Magazine
rates R-3 near
the top of KC area schools
by Kim Fickett
Landmark reporter
In a 2000 study published in Expansion Management
Magazine, the publication rated Platte County R-3 School
District as the third top district in the Kansas City
metro area on the Missouri side.
Ingram's, a business magazine, in its November 2001 issue
looked at the survey and its overall purpose.
"The magazine, which is designed specifically for
companies looking to expand or relocate, rates 2,234 secondary
school districts throughout the United States. The goal
is to provide their readers with a basis for comparing
the type of work force they are likely to encounter in
a given community," Ingram's says.
"The unstated goal of the survey, is to help its
readers choose schools for their children."
The education quotient, which is the overall score the
districts receive, is calculated by three indices: "The
graduate outcome (how well students learn and how many
stay to graduation), the resource index (how deeply a
community is financially committed to education) and the
community index (how educated and affluent the community
is. These indices are calculated on a scale of 50 (lowest)
to 150 (highest)."
Platte County R-3 received a blue rating with an overall
score of 123, which places them in the top 33 percent
of the school districts. On the Missouri side of the Metro
area, Platte County ranked below only first place Lee's
Summit and second place Raymore.
When compared to all the school districts in the Kansas
City metropolitan area, both on the Missouri and Kansas
side, Platte County R-3 ranked 8th overall.
"To be our size and recognized with the other schools
is something to be proud of," said Mark Harpst, superintendent
of Platte County R-3 School District. "The board
of education is pleased to have that distinction."
At the school board meeting last week, the board was
updated on the surveys the county will be distributing
to residents regarding the needs for two community centers
north of the river, as well as the meetings the county
has been holding regarding the issue.
"From the meetings held so far, I feel everyone
seems to be in agreement regarding the need for an aquatic
center, a multi-purpose room and an indoor track,"
said Harpst.
Information from the surveys it is hoped will be available
in March of 2002.
The board also received building project updates regarding
Paxton and Siegrist Elementary Schools, as well as the
music room and softball/baseball field project.
Paxton and Siegrist are seeing concrete block going up
at each of those locations, while at the music room the
footings are being poured. The softball/baseball field
project is currently undergoing finalization of the plans.
Harpst stated they hope to have the project started by
late winter or early spring.
The district's Career Action Program (CAP) reported it
completed a mini-theater project at Smithville Lake. CAP
is a 1/2 credit course involving a community service project
that each graduating senior is required to take.
The site of the next board meeting, which was scheduled
for Barry School on Dec. 20, has been changed due to a
conflict. Instead, December's meeting will be held at
the central office, with January's meeting scheduled for
Barry School.
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