B High ranks high according to Newsweek

Even though there is no longer a Newsweek to be found in print, it ranks Burlingame High well amongst the 2000 schools listed. http://www.newsweek.com/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html Others in SM County ranked well too. Awesome dude!

This is B High just after its completion. Photo courtesy and copyright Burlingame Historical Society

Comments

[Burlingame Betty]

Surprising that Aragon ranked higher thank Burlingame...

[Been here forever]

Always has. Ever since I can remember.

[Locavore]

Before everyone gets too giddy about Aragon "beating" Burlingame High, remember that this is only one ranking according to Newsweeks criteria. In California everyone takes a standardized test (STAR), which results in an Academic Performance Index (API) score ranking every school in California. BHS has outranked Aragon for the past 2-3 years. Also when adjusting for demographics (looking at schools with similar demographic profiles), BHS also outranks Aragon. Same also applies for the intermediate and elementary schools in Burlingame, with the exception of Baywood elementary which always scores high.

[Burlingame Betty]

Locavore - thanks for the info - I do realize this is only one ranking and have known deep down that BHS is a great school - Having attended Aragon myself I am much more in favor of BHS (although it was a different time when I went to Aragon!).

Obviously with Burlingame being a smaller town and only having one middle school and high school, that in itself is an advantage - I just like to have various statistics at the ready for the "cocktail party" school talk -

I would welcome any other information -

[jennifer]

Sorry to learn of the passing of Frank Firpo, beloved Burlingame High School teacher and coach of 39 years. Only 73 years old :(

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=frank-bert-firpo&pid=169023385&

[KRN]

Congratulations to former BHS Assistant Principal Brent Daniels. Daniels just completed his second year as principal at Piedmont High School. He led the school to a #25 ranking in the country using the Newsweek Magazine's Top High Schools in America.

BHS did not make the list.

http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-high-schools-2015

[the study of "values"]

Congrats to my hometown high school, New Trier (#14)...alma mater to Tom Siebel, Tom Stossel, and my brother, who still holds the pool record after winning 1st place in the state swimming championship meet.

I still believe that one of the most important, and most frequently neglected focus for high schools is the study of "values".

I recently sat next to Tom Siebel for dinner after doing some yacht racing with him on The Bay. Great guy, great values.

[the study of "values"]

John Stossel, rather.

[Joe]

To KRN's earlier point about BHS falling off the list, here are the local selectees (culled from the DJ article)

Three local high schools, all part of the San Mateo Union High School District, have been recognized among the best in the nation, according to a national publication.

Newsweek magazine, which annually ranks the high schools in the United States, named Aragon, San Mateo and Mills high schools in its top 500 high schools for 2015.

School officials expressed great satisfaction at the achievement of the district schools, all of which were included in the top 225 best among the more than 27,000 considered for the prestigious honor.

Aragon High School, at 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, received top honors among district schools, as the San Mateo school was ranked number 100 in the nation.

Aragon High School serves 1,525 students, was recently named a Gold Ribbon School by the California Department of Education, and graduated nearly all of its students last year, more than 97 percent of which were bound for college.

Newsweek, which has been ranking high schools for more than a decade, identifies top schools based on factors such as graduation rate, college enrollment, standardized test scores, dropout rate, and a variety of other considerations.

San Mateo High School, at 506 N. Delaware St., was ranked 216 in the nation, and second best in the district. The oldest district school, serving 1,600 students, featured a graduation rate of nearly 96 percent last year, with 100 percent moving on to college.

Mills High School, at 400 Murchison Drive in Millbrae, was ranked 225 in the nation, third best in the district of 10 schools. Of the 1,300 students at the school, 96 percent graduated last year and roughly the same amount went on to college.

No other high schools in San Mateo County were included in the top 500 ranking, but Los Altos and Mountain View high schools in Santa Clara County were identified for their excellence.

[Jennifer]

Yeah for SMHS, my old stomping grounds. The other two are also no surprise, but what has happened to Burlingame High School, where my kids went? I realize these rankings can get skewed for various reasons, but to fall off the list is not a good sign, and not good for our City, either.

[KRN]

SMHS is kicking ass on all fronts!
Take a look at the link below.

Burlingame (and other) familiies are transferring to SMHS.

While BHS still has the Paw... SMHS students are happy, spirited and getting the seats in college.

Everything going on at BHS is known.
The parents and students are talking about it... all the time.

http://www.homeofthebearcats.com/the-video.html

[Beenhereforever]

All the schools in Burlingame are falling apart. Look at the teacher turnover at BIS and Lincoln and ask yourself "why?"

[BHSMom]

It came out that the BHS principal chose to not submit the requested information to participate in the Newsweek poll.

This is a national recognition that BHS has held for many years and the principal just decides to not participate?

This is another embarassment for BHS as it sits in the shadow of SMHS, Mills, and Aragon for not even showing up.

Why would the district allow the school to just pull out of an opportunity for a national ranking?

I hope the Panthers are plannig on showing up for the Little Big Game... or is BHS going to chose to not show up for this event as well.

[Mom]

Wow. I have not heard that but I believe it.

[BHSMom]

I'm told this is also the first year that BHS does NOT have a National Merit winner....

The embarassment continues... Principal Yim continues to fail the school and its students. BHS failed to allocate enough seats to AP Chem, AP Biology, and AP English. We were told this would not be an issue for college.

It turns out that this is a very big issue for college. As we complete college applciations we are finding out that this DOES matter as the colleges expect competitive students to enroll in challenging course when they are offered at the school. I'm no Tiger Mom but if the kids want to take these courses they should at least be available.

I'm now told the BHS Parents Group offered to pay for additional courses and the Principal said NO!

The College Advisor is leaving BHS in December as well. Its time for Burlingame to take back the school...NOW!

[accept the reality of your religion]

Well, I've chatted with Principal Yim several times, and she seems like a well organized, good person.

However, not having enough class capacity is about space and $$$$.

And, if Burlingame and other communities in California are trying to serve every person in the world with free education and free everything, and letting the world KNOW that California sneers at Federal immigration laws, and instead welcomes you - then this will and does attract immigrants to break the law (misdemeanor on first attempt and felony on second attempt), and in fact our gov't leaders (including Principal Yim and school board members) are also committing crimes to allow illegal immigrants to receive these services. Sorry, fact.

Similarly, Jerry Brown sent out a letter when he was the Attorney General that advised all city council members that they could be held personally liable for breaking Federal Medical Marijuana Laws by allowing Dispensaries in their city - and so even though Marijuana was practically invented in California - dispensaries started getting shut down and most cities put up a moratorium on them in the city zoning codes. I had the largest (and last) dispensary in Marin County wanting to hire me, if I could only help them to open new dispensaries, even with a chunk of equity in the businesses just to successfully navigate the real estate leases or purchases - it couldn't be done at the time.

The point is that why aren't city council members and school board members and also principals being given the same direction regarding aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, that (WHILE PROBABLY VERY NICE AND GOOD PEOPLE), came here for the free stuff and opportunity. However, the opportunity was CREATED BY THE RULE OF LAW TO BEGIN WITH.

And, the second source of demand is the unless creation of new housing in Burlingame and beyond. You should see the planning docket of other neighboring cities like San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, San Jose, etc. There's a MASSIVE new construction boom going on right now, and I've also seen the capacity reports at many of the surrounding public school districts. Think tidal wave just about to hit the beach, folks.

And, at a recent forum with commercial real estate developers and several local mayors, the mayors were like hypnotized zombies talking about how important it is to build new housing: partially because it creates more union laborer jobs (and most of them are admittedly union reps, which is illegal), and partially because it creates more supply of market housing, which typically requires 15-25% below market units in apartment developments...and partially because it massively boosts the property taxes and halo effect economic vibrancy via retail job creation, sales tax, income tax, hotel tax, car sales tax, tax, tax, tax, tax....

I'm pleased with the Burlingame election results, because frankly both women are conservatives at their core, even if they like to use their bikes a lot and recycle with zeal. 'Cause they live in Burlingame.

And, despite their Dem registration, local Republicans and other types of conservatives should be celebrating this victory!

But, every voting citizen and some of the rules-for-radicals hold-outs need to realize the true core of local Big Democrats, too! They are pushing an eventual education disaster. Not just pushing, but Jerry Brown explicitly mandated significant new housing to be created in each city.

What does this all mean? Your kid can't get AP Chemistry because of the Big Democrats - accept the reality of your religion.

[Mom]

I really think this is more of a localized personnel problem. I heard the bad news about the advisor and hope that will get some people engaged more.

[Peter Garrison]

Forest, trees; trees forest- still too many trees and too little sunlight.

[BHSMom]

The kids can't get AP Chem because the principal has control issues. i spoke with other parents whose children were blocked out of these courses and there was no communication from the school... nothing!

Here is an easy answer to those speak to Ms. Yim and find her organized and pleasant... ask her about the situation at the school. Why are so many students and parents upset?

What is the truth on these funding issues? Maybe you should ask the Parents Group about their point of view?

BHS has the classroom space.
The BHS Parents group offered the funds to provide the class.

Di Yim said no.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant." Its time to bring Principal Yim into the sunlight.

[BHSMom]

So here is the solution. A public forum where Ms.Yim can adsress the questions. The last time she appeared before the parents she had to excuse herself and could not respond to questions.

If she has nothing to hide, them a public meeting will only increase her popularity and display her organization and skills.

How about the following:

TownHall Meeting with Principal Yim
Thursday December 10, 2015
7:00 pm. BHS Auditorium

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant."