Forbes ranks Barrington fourth in the nation

4/28/11 11:48AM EastBayRI.ccom
Study focuses on 'Best Schools for Your Real Estate Buck'

Barrington was fourth in the nation in a recent study of "Best Schools for Your Real Estate Buck” completed by Forbes magazine and the GreatSchools organization.

BARRINGTON — A recent study completed by Forbes magazine and the GreatSchools organization titled “Best Schools for Your Real Estate Buck” has ranked Barrington fourth in the nation.
The partnered project analyzed more than 17,000 towns and cities in the 49 states that have standardized, statewide tests (Nebraska does not administer a standardized, statewide test). “GreatSchools also used results from the most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress data, a federal program that tests randomly selected students in fourth, eighth and 12th grades to provide state-level assessments of learning and educational progress,” stated the article on the Forbes website.
“By combining the two datasets,
GreatSchools could calibrate the results of individual cities in a single state with national standards to come up with an absolute score for each city. It then graded them on a curve with the highest-ranking city, Falmouth, Maine representing 100.”
Mercer Island, Wash. was second on the nation’s top schools list with a 99.12, while Pella, Iowa was second with 98.25, and Barrington and Bedford, N.H. finished tied for fourth — each scored 97.96.
The study included this information about Barrington, and the reason it ranked so high on the list: Education quality score: 97.96; Median home value: $296,010; Population: 16,284; “Just 20 minutes from the state’s capital, no point in this much-lauded seaside town is more than two miles from salt water. Green and bucolic like the village in Somerset, England it was named for, modern-day Barrington’s bustling streets are lined with historic architecture.
“The town is blessed with a robust education foundation that has awarded more than $790,000 in grants to the schools for new laptops, innovative broadcast technology, and unique programs like a four-week introduction to tai chi to help students manage stress while increasing mobility. The district is also working toward a professional learning community (PLC) model, which promotes a culture focused on education and collaboration between teachers. The 2010 NECAP report ranked the high school among the state’s top five in reading, writing, and math, and students at Barrington High School tend to ace the SATs, scoring well above state averages.”
Forbes also divided the overall list by median housing prices: $100,000 to $200,000, $200,000 to $300,000, $300,000 to $400,000, etc. The top cut is over $800,000.

Homes $800,000 and Up
1. Manhattan Beach, Calif., 97.69
2. New Canaan, Conn., 91.57
3. Lafayette, Calif., 89.58
4. Palo Alto, Calif., 89.23
5. Westport, Conn., 87.81
6. Darien, Conn., 87.14
7. Orinda, Calif., 86.68
8. Weston, Mass., 86.58
9. Rye, NY, 85.74
10. Cupertino, Calif., 85.18
Homes $600,000 to $799,999
1. Mercer Island, Wash., 99.12
2. Moraga, Calif., 97.69
3. Basking Ridge, NJ, 94.17
4. Jericho, NY, 94.17
5. Hinsdale, Ill., 92.25
6. Winchester, Mass., 90.36
7. Potomac, Md., 89.60
8. Concord, Mass., 89.56
9. Wilton, Conn., 88.48
10. Piedmont, Calif., 87.96
Homes $400,000 to $599,999
1. Parkland, Fla., 95.98
2. Southlake, Texas, 95.74
3. Severna Park, Md., 93.22
4. Sammamish, Wash., 92.78
5. Belmont, Ill., 90.90
6. Madison, Conn., 90.06
7. Syosset, NY, 89.14
8. Westwood, Mass., 88.98
9. Lexington, Mass., 87.70
10. Greenwood Village, Colo., 87.96
Homes $200,000 to $399,999
1. Falmouth, Maine, 100
2. Barrington, RI, 97.96
3. Bedford, NH, 97.96
4. Brookfield, Wisc., 94.10
5. Lake Oswego, Ore. 93.74
6. Edina, Minn., 93.59
7. Brentwood, Tenn., 90.29
8. Mequon, Wisc., 90.29
9. Carmel, Ind., 89.42
10. Cedarburg, Wisc., 88.22
 

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