Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Officially, 74.59349% of the 492 graduates of Pickerington High School in June, 2001 are attending college following their senior year according to official records maintained at PHS. The counselors have a list of the colleges and the names of all 367 graduates attending college now.

In addition, according to a recent survey published in Columbus Monthly, Pickerington has one the highest rates of student graduates attending four-year colleges in the entire area. According to Columbus Monthly, Pickerington has a 90% rate. The difference between the 74.6% rate and the 90% rate can easily be explained by the fact that several Pickerington High School students start their college education later in the year or the year following high school after an extended trip to Europe or the completion of an internship with a local corporation.

It is also important to note that many area high schools (possibly Groveport) may be reporting only the % of students in their college-prep curriculum that enter college following graduation. Pickerington keeps statistics on all graduates that enter college following their senior year.

The information published by PATA Spokesperson, Bob Harding, on 11.14.01 under his heading of ?‘55% College Attendance?’ is deceptive, misleading and inaccurate. Under his posting 55% College Attendance Mr. Harding is quoted as saying, ?“Awhile back some of the members of one of PATA?’s focus teams were finding figures similar to what has been recently posted by other individuals on our web site (Harding referenced Dr. Pepper?’s 55%). This needs much more serious attention than some people are giving this issue ?…. 55% should not and is not acceptable.?”

Mr. Harding?’s actions continue to reflect poorly on the entire PATA organization and harm the credibility of PATA. He still has not indicated the article he referenced on 11.2.01 when he said , ?“Enter then School Board President and Administrators quotes in the Columbus Dispatch that those nasty folks with PATA are against OUR schools.?”

It appears to me that Bob Harding is continuing to publish deceptive, misleading and inaccurate facts.

THANKS

THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION, I TO FELT THE 55% WAS AWFUL LOW BUT DIDNT KNOW WHERE TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION
BRUCE ROOKSTOOL

What Mark Worry!

Just last night Mark Uher couldn?’t remember how long he had lived in the Pickerington school district and today he is quoting the official word of the PLSD.

You said you were living in the area from 1979 until 1983. Could you define area? Were you homeless? Did you live in a neighboring city or did you live in another county? Were you embellishing? You know Mark that is a very bad habit to get into.

You attack my figures because I didn?’t quote the name of my source at Pickerington, yet it is perfectly OK for Mark Uher not to quote his source. You said that the counselors have a list of the colleges and the names of the 367 graduates attending college now. Which graduates are you talking about? Are these the 2001 PLSD graduates? Are these all 4-year colleges? Did you talk to a PLSD counselor? If so what is his or her name?


WHO IS THE OFFICIAL THAT YOU TALKED TOO?

That brings us to why a guidance teacher/counselor, when asked by a Pickerington Local School Board member during a school board meeting would lie or even be that far off in his statement. Do you know if Pickerington administrators lie to the board? Do they lie to the public? That is exactly what Mark Uher is accusing these administrators.

So here?’s the deal I will ask that concerned parents call the Pickerington High school tomorrow and ask for the school guidance counselor. The phone number is: 833-3025

Please be very specific. First ask the percentage of Pickerington Graduates that go on to 4-year colleges. Then ask what percentage of Pickerington graduates that go off to 2-colleges. Then ask for the average SAT scores of Pickerington.

If you want to comparison shop call the following schools ask the same questions:

Reynoldsburg 866-6397

Groveport 836-4967

Canal Winchester 833-3025

Bexley 231-4591


Please note Bexley?’s scores because they are compared with Pickerington as far as the Ohio Department of Education is concerned. In other words the two schools have similar demographics. So that we are not comparing apples to oranges. Let us all know your findings. Thanks



By Dr. Pepper

The Source for the 74.6%

Mr. Ebright, Guidance Counselor, Pickerington High School was the source for my fact that 367 of the 492 PHS graduates in the Class of 2001 went on to college. And, yes, I spoke with him directly.

Now who were the sources of the figures you provided for:
Pickerington
Groveport
Canal Winchester
Bexley?

In addition, school board meetings are audio taped. What was the date of the meeting you referenced? Do you remember what school member asked the questions about graduation rates? If you cannot remember the counselor name, it can obtain it through the tapes of the board meeting.

I?’m puzzled why it is so important to you where I lived between 1979 and 1983 when I moved into PLSD. From 1979 to 1983, I lived just west of Tussing Elementary School in Independence Village in Groveport schools. I think my statement was in the 20 years I have lived in the area I had never heard your fact that only 55% of the PHS graduates attend college.

Since you will be calling each school tomorrow, I will wait for you to share information about the other school districts here instead of wasting other school counselors?’ valuable time answering the same question to dozens of outside callers. It will be helped if you would obtain the counselors?’ name, official title, school, address of the school, phone number, number of 2001 graduates and number of the graduates attending college this fall. Then post that information here. We then can figure the percentages ourselves and save you a little time. Thanks for volunteering to help get this information.