Lawrence schools retain lofty business ranking

The Lawrence school district has secured Douglas County’s place among the five best educational areas in the country for businesses looking to relocate or expand, according to a new study.

Expansion Management magazine rated the Lawrence area No. 4 among 363 metropolitan statistical areas, which contain 2,800 districts with at least 3,300 students.

The ranking reflects the relative value of the district’s outputs: high school graduates who will be entering the work force, and whose competence and chances for success can be traced through test scores, community investments and other factors.

Taken together, Lawrence’s schools trail only those in State College, Pa.; and Sheboygan and Madison, Wis., in meeting the needs of businesses looking to relocate or expand during the next one to three years, according to the magazine.

“One of the roles of public education is — certainly not the only role we play — but it’s to prepare kids for what the marketplace is looking for,” said Randy Weseman, superintendent of Lawrence public schools. “We’re all economic animals, and we’re all going to go out and be gainfully employed, all things being equal. We work with the business community. We work with the universities …

“I’ve always said that it takes a team of people to get things done … and it’s nice to be recognized for it.”

This is the second consecutive year that Lawrence schools have fared well in Expansion Management’s rankings. Last year the Lawrence area ranked second behind State College, Pa., home to Pennsylvania State University.

Many of the top metro areas are home to major universities, said Bill King, the magazine’s chief editor.

Lynn Parman, vice president for economic development at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, welcomed news of the ranking, which had proven to be a valuable tool when marketing Lawrence as a business destination..

“This is something consultants use when they’re evaluating communities,” Parman said. “The fact that we can say we’re in the top five nationally, with the quality of our school system, you can’t measure that. It’s something we promote every day.”

Metro areas with the best overall public schools, a key measure for businesses looking to expand or relocate, according to Expansion Management magazine, a publication for executives of businesses that are actively looking for a place to expand or relocate during the next one to three years. The 2004 rankings are in parentheses:1. State College, Pa. (1)2. Sheboygan, Wis. (8)3. Madison, Wis. (6)4. Lawrence (2)5. Iowa City (4)