South Brunswick|News|
Opinion: What School Rankings Can't Tell You About School Quality
Rankings sell glossy magazines and help clinch real estate deals, they don't focus on the whole child or the whole school.

Email: davy.james@patch.com
Phone: 609-937-4559
Hometown: East Windsor, NJ
Birthday: July 17
Bio: Davy James is the Editor of South Brunswick Patch and East Brunswick Patch. He is a lifelong New Jersey resident, born in Princeton Hospital and raised in East Windsor. He attended Hightstown High School and following graduation worked in the exciting, glamorous and challenging fields of gas station pump attendant and farm equipment parts sales.
Davy graduated with honors from Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies.
Davy got his start in journalism working as a reporter and staff writer for Packet Publications, where he spent three years covering South Brunswick.
Davy looks forward to continuing his time in South Brunswick with Patch, where he will continue to report on the Township Council, schools and other goings on around town.
Davy is an avid sports fan, football junky and somewhat proud season ticket holder for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where his hopes are perennially crushed by the football team.
Davy enjoys the mindless comedies of Will Ferrell, the gory mayhem of Quentin Tarantino movies and the books of Ernest Hemingway.
Before finally buying an iPod, Davy spent countless dollars replacing his worn out Nirvana CDs, which he listens to on near constant repeat.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics: I am a registered Democrat who is liberal on some issues and conservative on others. I don't believe any reasonable person can make all of their political decisions based on one overarching philosophy. I believe in listening to both sides and making an independent decision based on fact and not party lines.
Religion: Non-religious.
What are the most important issues facing the community?
The difficulties both the Township Council and Board of Education face with balancing the services and programs they provide with the need to keep property taxes down. The need to control development in town versus the necessity to bring in clean ratables. Like anyone who has driven through South Brunswick during rush hour or close to it, when is Route 1 finally going to be widened?
Rankings sell glossy magazines and help clinch real estate deals, they don't focus on the whole child or the whole school.

Rankings sell glossy magazines and help clinch real estate deals, they don't focus on the whole child or the whole school.
Top stories of the week from Mercer and Middlesex County.
Top stories of the week from Mercer and Middlesex County.
Jamboree brings together 40,000 Boy Scouts from all around the world.
Indigo Partners is the likely purchaser of the airline, according to reports.
Aug. 2 marks six months until Super Bowl XLVIII kicks off at MetLife Stadium. Find volunteering opportunities, hotel options and Super Bowl week activities here.
Aug. 2 marks six months until Super Bowl XLVIII kicks off at MetLife Stadium. Find volunteering opportunities, hotel options and Super Bowl week activities here.
Senate polls reflect frontrunners’ big lead in money, organization, and name recognition.
Senate polls reflect frontrunners’ big lead in money, organization, and name recognition.
Authorities said a 37-year-old Pennsylvania man was killed after his vehicle was struck from behind at a red light by a tractor trailer.
A-Rod may return to the Yankees after the series, if he isn't suspended by MLB first.
Three people seriously injured in collision on July 8.
Both sides of Route 1 experiencing heavy traffic backup.
Grover's Mill Coffee has grand opening Sunday with gourmet coffee and tea, sandwiches and more in the South Brunswick Public Library.
Summer concert series, clothes giveaway, and coffeehouse grand opening highlight weekend events in South Brunswick.
Events in and around Lawrenceville this weekend.
Find out what's going on in South Brunswick today.
Find out what's going on around town today.