The Ratings Hustle
by Vince Durnan
The phone started lighting up recently with word of another list of “the nation’s top schools.” Here’s why in response we just smile, nod, and keep moving:
The phone started lighting up recently with word of another list of “the nation’s top schools.” Here’s why in response we just smile, nod, and keep moving:
This time the ranking appeared on niche.com, a recently rebranded for-profit data firm started as College Prowler in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon students. These young entrepreneurs compile lists of neighborhoods, schools, and colleges, responding to our pop culture fixation with lists.
Their site offers lists of their lists, piles of purportedly “big data,” and plenty of advertising. They’ve created more heat than light, even prompting the National Association of Independent Schools’ president to weigh in publicly on the anxieties the list has generated for members.
Their site offers lists of their lists, piles of purportedly “big data,” and plenty of advertising. They’ve created more heat than light, even prompting the National Association of Independent Schools’ president to weigh in publicly on the anxieties the list has generated for members.
The good news is that USN, as I heard from many interested constituents, ranked first among private schools in Nashville and in Tennessee and #81 nationally. The not-so-good news comes from the realm of methodology, the bane of any effort to reduce complex variables to a single coefficient per school. Niche says that their empiricists combined grades for academics, student culture and diversity, and parent/student surveys. Exactly how they did that defies easy explanation or close scrutiny, starting with the fact that the surveys mentioned were not in fact available for many of the schools considered, USN included. How we then ended up #1 remains a gift-horse-type mystery to me. And why were we only 81st nationally?
Just last year a different organization, thebestschools.org, placed us #50 in their list of private day schools nationwide, and their methodology was just as opaque. Certainly we appreciated the mention, but I wondered about all the for-profit university underwriting littering their site. And in 2007 no less a source than The Wall Street Journal included USN in their top 50 list, albeit at the end, by calculating the proportion of graduating seniors enrolled in an arbitrarily determined group of eight colleges. That methodology at least gets high marks for transparency. But really? They never published a successor to that list.
Happily, the godfather of all list makers, US News, has yet to extend its ranking empire to independent schools. Since shortly after the “Best Colleges” edition began in 1983, we’ve collectively resisted the invitation to provide data to the magazine (now mostly a lucrative online presence) and the inevitable gamesmanship that would accompany pressure to perform well according to the ranking’s algorithm. The experience of higher ed in that regard stands as a cautionary tale.
In concept, a comprehensive ranking system would serve useful purposes, but challenges abound in the absence of national curricular coordination. So we are left with these recurrent bootleg efforts to drive eyeballs to screens by posting idiosyncratic lists for consumption by a “top ten” hungry culture.
Not to be cynical (or not too cynical at least), but the best part of USN's landing atop these lists is that it quiets other more potentially self-congratulatory schools from trumpeting their results to an unsuspecting public. But past that, we’ll save our breath. And just for the record, my writing this piece is in large measure meant to provide context that would explain why we don't and won't call further attention to this otherwise juicy topic.
Not to be cynical (or not too cynical at least), but the best part of USN's landing atop these lists is that it quiets other more potentially self-congratulatory schools from trumpeting their results to an unsuspecting public. But past that, we’ll save our breath. And just for the record, my writing this piece is in large measure meant to provide context that would explain why we don't and won't call further attention to this otherwise juicy topic.
We’ll happily salute more concrete accomplishments: arts medal winners, debate tourney victors, soccer playoff victories, National Merit Semifinalist totals, and that list goes on. And we appreciate the enthusiasm that accompanies recognition on all fronts, as long as we stay focused on the work at hand.
Glad to reside on your own list,
Vince
Vince
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Senior named UVA Jefferson Scholar
University of Virginia selected Margot Ross '24 to be a Jefferson Scholar. The highly selective scholarship includes the full cost of attending UVA for four years of study as well as numerous enrichment opportunities. It has been 12 years since a University School of Nashville senior last became a Jefferson Scholar.Read More -
UNISON Dance, USN Choir spring concert April 25
Dance and choral students will come together for "Threads," their spring semester performances at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in Durnan Auditorium.Read More -
New softball facilities open at River Campus
The softball team opened the season with a new dugout, new equipment, and a renewed sense of school spirit.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.