Texas: Dallas Independent School District

One of the largest school districts in the country is in the midst of major renovations that will benefit the local economy, as well as its students. Orange County has announced the ongoing progress of 12 construction and renovation projects, with a hefty price tag of around $224 million. The district expects to pump many of those dollars right back into the local community, by creating more than 9,700 jobs to get the work done. The projects are being funded through a sales tax referendum that was approved by voters in 2002.

Construction Projects on the Way

Orange County Public Schools has approved the construction of two new schools that will handle the overflow of students in the growing school district. The first expansion school with be constructed near Lake Nona in the Dowden Road/Randal Park area. The second will be located on Hackney Prairie Road near Ocoee, according to the Orange County Public Schools website.

Construction of the two new elementary schools will create more than 800 construction jobs and another 614 indirect jobs for the county. Jobs that fall into the indirect category include architects, engineers, landscapers and carpenters that are expected to work on the new buildings at some point in the process. It appears that the construction downturn in Florida has lent itself to available, highly skilled workers who can handle the new construction projects for the school now.

“Having spent my life in construction, I know how difficult downturns in

Detroit Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Michigan and the 22^nd largest school district in the country. Throughout its history, this school district has overcome numerous obstacles to bring education to the young residents of Detroit. That process has not been without its share of challenges, which continue in Detroit schools today. However, the district remains strong despite its difficulties and is continuously looking for ways to improve educational quality for all Detroit students.

This video offers an overview of the Detroit Public Schools.

Early Schools in Detroit

According to the Detroit Historical Society, early schools in the city began in the 19^th century, when private individuals began developing subscription schools for the purpose of educating the youth of the city. These schools would have a single schoolmaster, hired by a group of parents, and classes would be held at the home of the instructor or a location rented by subscribers. Parents of the students would also contribute to the school’s supply of firewood and candles.

Throughout that century, many private schools also came to the Detroit area. The schools were expensive and provided flexible schedules for those who had to work days to pay for their education. In 1832, the first school was established for children who could not afford private schools. These “society schools” quickly grew in number, as more families looked to the

Do not close any high schools in Chicago – that was the recommendation from a commission appointed by Chicago Public Schools Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Although many of the high schools in the city are underutilized at this time, the commission determined that closing any of them could pose a serious danger to students. Byrd-Bennett will now consider the recommendations made by the commission as she ponders what to do about underutilized schools and the district’s massive budget deficit.

The Commission on School Utilization

The Commission on School Utilization was formed by Byrd-Bennett to determine which schools should be consolidated and which should be closed. The district, currently facing a $1 billion budget deficit, has determined that something must be done about under-enrolled schools to close the deficit. Although the commission recently released early recommendations, the final report by the commission will not be out until March. Chicago Public Schools plans to release a preliminary list of schools slated for closure prior to that time, according to a report at Chicago Now.

Byrd-Bennett handpicked the members of the commission, including commission chairman Frank Clark. Clark is a retired CEO from ComEd and a mayoral appointee to the McCormick Place Board. Clark told the Chicago Sun-Times that the commission will not be providing a list of school closure recommendations, although that is what Byrd-Bennett originally wanted from the commission. Instead, early inklings from the report suggest the commission will be much more focused on schools that

As college entrance examinations are looming, high school students across the country are looking for ways to raise their ACT or SAT scores. While some parents prepare to shell out hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to help their teens prep for these exams, experts promise students can adequately prepare by spending little or no money on the process. Check out these 10, low-cost tips to help your high school student perform well on his college entrance examinations.

Know the Benchmarks

Before you begin test prep, it helps to know the scores you might need to get into the colleges of your choice. Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules at any school regarding ACT or SAT scores, but a general range will help you know if your college app will be met with serious consideration. The Princeton Review cites the national average score for the SAT at 1500. The average score for the ACT is between 20 and 21. While these are national averages, some schools may consider applicants with lower scores, or require higher scores from most of their prospective students. For each school you are considering, research the average standardized exam scores from the prior year's admitted class.

Choose Your Test Wisely

According to U.S. News and World Report, those who perform best on the ACT tend to be strong readers with good memory skills who can process information quickly. High performers on the SAT are typically