Dave actually destroys his own argument by implying that student achievement is not tied to teacher salaries. The four schools in the Pittsburgh area that made the list as silver medal winners; North Allegheny, Hampton, Fox Chapel, and Upper St. Clair, are among the top in teacher pay in western Pennsylvania. So, there is a valid argument in stating that teacher salary is tied to student achievement. Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County, VA, the number one school on the list, has a very high average teacher salary.