Jun 12, 2002 3 min read

Slightly more than half of the area’s schools showed an improvement on standardized test scores, but it still isn’t good enough to earn most Fayette County schools a “C” grade. What is perplexing is that with each confirmation that our local schools are failing to produce students capable of holding their own with peers across Pennsylvania is the lack of outcry from parents and taxpayers.

The only time local school boards seem to draw large, vocal crowds is when taxes are raised, coaches are changed, school buildings are closed or a dress code is under consideration. If this were the high school football team heading into a losing season, you better believe their would be public outcry. Why isn’t the public demanding better academic performance?

We can’t help but ask this question after reviewing results of the latest review of the state’s school districts by Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services. The company, known for its ratings of returns on investments in the private sector, analyzed data on Pennsylvania’s public schools from the years 1997 through 2000 to determine the quality of student produced versus the amount of money spent per pupil.

As was noted in a former Standard & Poor’s report throwing more money at public schools doesn’t guarantee that students will learn more. The difference comes in how the districts spend the money.

In Fayette County, only Frazier School District does an adequate job in gaining a rating of producing “moderately above-average” students with spending that is comparable to the state average. Laurel Highlands meets “average” status.

But the rest of the districts – Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Connellsville and Uniontown – produce “moderately below-average” students. At least Albert Gallatin doesn’t waste money thinking it’s buying better grades as does Uniontown, which spends more than the statewide average to gain such poor results. Yes, the districts did bump up scores of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests but only by several points. These students still fall behind statewide students, which can leave them in need of remedial classes for those who go on to higher education.

But the most troubling aspect is that our schools are continuing to produce undereducated graduates who are undesirable to employers. A continual and further weakening of the area’s labor pool is the last thing Fayette County needs when attempting to build a strong economic base.

Schools are important to prospective companies. Executives, considering relocation, look for a strong, educated labor pool as potential employees and they look for schools that will offer their own children a decent future.

It’s way past time that folks already living here start to judge the schools by those same standards. Parents need to ask if they are pleased with the education their children are receiving, and , if not, to ask their school boards what they plan to do to raise the standards and the results. Earning what amounts to a “D” grade simply won’t do.