The Superintendent's Pipeline, which is issued by ODE over the state superintendent's byline, very nearly mentioned Corbett Schools in a positive light today. That is, it very nearly mentioned Corbett, but swerved at the last minute to avoid a collision with it's dominant policy.
The Pipeline, dated today, congratulates Oregon's 2009 Advanced Placement State Scholars, which is appreciated. Oregon should recognize excellence at every opportunity. The announcement loses some of its power when it misstates the criteria for the award, but points for effort.
The article continues with a brief advertisement for the AP program (which we adamantly support) and mentions Oregon's 50% growth over the past five years in Advanced Placement participation. Oregon is right to highlight this growth. Corbett's growth during that same period was about 4800%. (No, I didn't fall asleep with my finger on the zero key!) In fact Corbett, which educates about one-tenth of one percent of Oregon's students, made up 14% of the State's growth over that five year period.
So naturally the article went on to spotlight Reynolds High School in celebration of its new AP Program. I applaud Reynolds' efforts and they will reap tremendous benefits for their children and the families involved. We are encouraged by the good work of the staff and students there.
But it is a mystery to me (or I wish it was mysterious) how an article from the State that celebrates AP State Scholars (one of whom graduated from Corbett High School) and highlights the growth of the AP program statewide (Corbett's growth is unparalleled in the State and it's rate of participation has led the state for the past three years) manages to avoid the word C-O-R-B-E-T-T. Somewhere there is an envious contortionist who can only marvel and despair.
So yes, the title of this post was misleading. There was no faint praise. There was no mention whatsoever.
At least Lara will get a kick out of having gone from being a Corbett grad to being "Lara Dunton of Troutdale"...
