Jay Mathews has been maintaining the Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools list since 1998, until this year when he moved that list to The Washington Post. Newsweek editors have created their own list based on a different way of rating schools.
Here's old methodology
High Schools ranking from Washington Post
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/schools/2011/list/new-york-schools/
"The Challenge Index list uses only one factor — the ratio of college level tests to graduating seniors — to rank schools."
High Schools from Rochester, New York
010 Brighton
015 Odyssey Academy
016 Pittsford Sutherland
018 Pittsford Mendon
031 Victor
065 Joseph C. Wilson Magnet
102 Penfield
112 East Rochester
The new methodology
High Schools ranking from Newsweek
http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/feature/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html
"Our new criteria have six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), and AP tests taken per graduate (25%), plus average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%), and AP courses offered per graduate (5%)."
High Schools from Rochester, New York
073 Pittsford Sutherland
099 Pittsford Mendon
147 Brighton
175 Greece Odyssey Academy
245 Fairport
283 Penfield
349 Irondequoit
351 Victor
Both rankings listed 8 schools from Rochester and 5 schools appear on both listings.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Cheat sheet for doing the 2010 tax returns
12/14/2010
- IRS has released the P17 for 2010 tax year.
- Due date of tax return has changed:
The due date of Form 1040 is April 18, 2011, instead of April 15, 2011. - Expired tax benefit:
The exclusion from income of up to $2,400 in unemployment compensation.
All unemployment compensation you received in 2010 generally is taxable. - Expired tax benefit:
No increase standard deduction for real estate taxes paid in 2010.
The additional deduction amount in 2009 was either the amount of real estate taxes paid, or $500 for single filers or $1,000 for joint filers, whichever is less.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
All about income tax preparer
Caveat emptor!
You are legally responsible for your tax returns even if someone else prepared the returns for you.
Who qualifies as an income tax preparer?
According to IRS, a tax preparer is any person who receives compensation for preparation of another individual's tax return.
However, there are NO educational & professional requirements from IRS for income tax preparers.
Types of income tax preparer
1) Local tax services
2) National tax services, such as H.R. Block or Jackson Hewitt
3) Enrolled agents (EA)
4) Certified public accountants (CPA)
5) Tax attorneys
Please note that only CPA and tax attorney have educational and professional requirements.
Choosing an income tax preparer
You should decide what level of services you need and how much you can afford to pay.
Do you want to save time, money, or both? Are you looking for someone to only prepare your tax return? Or, do you need someone to be your tax advisor year-around?
1) Does the preparer has training & experience in your tax situation? Does the preparer keep abreast of tax laws & changes in your area?
2) Can the preparer be reached during the year? Can the preparer represent you in an audit? Please note that only EA, CPA, or tax attorneys are authorized to represent you to IRS.
3) How is the fee determined? Ask for an estimated. Ensure that you have a clear understanding of the cost and what it includes. The fees could be based on the complexity of the return, but never on the size of the tax saving or refund.
Please go to this IRS web page for more information.
Free tax return preparation
The IRS has programs offer free tax help if you qualify.
1) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $39,000 or less) people.
2) Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to people age 60 and older.
However, most volunteers often are just fill-in the lines on the tax forms; they may not able to offer any tax planning or advice.
7 May 2007 - Created
9 Aug 2008 - Updated
You are legally responsible for your tax returns even if someone else prepared the returns for you.
Who qualifies as an income tax preparer?
According to IRS, a tax preparer is any person who receives compensation for preparation of another individual's tax return.
However, there are NO educational & professional requirements from IRS for income tax preparers.
Types of income tax preparer
1) Local tax services
2) National tax services, such as H.R. Block or Jackson Hewitt
3) Enrolled agents (EA)
4) Certified public accountants (CPA)
5) Tax attorneys
Please note that only CPA and tax attorney have educational and professional requirements.
Choosing an income tax preparer
You should decide what level of services you need and how much you can afford to pay.
Do you want to save time, money, or both? Are you looking for someone to only prepare your tax return? Or, do you need someone to be your tax advisor year-around?
1) Does the preparer has training & experience in your tax situation? Does the preparer keep abreast of tax laws & changes in your area?
2) Can the preparer be reached during the year? Can the preparer represent you in an audit? Please note that only EA, CPA, or tax attorneys are authorized to represent you to IRS.
3) How is the fee determined? Ask for an estimated. Ensure that you have a clear understanding of the cost and what it includes. The fees could be based on the complexity of the return, but never on the size of the tax saving or refund.
Please go to this IRS web page for more information.
Free tax return preparation
The IRS has programs offer free tax help if you qualify.
1) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $39,000 or less) people.
2) Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to people age 60 and older.
However, most volunteers often are just fill-in the lines on the tax forms; they may not able to offer any tax planning or advice.
7 May 2007 - Created
9 Aug 2008 - Updated
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The rule of investing success
From: Internet
THE RULE
You must have stocks and bonds in your investment portfolio
Asset allocation
Or simply
% stocks = 120 - age
Index mutual funds
You really only need 3 mutual funds to cover entire stock and bond market.
1) Total US market stocks index fund
2) Total foreign stocks index fund (10% to 15% of your stock portfolio, most large US companies already are global company.)
3) Total bonds index fund
THE RULE
You must have stocks and bonds in your investment portfolio
Asset allocation
| TYPE | Age | Stocks | Bonds |
| GROWTH | 40s or younger | 70% | 30% |
| BALANCED | 50s to 60s | 50% | 50% |
| CONSERVATIVE | 70s or older | 20% | 80% |
Or simply
% stocks = 120 - age
Index mutual funds
You really only need 3 mutual funds to cover entire stock and bond market.
1) Total US market stocks index fund
2) Total foreign stocks index fund (10% to 15% of your stock portfolio, most large US companies already are global company.)
3) Total bonds index fund
Friday, May 23, 2008
Asset allocation with Vanguard index funds
From Morningstar.com
Assuming you want to build a portfolio of 70% stocks and 30% fixed income
Please note that you could easily build a similar portfolio with all Fidelity funds.
Assuming you want to build a portfolio of 70% stocks and 30% fixed income
% | Index funds | ETF |
50 | ||
20 | - | |
25 |
Please note that you could easily build a similar portfolio with all Fidelity funds.
Free tools for asset allocation
From: Internet
Moringstar: Instant X-ray
Tip: If you have ETF in your portfolio, enter its corresponding mutual fund instead.
SEC: Asset Allocation 101
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System: Online Calculator
Moringstar: Instant X-ray
Tip: If you have ETF in your portfolio, enter its corresponding mutual fund instead.
SEC: Asset Allocation 101
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System: Online Calculator
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Five Basics for Building a Solid Financial Future
From nytimes.com
0. Live within Your Means. And start an emergency fund.
1. Simplify Your Investments. Allocate your investments among index funds. Reallocate occasionally.
2. Occasionally Pay For Help. Discipline in investing is worth paying for. Also, get help on taxes and financial planning.
3. However, there is a lot of good advices are on Internet.
4. Automate everything.
5. Communicate. Discuss your finances with your family.
0. Live within Your Means. And start an emergency fund.
1. Simplify Your Investments. Allocate your investments among index funds. Reallocate occasionally.
2. Occasionally Pay For Help. Discipline in investing is worth paying for. Also, get help on taxes and financial planning.
3. However, there is a lot of good advices are on Internet.
4. Automate everything.
5. Communicate. Discuss your finances with your family.
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