[wtc911]

BTW: Places like Roslyn and Great Neck only have high test scores and graduation rates due to the fact that the parents in those communities push their kids to succeed. It has little to do with the teachers or corrupt administrators....

After having three go through the Great Neck South district I'd have to disagree with you.

[cyborg]

I attended a very exclusive private school in Old Westbury and the same intellectual sloth you find in Hempstead High can be found there too. The difference is that in Old Westbury the parents have money to save the wee ones from their stupidity.

[Clemenza]

There are some great teachers out there (I was lucky enough to have a few), but they are way outnumbered by the bad ones. I base my opinion not merely on my own personal experience, but on that of friends who have taught or have children in such school districts as Millburn (NJ) and Highland Park (IL), two of the top districts in the country.

Of course, the more ambitious (and we hope talented) teachers will always be more attracted to the schools with better quality students, so to a certain extent, these districts will have better teachers. However, for the amount of money people in Millburn or Great Neck pay in property taxes, I could send my kids to private school.