Michael Scott’s death has NOT been ruled a suicide. The Cook County medical examiner ruled it that, but the police have not issued an official cause of death yet and want to complete a thorough investigation before they do.
Here are some reasons why the new schools “outperform” the older ones on the report cards (based on my experience working in both, as well as stories I’ve heard from friends). First, there is a culture of fear in the new schools. Many or most teachers are untenured. Even tenured teachers tend to be less willing to stand up the principal. When you start working at these new schools someone usually whispers in your ear “pass at least 80 percent of the kids and you’ll be OK,” though the passing rate for seniors is expected to be much higher. Second, the report cards are biased against the older schools by comparing “screening” to non-screening schools. At screening schools you get the kids who show up for school regularly, while the non-screening schools have to take the truants. Furthermore, as many others have pointed out, the new schools don’t get as many special ed and ELL kids. This has a big effect on school tone and overall performance.
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