Ranking the Schools

In a recent article, high school English teacher Mary Tedrow argues that magazine rankings of the "best high schools" in America only serve to reinforce the worst aspects of our educational culture. According to Tedrow, such rankings simplify the definition of success in learning and create a counterproductive winners-and-losers mindset. What really needed, she says, is a broader discussion about what "constitutes a successful high school graduate" and how best to nurture students aspirations and originality.

What's your view? Are magazine rankings of schools constructive? What effect do they have on teachers and students? How would you define school success?