It's time for AYP results. Those numbers that we all look at to see whether our child's school measures up, and whether we should or not, we use it to compare to other schools and judge our own district's schools. At first glance, the numbers seem sort of dismal for Guilford and Forsyth County. In Guilford, 60% passed, down from 69% last year. In Forsyth, 53% passed, also lower than last year's 67%. (Click here for all counties and individual school scores.)

I admint, I was proud the school my daughter will go to passed.. But does that mean my stepson's high school, which didn't, is a bad school? Not necessarily. It helps to understand what AYP is. First of all, in North Carolina, it's an all or nothing grade. A school passes if they meet every goal, but if they miss just one, they don't pass. The goals are based on reading and math scores from target groups, which have to meet set goals. Learn more about the standards on the state's school site.

Percentage of pass rates for counties are also affected by factors such as how many new schools were started in the past year, and Forsyth County's rates are down in part because of a bump last year from a newly instated re-testing procedure.

The AYP results always tend to bring up more debate about the No Child Left Behind policy, whether it's good for our schools and whether it's working. For an interesting look at the complications that arise with NCLB, check out this analysis by two professors, written in 2001, right after the bill was passed by Congress but before the policies were implemented. It is an eye-opening study, that makes you wonder how the whole program was put into practice in the first place.

The all-or-nothing AYP rankings are just one reason Obama's administration is pushing for education reform. And there's no denying our system needs some help.

So when it comes to choosing a good school for your child, what can you do? Definitely look at the results. But also go by, talk to the principal and some teachers, and take an active role in your child's education. A little one-on-one attention will go a long way to helping your child get the most out of his school career.