Broken Arrow Public Schools has again been selected as the winner of the “What Parents Want Award.”  Only 16 percent of the nation’s 15,571 public school districts received this honor in 2008 in recognition for best meeting the needs of families who are choosing schools.

The Annual “What Parents Want Award” is given by SchoolMatch of Columbus, Ohio.  The nation’s largest school selection consulting firm compiles data on all schools in the nation and then determines which school districts most closely match what SchoolMatch users (relocating parents and businesses) most often request. Compilation of over 97,000 parent questionnaires completed by SchoolMatch clients reveals parents most often look for school systems that are:

1.     competitive in academic test scores and academically solid, but not so rigorous as to intimidate their children

2.     accredited

3.     recognized for excellence by a national foundation or by the U.S. Department of Education

4.     competitive in teacher salaries

5.     above average in instructional expenditures on a national percentile basis

6.     above average in expenditures for library/media services on a national percentile basis

7.     known for small class size

In addition a “What Parents Want” school district must be a K-12 school district for consideration as relocating parents often focus upon finding a school system that produces a certain quality of “end product” (high school graduate).

Over seven-million parents have accessed SchoolMatch services through a variety of website locations including real estate firms, chambers of commerce, or by personally contacting SchoolMatch, which according to the Wall Street Journal is “….the best source of test scores, student-teacher ratios, spending and education level of residents.”

“We appreciate this recognition, which spotlights our school district’s vital economic development role in our community,” Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jim Sisney said.  “We believe we have an exceptional school district, but it is always nice and appreciated when an independent and respected group such as SchoolMatch also sees the excellence in our school district.”

Broken Arrow Public Schools is one of 20 school districts in Oklahoma selected for the 2008 “What Parents Want Award.”