| In their May 8, 2006, issue, Newsweek listed their | | | | loses the social acclimation that the larger high |
| Best 100 Public Schools across the nation. They | | | | schools provide. They say that maintaining quality |
| ranked the schools using a ratio of the number of | | | | is difficult and the coursework lacks substance. |
| Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International | | | | Proponents of Dallas schools' TAG say that these |
| Baccalaureate tests taken by all students within a | | | | Dallas Schools' students get more teacher and |
| school, divided by the number of graduating | | | | counselor attention and the children are less likely |
| seniors. The 2006 list was based on the | | | | to get lost in the crowd, which gives the students |
| 2004-2005 school year. Their aim is to | | | | an edge. |
| acknowledge those schools that do the best job | | | | TAG is one of the Dallas schools that is |
| of preparing average students for college, | | | | committed to helping students achieve their best, |
| regardless of their economic background. | | | | encouraging each and every student to aim high. |
| Three Dallas schools made the list with one taking | | | | They stress the importance of attending college |
| top honors. Dallas schools' Highland Park High | | | | and try to make the AP as much a part of |
| School weighed in at number 18 with a ratio of | | | | students' lives as music or hanging out with their |
| 4.735. Dallas schools' Science and Engineering | | | | friends. While only 30 percent of high school |
| Magnet took honors at number eight with a ratio | | | | students across the nation take any AP courses |
| of 6.275. Dallas schools' Talented and Gifted | | | | at all, each TAG student is required to take at |
| (TAG) High School had a 14.128 ratio and ranked | | | | least one, with most students taking more. |
| number ONE! What an achievement for the Dallas | | | | Dallas schools' TAG and other boutique schools like |
| schools. | | | | it have increased the number of minorities taking |
| Located near downtown Dallas in an impoverished | | | | AP courses, increasing their chances to attend |
| neighborhood, TAG exemplifies how a school can | | | | college. According to the College Board, which |
| meet the Dallas schools' goals of providing an | | | | administers the AP, four times as many Hispanics |
| excellent education for each and every child. The | | | | and three times as many Blacks took AP courses |
| racially mixed student body receives a high-level | | | | in 2005, as compared to 10 years ago. |
| of learning that challenges each child to achieve. | | | | Newsweek cited Dallas schools' TAG student |
| TAG focuses on getting students into college | | | | Fanny Frausto, age 18, who has taken 16 AP |
| through AP courses, providing the same | | | | courses and scored high on many of them. She |
| opportunities to its students as the wealthy | | | | scored a five on her final three-hour exam. Her |
| private schools. | | | | transcript is definitely atypical for a public high |
| Some educators refer to schools like Dallas | | | | school student, showing a seemingly impossible |
| schools' TAG as a boutique school, catering to | | | | schedule of classes. She attends MIT on |
| special interest while ignoring course variety. | | | | scholarship in the fall of 2006. |
| Educators, including those in the Dallas schools, | | | | Dallas schools' teachers at TAG go the extra mile |
| have been demanding reform for over 10 years; | | | | for their students. They assist the youth in |
| yet, they cannot agree on what works. In the | | | | learning to meet deadlines, constructing essays |
| '80s, the thought was to make all students college | | | | and organizing their time, managing workloads, and |
| ready through a rigorous core curriculum. In the | | | | dealing with the tension and nervousness students |
| '90s, school choice and testing became the norm. | | | | may feel during testing. |
| Now, some are calling for dumping the entire | | | | Schools that consistently have high achieving |
| public school system; while others see smaller | | | | students and programs were not included in |
| schools, class size, and a boutique focus as | | | | Newsweek's list. Their ratio formula only |
| optimum. | | | | measures test participation, rather than testing |
| Even when a plan is working as it is in Dallas | | | | success. Also, due to inconsistencies, the formula |
| schools' TAG High School, opposition still rears its | | | | does not include drop out rates or state testing |
| ugly head. Some believe that the smaller school | | | | scores. |