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A website that shows ratings for schools, colleges, and universities

Mohammed's picture
Submitted by Mohammed on Sat, 10/22/2011 - 16:38
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Average: 3.7 (13 votes)

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Imagine a website where you could go and look the rating of any elementary, middle, or high school, as well as colleges and universities. The schools will be rated by both current and former students. The ratings will cover different aspects such as academics, sports, arts, safety, etc.

I know that publications like US News, Wall Street Journal, and the Economist already provide ranking of colleges. They key difference between their ranked list and my proposed website is that my website will also show rating for any educational institution whereas the publications only show the top 100 colleges. There are a lot of really good schools and colleges that don't make it to their list for various reasons. Plus they don't rate elementary, middle or high schools.

It will much easier for parents and prospective students to pick a good school or college using my proposed website.

Value Proposition / Benefits: 

Target customers are parents and prospective students. The main benefit is that they can get all the quantitive information about a school or school at one place. They can easily find a 5/5 rated school within their geographic preference.

The key differentiator for my proposed site is that it will have ratings for all schools. If you live in a certain neighborhood, you can quickly find the rating for the schools in your county. In addition, since the schools are rated by current and former students, the overall ratings will have good accuracy.

Looking for Teammates: 
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Comments

Mainegirl61's picture

Mainegirl61

Sat, 10/22/2011 - 17:59

How would you avoid nonsense ratings, screening. I think teachers, professors should also be rated. Overall campus, surrounding areas

Mohammed's picture

Mohammed

Sat, 10/22/2011 - 19:04

I think your suggestion is great. Allowing students to rate teachers and professors will help in a number of ways. The teachers and professors will get feedback and be able to improve themselves or change their style. Students will know which elective classes to take.

Since the site will allow only current and former students to rate the school and teachers, we can minimize nonsense ratings. Technically it will be easy to screen out students from non-students for college and universities. For school kids, we may need the schools's help, but it can be done.

torque's picture

torque

Sat, 10/22/2011 - 20:01

There is this site greatschools.org. People get to rate schools - all levels.

Mohammed's picture

Mohammed

Sat, 10/22/2011 - 21:22

I believe greatschools.org allows anybody to rate a school. My proposed site will only allow students to rate it. The benefit is that you will have more accurate data. Also by involving the schools, you will have lot more data, so the results will be statistically valid.

torque's picture

torque

Tue, 10/25/2011 - 05:55

How will elementary and middle school kids rate?

Mohammed's picture

Mohammed

Tue, 11/01/2011 - 21:51

With schools' cooperation, it should be possible to get elementary and middle school kids to rate their schools. The benefit to the school is that they get direct feedback from their primary customers :-)

Cbelthoff's picture

Cbelthoff

Tue, 11/01/2011 - 19:53

This sounds like a glass door.com idea but for secondary schools, would need to have a process to allow only existing students and alumni to rate the school, teachers, classes, but I really like the idea.

Mohammed's picture

Mohammed

Tue, 11/01/2011 - 22:20

It should not be very difficult to come with a verification process that allows only current students and almuni to rate the school, teachers, classes, etc. Perhaps a little harder for verifying elementary, middle and high school alumni. For colleges and Universities, it should be relatively easy to verify alumni.

anviarch's picture

anviarch

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 20:36

I liked this idea. Hope the site will include the the cost factor while rating too. Can this go International?