What Makes a Good School?

According to a new report in the Star-Tribune, Southwest Minneapolis' schools are doing a better job educating white students than its suburban counterparts, as measured by state standardized test results.

"We're sensitive in this district, we're an urban district with many challenges, and we have a large achievement gap, and we are focusing whatever we can on lowering the gap," district spokesman Stan Alleyne told the Strib.

Reporter Steve Brandt posits that these same higher test scores could also be helping to drive the surge in enrollment in Southwest and South Minneapolis schools, by attracting families who ordinarily would look to suburban or private schools. As Patch reported last year, Brandt's argument is buttressed by trends in home values. District officials said last year that they blamed the housing market, which made it difficult for Minneapolis families to follow the traditional path of moving out to the suburbs one their children reached school age. The new families have helped stabilize district finances, as state education dollars largely follow the numbers of children a school enrolls.

Whatever the cause, it's clear that Southwest Minneapolis families are returning to the district in droves. Do you think Brandt is right? Why did you pick your child's school, no matter if it's private, public, or suburban?