What is considered a good WISC-IV score?

[Anonymous]

My DC got a 106 overall and 117 for verbal. I know these aren't great scores but she's also not a good test taker. She's bright but not in a traditionally academic way. She's good at art and music and language arts but, well, obviously not stellar in language arts as she is in the other things. I'm worried that she won't be able to get into some of lower-priced private schools we're looking at. She has been in 3 private schools before and done well but has had issues in math this year in public school. She's currently getting Kumon tutoring so that she can keep up and hopefully even get ahead at some point.

The private school scene seems downright scary competitive from a) what I've read on this forum and b) getting a sense of talking to some of the admissions directors.

She just doesn't like the social or academic scene at her public school this year and wants to go back to private. If my DH gets transferred back to D.C., and I can't get her into a private school, I will tell him to turn down the transfer. I just can't in good conscience put her into another public school where she will feel overwhelmed by the large class size, lack of teacher attention, and some of the horribly-behaved kids who take the teacher's time away from, actually, TEACHING, to dealing with behavioral problems that their parents should have handled to begin with! And then, there is the teaching to the test mentality.

She really is a charming, witty, bright sociable kid who gets along well with others and has never been a behavioral problem at school. Do I have a shot at getting in her somewhere or is it all about test scores?

[Anonymous]

My sense is that those scores will be absolutely fine for the less competitive private schools. I spoke with an AD from one of the most competetive, and they said they like to see scores of above 120, but that they are less concerned with these scores the older the child is. At older ages, children may have a talent that stands out that the school is looking for, or perhaps they have a history of doing well academically but just don't test very well.

[Anonymous]

One thing to look at in the test is a gap. 117 for verbal is the high , 106 is the full scale, what's the low? If there's a big range, that's something to investigate in terms of the kind of support that would most benefit her. A 106 alone should still give you choices in schools. This board is frequently has a narrow focus, but there really is a broader world...even in the DC area. Not sure though, that there are many "lower priced" schools unless you include religious-based schools, in which case, you should be fine. How old is you daughter?

[Anonymous]

OP, as 8:13 notes, the gap might warrant followup, thought gaps among subsets can be less a concern with WISC IV than WISC III. If I were OP, I would ask the consultant to explain and ask if this particular difference was any concern. As for admissions, of course there are schools, even in this intense scene. I'd see if you husband's employer would cover the services of an education consultant. What's the timing of the transfer?

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add that there are great public schools around DC--ones where teachers do get the chance to focus on teaching. You'd just have to look carefully, obviously.