, Jefferson High sees 44% of the students taking the free or reduced-price lunches.

Other factors are important in the assessing of California high schools, but classroom size reduction, the institution of affordable lunches programs, and the relentless devotion on behalf of parents, teachers, and high school administrators clearly contribute to the student?s successful futures.

Original Post: Online Schools

California High Schools

Let's admit it; we all love and cherish those crazy high school years. Okay, maybe not exactly. It seems like high school goes great for some, and pretty darn terrible for others. I have to say that it wasn't so special for me. I was just kind of there. Anyway, I think it's safe to say that we did all make connections back in school. You probably had a few friends that you were really close with and a few more that you saw on a daily basis. It wasn't so bad. But where are all those old acquaintances now? Have you lost touch with them? Well, no worries if that is the case. There are always more and more high school class reunions. I'm sure you have one every ten years. It's crazy to actually go back there and see all those people you once new. It's amazing how we all change.

I will be the first to admit that I ditched the high school class reunions. I no longer lived in that area, and I wasn't about to make a trip across country to attend that surreal event. However, I found a way to get in touch with old high school buddies and acquaintances with out the hassle of high school class reunions. Not long ago I received an email from my old high school. It was asking me to join a free online club of graduates. Everyone who attended my high school could meet on there and reunite. That's pretty sweet! I simply logged in with me free password and began finding old classmates. There may be something just like this that applies to you and your old high school.

The Internet has made high school class reunions almost unnecessary. With massive websites such as classmates.com and yearbook.com, we hardly need a grand formal get-together. I recently got back in touch with four former buddies from my high school just by using the free website. If you don't have access to such a site, you should give classmates.com a shot. Maybe you want to find out what's happening with a few of your buddies before you tackle one of the 10-year high school class reunions. If no one you want to see is even going to show up, then you might not care to attend yourself. Have a blast by keeping in-touch via the World-Wide-Web.

Original Post: Online Schools

High School Class Reunion Advice

I can hardly believe it, but my high school class reunion is just around the corner. I've volunteered to help out with the planning, and my task is to track down as many alumni as possible. I didn't really keep in touch with anyone once I went off to college, so it's not like I can assemble enough names and contact numbers to put together a decent party. Instead, I'm going to have to actively search for these people with nothing more than their full names and graduation dates to go by.

The first thing I did was use a couple of the free people searches on websites like Yahoo and Google. But those returned so many results that it would be impossible to sort through all the choices in time for my high school class reunion. So I decided to check out some websites that help people organize their high school class reunions. These sites have compiled searchable databases that will allow me to quickly find the classmates on my list. Of course not all of my classmates have registered with these sites, but a significant number have, so I was able to get a very good initial guest list for my high school class reunion.

I was also on the actual party planning committee, so my next task was to focus on making our high school class reunion as pleasant and memorable as possible. Unfortunately, the committee members soon figured out that we had taken on more than we could handle. After some deliberation, we decided to hire a company that specializes in hosting high school class reunions. These companies organize numerous high school class reunions every year and can take care of every aspect of the party, from the banquet hall to the catering to the band. They'll come up with a theme for the evening (if desired), they'll take care of the party favors, and they'll even book a block of hotel rooms at a discount rate for those attending the festivities. In short, the company takes care of everything except finding the guests so people can enjoy their high school class reunions without having to worry about the details.

Our committee members used the Internet to find a high school class reunion organizer in the area, and we were able to negotiate a fantastic price for their services. I've seen the preliminary outline of what our party will be like, and I am extremely excited about the event. Even though I'm a bit shocked at how quickly time is passing by, I know it's going to be so much fun to take a trip down memory lane with all my old friends.

If you're planning your high school class reunion in the near future, make things easier on yourself and do what my committee did: hire someone else to run the show!

Original Post: Online Schools

High School Class Reunion Tips

It's tough to forget those crazy high school years. Ahh, the time in our lives when so many of us are naive, apathetic, and pretty much don't want to do anything productive. Yeah, I'll bet it's all coming back to you now. I was this way through most of my high school career. I definitely wasn't interested in striving for stellar grades or adopting excellent high school study skills. Studies, tests and homework were the least of my priorities. It was all about being lazy and struggling to find myself. I'm certain many others are well-aware of this routine. However, the reality is that we need to shoot for greatness as young adults. This is what prepares us for a much tougher future that lies ahead. We have to begin somewhere.

Are you currently in high school or have a child who's in school? If the answer is yes, then you should be stoked about helpful high school study skills. You'll want to assist your teenager in acquiring the right study habits in order to do well in school. Don't expect them to take care of this solely on their own. That's not realistic. Children of all ages need guidance. Take daily homework for instance. Set a time each and every day when your child or children need to focus on homework and homework only. Make them work on this crucial aspect of learning before they're aloud to play video games, go outdoors, or hang out with friends. Teach them about priorities and what should come first in life. This will instill a certain mentality that aids them in the future. It's all about structure and discipline. While playing and having fun is important also, be clear on what they need to accomplish first. This goes the same for tests. Many students struggle with tests. They feel pressured and need strong and effective high school study skills to get them through. So study with them and quiz them regularly. Reassure them of how well they're doing. Building confidence is imperative when it comes to kids and their success.

As much as effective high school study skills are overlooked by parents and teenagers alike, we must change this pattern. It all begins with parents getting involved and ground rules being set. Establish quality high school study skills with your teen and you'll surely notice a spike in their progress with school. Knowledge is true power!

Original Post: Online Schools

High School Study Skills

Remember those good old days? Yeah, you know the ones I'm talking about. Way back in high school when life literally consisted of an hour of homework each week, no work, and a car to cruise around in. Okay, so maybe that was a sum-up of my high school days, but you get the point. Regardless of what you did back in high school, one thing is for certain; you didn't have to do much. In fact, it's not until you hit adulthood and really get out on your own that you notice the "real world." It actually smacks you in the face if I remember correctly. Anyway, after those high school days are long past, how do you ever get back in touch with those folks you left behind? I will tell you how. It's not by seeing if they left their phone number in your old high school year book. It's by getting jacked into the World-Wide-Web and checking out the gargantuan high school year book online.

Are you familiar with the high school year book in cyberspace? This is the epitome of high school year books. Not only can it reveal your old classmates but it can also put you back in touch with them. However, nothing is for free in this uncompassionate world. You'd better get that credit card ready. On the other hand, how much do you want to see your old buddies from high school? That low monthly fee on websites like "high school year book" and "classmates.com" could be well worth your while. They typically offer a free trial membership as well. This way you can experience total access to high school year book or classmates for a week or two. Oh, did I mention that there's a catch. Yeah, isn't there always. A catch shouldn't be surprising for anyone these days. It basically goes with the territory. These reunion-type websites always want your credit card number up front. This way they can get your cash if it slips your mind to decline the membership. Believe me; they count on you forgetting. Most sites like these are all the same way.

So, are you anxious to bust out that high school year book yet? Or are you deciding to leave those old buddies in the past. To be frank, the high school year book in cyberspace is not really my thing. This could be due to the fact that I kept in touch with the two real friends I had back then. There is no use for an online high school year book.

Original Post: Online Schools

High School Year Book

Though there are some that leave school and never look back, it is always nice to have a high school year book to remember some of the better times you may have had. I am one of those that thought school was just the beginning, and that life would get better each year as time went on. I do believe that, but I know that there are some who believe that high school was the best time of their lives. Even though I am not one of them, I do understand why some are so fond of that time in life.

High school was carefree for many, though for me, it was a means to an end. I always wanted to be on my own, and I believed that life was just getting started. I know that I have had my ups and downs, but I don?t identify with the picture of myself in my last high school year book. That girl is long gone, and life just keeps getting better for me. There are some though, that have had a lot of misfortune in their lives, and they look back and wish for the more carefree days they spent with friends in school.

Though not everyone treasures their high school year book, most will look through one if they are given the chance. We often look at the faces we knew and we wonder how they turned out and where they are now. On a sadder note, everyone looking through that book will see a face that is no longer on earth. We want to think we will live to an old age before we go, but that is not the case for some people. Usually, there is usually at least one person who passed on early. Looking through a high school year book can bring back fond memories of that person, and the realization that they had some time, which is better than none.

Each senior class endeavors to make their high school year book special. They hope what they put out will give an idea of who they were and what things were like as they graduated and moved on into the real world. Most groan when they see their pictures from days gone by, but they still love the memories, even if they don?t like their hair cut. These books may not mean much unless they are yours. Even bad memories can serve a good purpose, and even if that is all you get out of your high school year book, it might still be worth saving, even though you don?t see that quite yet.

Original Post: Online Schools

High School Year Books

What high school did you attend back in the day? What am I saying; you may be in high school right now? High school is a funny thing. Some folks love it like it's the highlight of their existence, and other people think it's terrible. What was your take on the high school years? I am not going to sugar coat it. High school in general was no great thing for me. I wasn't the all-star jock/prom king, nor was I the zit-faced geek. I was just another student in the madness of confusion. You know how it goes. You're there five days a week and you're doing your thing, but it's more of a mundane routine than anything else. It's kind of like I was always waiting for something to happen. Something that would make a difference in my lame lifestyle. Then of course it did. It was called graduation. I'm sure many people can relate. Anyway, one thing you have to consider when you send your kids off to high school is the quality. I am referring to the quality of the school's education system. Did you know that you can check out high schools ranked online?

I like to keep an eye on a certain website that divulges high schools ranked. It's good to know which high schools are considered ideal, and which ones are falling way behind. I think it's sad that certain high schools ranked so low as far as standard education goes. You may even be amazed to know which ones are doing well and which ones are lagging behind. I was speaking to my younger brother about this issue and he laughed when I became concerned. He, however, does not have any children. Therefore I seriously doubt he is concerned with high schools ranked good or bad. It's primarily an issue for parents. The main reason I became so concerned is because I am searching for a different place to live. Now, I don't just want a nice home in a safe neighborhood. I also want the local high schools ranked well. Think about this for a moment. You surely want your child to get a wonderful education that prepares him/her for college. Furthermore, you want the schools to be safe, and not gang ridden. If you are interested in checking out high schools ranked for yourself, then you may want to hop online. The World-Wide-Web will provide you with all the information you need.

Original Post: Online Schools

High Schools Ranked