My high school was ranked the #1 public HS in the state, and made the top 10 public schools in the entire country, when I graduated in '07. It fell off both by the time my cousin graduated around '11 to being at least in the bottom 50% public schools in the state. The difference was obvious, and jarring, when I got certified to teach, and went to work at the #1 ranked public school in a different state. It was awful, couldn't believe what they were teaching, and what was allowed of the students -- left after a year to get another degree and move on to a different career. Real shame; they should be trying to keep people like me, who finished at the top of their class and would make great teachers, but the system, and especially the teacher's union (which rewards mediocrity, doesn't reward a good teacher, doesn't punish a bad one, no incentive, etc) pushes people like myself out
My high school was ranked the #1 public HS in the state, and made the top 10 public schools in the entire country, when I graduated in '07. It fell off both by the time my cousin graduated around '11 to being at least in the bottom 50% public schools in the state. The difference was obvious, and jarring, when I got certified to teach, and went to work at the #1 ranked public school in a different state. It was awful, couldn't believe what they were teaching, and what was allowed of the students -- left after a year to get another degree and move on to a different career. Real shame; they should be trying to keep people like me, who finished at the top of their class and would make great teachers, but the system, and especially the teacher's union (which rewards mediocrity, doesn't reward a good teacher, doesn't punish a bad one, no incentive, etc) pushes people like myself out