Minimum test score for Sidwell Pre-K?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Sidwell Friends (and other independent schools in DC) has a minimum WPSI-III score it prefers for pre-school admission? thanks

[Anonymous]

Test scores are used to determine whether a child can handle the work. I was told that a score below 80th percentile was an informal cutoff that would indicate the child may not be a good fit for some of the more competetive schools' curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Which reminds me, did anyone else hate hate hate that parent questionnaire you have to fill out during the playdate? Fifteen minutes to determine your child's future! Ugh!

[Anonymous]

90% (120)

[Anonymous]

PP - how do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% (120)

yes i am curious...is this true? how do you know?

[Anonymous]

Look if you really need a high WPPSI, I can tell you how to get one.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there is no official minimum but if John Robert's kids had an 85%-ile they might let them in. 90%-ile is not unbelieveable. And even though you may think the number is high compared to the general population, it's not very competitive when compared to the children around here with parents with the means to apply to these schools. Even if your child scored so high you can't imagine how anyone can score higher, they can and do. Don't put too much weight in the numbers. They may keep you out but they won't get you in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look if you really need a high WPPSI, I can tell you how to get one.

Read to your child. Play with them. Talk to them.

[Anonymous]

What percentage of kids applying to places like Sidwell actually score in the 90s & above? Anyone care to venture a guess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of kids applying to places like Sidwell actually score in the 90s & above? Anyone care to venture a guess?

High enough to still make it very very competitive for every spot whether you are an alum, Quaker, or regular-ole applicant.

[Anonymous]

I think quite a few. Our DC scored in the 99% with a rough IQ estimate of 140. I was amazed at how many do score in that range 97% and above, but this is an area with a lot of smart kids (I am not an overly smart person, pretty average, though I work hard and am educated, so my DC's score was a big surprise!) Anyway, as someone else said, I understand it doesn't get you in, but if you don't have other special categories (alumni, quaker, sib, VIP, diversity, etc. ) to help with the application, a score in the 90% or above seems to the be conv. wisdom of getting you in the door

[Anonymous]

Don't game the test. It should be a tool for you as a parent. If your child is somewhat in the average spectrum, doesn't that help you decide what might be best for them? Same with the higher and lower ends of the spectrum. Gaming it seems so wrong to me on so many levels.

[Anonymous]

My DC was 98% -- rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't game the test. It should be a tool for you as a parent. If your child is somewhat in the average spectrum, doesn't that help you decide what might be best for them? Same with the higher and lower ends of the spectrum. Gaming it seems so wrong to me on so many levels.

I totally agree with this. The WPPSI is a diagnostic tool to tell parents and school how receptive a child is to further learning and in some case the way they learn. The uber competitive private are not interested in developing all children, they want kids who are already bright so they they can maintain their reputations and college placement stats. If our child (we will not prep her for the test) does well in the test, then we will apply to the big 3, but if not we will look at other alternatives to make sure that she gets the best education to meet her needs. Pk may be the largest entry point, but it is certainly not the only.