Here's why I was wrong. In the table below, the first two columns are the chart I shared in the earlier post, but I've added how the districts rank when sorted by that "combined percent proficient or distinguished in reading and math."
Covington and Jefferson are weak overall, in the bottom 30 of Kentucky's 174 districts when sorted by the combined reading and math statistic.
Campbell and Fayette, though, are in the top 30 overall, and thus strong in a pretty important sense, and Grayson, Bourbon, Simpson, and Bullitt are in the top half by the same statistic.
The sense in which all these districts are weak is that they've missed at least one NCLB goal in each of the last eight years. It's possible, and I know it's possible, and the numbers above show that it's possible, to fall short for one group while delivering at relatively high levels for most students.
I've added an update note to that post, and I'll try to do more careful work in the future.
I appreciate the correction, but please don't apologize! There are tons of education blogs out there, but your's is the one I read most consistently - just about every day. The data and research behind your comments is sound, your points are well-made and free of prejudice, and your writing style is easy to understand. Keep up the great work!
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