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Levy & Associates
Marketing and Communications
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Levy
202-686-3902
amylevy1@aol.com
levyandassocs@aol.com
GreatSchools.net Offers Test Scores For Public Schools Across the USA
Nonprofit Organization Is First To Provide Parent-Friendly Test Scores and School Comparisons Nationwide
Parents who want to compare K-12 schools in their neighborhoods or schools across the country now have a way to do this...for the first time.
GreatSchools.net, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, is the first organization to publish results on state tests for virtually every public K-12 school in the nation. Its parent-friendly test score explanations and school comparison tools help parents choose schools for their children and track the performance of schools.
"These days, more than ever before, parents need help understanding their children's schools and their school options," said GreatSchools.net founder and president Bill Jackson. "Test scores provide a vital perspective on how well children are learning. We are delighted to be the first Web site to offer parent-friendly test score reports for virtually every K-12 school in the nation."
Parent-friendly features on GreatSchools.net include straightforward explanations of tests and what they mean for families, "search by address" tools that allow parents to find and compare schools located near their homes, and advice about navigating the school system.
In addition to test scores for schools across the nation, GreatSchools offers in-depth school guides in selected states. These in-depth guides include detailed information about teachers, curriculum, and special programs. Features include tools that help parents identify schools with the characteristics that are important to them, as well as regular email updates about the performance of individual schools.
GreatSchools.net currently offers its in-depth school guide in Arizona and California and plans to expand these guides to most states over the next several years.
"Two powerful school reform trends are converging to make the work of GreatSchools.net especially important- school choice and standards-based accountability," said Jackson. "GreatSchools.net provides parents with the information they need to do three key things: choose successful schools for their children, support their children's learning, and advocate for educational excellence."
The mission of GreatSchools is to provide parents with the information they need to choose, support and improve schools. GreatSchools.net is made possible by the generous support of foundations and corporations, including The Pisces Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Washington Mutual, Inc. The site has been used more than one million times by parents and community members since its launch in 1998.
6104 29th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20015
phone: 202-686-3902
fax: 202-686-1760
e-mail: amylevy1@aol.com/levyandassocs@aol.com
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GreatSchools.net: Background
Mission
Launched in 1998, GreatSchools.net is a nonprofit organization that provides parents with the information they need to choose, support and improve schools.
What We Offer
Information about schools throughout the nation is offered at no cost through the Web site, www.greatschools.net. GreatSchools.net is the first organization to publish results on state tests for virtually every public K-12 school in the nation. In addition, GreatSchools.net offers in-depth school guides in Arizona and California that include information about teachers, curriculum, special programs and more.
Other features of the GreatSchools.net Web site include:
- Tips for choosing schools, including advice on school choice options as well as questions to ask during a school visit;
- Ideas for improving schools, such as the sharing of best practices and tips on getting more involved with school activities;
- A "School Finder" tool that helps parents find schools that match the characteristics most important to them (in-depth states only);
- "My School Stats" email updates that keep parents informed about the performance of their children's schools (in-depth states only).
User Profile
Three-quarters of GreatSchools.net's users are parents. Other audiences include teachers looking for jobs; realtors helping families learn about new neighborhoods; and taxpayers interested in the performance of their community's schools.
Distribution/Traffic
GreatSchools.net has co-branding agreements with the largest online newspapers in Arizona and California.
GreatSchools.net serves one million page views per month and reaches an estimated 10 percent of online households with children in California and Arizona. GreatSchools.net also works to reach low-income parents through printed materials distributed in partnership with community-based organizations.
History
GreatSchools.net was founded as a guide to Silicon Valley schools in 1998. All schools in California were profiled during 1999 and coverage of all Arizona schools followed in 2000. The national guide was launched in February 2001. The organization receives funding from foundations and corporations, including the Pisces Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Stuart Foundation, New Schools Venture Fund and Washington Mutual, Inc.
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