Jay Mathews Challenge Index in the Washington Post

Didn't run in the DC edition of the Extras, but ran in the suburban editions (I happened to come across a copy of the Fairfax edition last week). Of course, DC schools don't fare too well. Last night, I read this piece about Positive Deviance "Amplifying Positive Deviance in Schools," which is about change in school systems. It's an interview with U of Michigan organization development professor Robert Quinn, and it's a powerful article that really resonates with me in my own work.

Oh the Challenge Index, criticized by some people like Patrick Welsh, "measures a public high school's effort to challenge its students. The formula is simple: Divide the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other college level tests a school gave by the number of seniors who graduated in June. Tests taken by all students, not just seniors, are counted." Jay Mathew's defense in response to Patrick Welsh's column.

Article by Jay Mathews, education writer for the Washington Post, "Advanced Programs Working Well in Tandem: Schools With Both AP And IB Rise in Post's Challenge Index Ranking," and the 2005 Challenge Index ranking all high schools in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Index Keywords: education