Fraser Institute Grades Langley Schools

So the latest Fraser Institute elementary school performance has hit the papers, and the Langley schools have all been graded. The report gives every school a score (out of 10) based on ten indicators:

(1) average, scaled Foundation Skills Assessments (FSA) score in grade-4 reading;
(2) average, scaled FSA score in grade-4 writing;
(3) average, scaled FSA score in grade-4 numeracy;
(4) average, scaled FSA score in grade-7 reading;
(5) average, scaled FSA score in grade-7 writing;
(6) average, scaled FSA score in grade-7 numeracy;
(7) the difference between male and female students in their average, scaled FSA scores in grade-7 reading;
(8) the difference between male and female students in their average, scaled FSA scores in grade-7 numeracy;
(9) the percentage of the above tests written by the school’s students that were judged to reflect performance below expectations;
(10) the percentage of the tests that could have been written by students who were absent, but had not been excused, from writing the test.

The rankings are always very controversial. Anyway, here are the Langley schools scores (out of 10), and their provincial rankings (out of 981 schools):

St. Catherines 10.0, 1
West Langley 9.2, 46
Langley Fundamental 9.0, 60
Uplands 9.0, 60
James Hill 8.6, 89
Langley Meadows 8.4, 100
Glenwood 8.0, 150
Peterson Road 7.9, 162
Willoughby 7.8, 178
Credo 7.7, 190
Noel Booth 7.6, 211
Langley Fine Arts 7.2, 252
Alex Hope 7.3, 275
Belmont 7.2, 288
Lochiel 7.2, 288
Gordon Greenwood 7.2, 288
North Otter 7.0, 333
Topham 6.8, 371
Dorothy Peacock 6.7, 392
Simonds 6.6, 407
Shortreed 6.5, 426
Langley Christian 6.5, 426
James Kennedy 6.5, 426
Fort Langley 6.5, 426
Aldergrove 6.3, 468
Bradshaw 6.1, 507
Parkside 5.9, 552
Blacklock 5.9, 552
Murrayville 5.5, 637
Betty Gilbert 5.4, 661
Wix-Brown 4.7, 788
Alice Brown 4.3, 829
FV Adventist 3.9, 874
Douglas Park 3.5, 903
Nicomekl 3.0, 936

As a reporter, I never knew how to cover these things (over on her blog, Vancouver Sun education reporter Janet Steffenhagen gives her take). But as a parent, I must confess I have looked at the numbers. Indie is headed to James Hill (her catchment school) in the fall, and an 8.6 does bring some comfort that she will be in a good environment there. I'd be especially interested to know how School Board watchers and/or potential candidates weigh these things--it would seem to me that having nine schools below the provincial median could be an important issue.