<p>My kids go to a nearby town with a high school that is, according to stupid rankings, even better. The admissions stats you list are normal. </p>
<p>But what is the difference? Our town and high school have much more economic diversity than yours and more METCO students*. The same education is available at this school to all students but there are different aspiration levels. Minority and working class kids take fewer honors and AP courses, even when the kids have come up all the way through our schools - see below about METCO. And we have a number of special programs to provide academic and social assistance. </p>
<p>I’m focusing on aspiration because wealth is not as significant a determining factor in our district. We have a number of relatively poorer, highly aspirational immigrants whose children excel - and whose parents stretch financially to live in the district. </p>
<p>Aspiration matters a great deal generally. And milieu matters a great deal. If you go to Watertown High, a larger percentage of the kids are aiming at community college or work without college. </p>
<p>*METCO is a program in which Boston kids go to suburban schools. Kids are bused, which is not a bad word in this case, and it’s important to realize the kids often start in grade school, even kindergarten, so they are entirely raised in the suburban district though they live in the city.</p>