Determine the town that interests you. Keep in mind that school districts can be large, depending on the town, and the data on the schools may not vary much in one area.
Use websites that provide ratings for schools throughout the nation (see Resources). Though this may not be as thorough, it can help to get you started.
Request the following data on the public schools in that district from the superintendent: attendance rate, dropout rate, standardized test results, teacher/student ratio, spending per student and the percentage of graduates attending college.
Compare the data you collect with the state averages, which you can obtain from that state's Department of Education.
Visit the schools yourself to see the teachers and administrators in action and make your own, final determination on how the public schools rate. Take note of the following for each location: the atmosphere, the attitudes of the students and staff toward education, the building conditions and cleanliness and parent participation.
Form a committee if you, and others, find that the public schools in your town need improvement. Present your analysis to the school board with a list of problems, the solutions you suggest and the means for reaching those solutions.