Good student, great kid-- YIKES on HSPT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the percentile is created versus students in the previous testing year? This doesn’t seem correct, as those students had a different test. My understanding is that it compares students who took the same test in the same calendar year.

Out of curiosity, was it the January or December testing date that had many students bomb who normally fare much better? Curious, as my January test-taker didn’t score as well as he normally would, particularly in math, and we chalked it up to the slide from virtual learning. We are considering having him repeat Algebra in high school as a result.

I would prepare yourself that the school may make him repeat algebra. Don't expect to have a choice.

There is no shame in reinforcing math skills as a 9th grader.

The stronger your foundation is in math at a young(er) age, the more confidence they will have when the math ramps up.

My kid re-took algebra in 9th grade and it paid off b/c he could take honors math courses, later. It also showed in his math SATs.

It isn't a race.

---Wishing you all well!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bump...Just got my son's scores and we could have written the same post! He did really really badly on the HSPT, well below average...and this is a kid who tested as GT in elementary school and a A/B student in public middle school. His top choice is Good Counsel, does anyone think he still has a chance of getting in??

He will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bump...Just got my son's scores and we could have written the same post! He did really really badly on the HSPT, well below average...and this is a kid who tested as GT in elementary school and a A/B student in public middle school. His top choice is Good Counsel, does anyone think he still has a chance of getting in??

He will be fine.

Uhh. Pretty sure the thread you are replying to is 4 years old.

[Anonymous]

Someone mentioned to me that HSPT is used primarily for placement as oppose to admissions, at lease that’s what they were told at St John’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the percentile is created versus students in the previous testing year? This doesn’t seem correct, as those students had a different test. My understanding is that it compares students who took the same test in the same calendar year.

Out of curiosity, was it the January or December testing date that had many students bomb who normally fare much better? Curious, as my January test-taker didn’t score as well as he normally would, particularly in math, and we chalked it up to the slide from virtual learning. We are considering having him repeat Algebra in high school as a result.

I would prepare yourself that the school may make him repeat algebra. Don't expect to have a choice.

Many schools have a test in the spring if a student wants to try to test out of Algebra 1, 1st levels of foreign languages. My son and his friends found the Algebra 1 test very difficult and many had to repeat the class as 9th graders.

[Anonymous]

As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

Why would legacy need a definition if it wasn’t a factor? Come on now. Common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

Why would legacy need a definition if it wasn’t a factor? Come on now. Common sense.

Last year the majority of the class were legacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone mentioned to me that HSPT is used primarily for placement as oppose to admissions, at lease that’s what they were told at St John’s.

They do use it for placement but make no mistake, they use it in admissions as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the percentile is created versus students in the previous testing year? This doesn’t seem correct, as those students had a different test. My understanding is that it compares students who took the same test in the same calendar year.

Out of curiosity, was it the January or December testing date that had many students bomb who normally fare much better? Curious, as my January test-taker didn’t score as well as he normally would, particularly in math, and we chalked it up to the slide from virtual learning. We are considering having him repeat Algebra in high school as a result.

I would prepare yourself that the school may make him repeat algebra. Don't expect to have a choice.

Years ago my DC took the make up date test (jan.) and also did unexpectedly poorly in the math section (80s). However, he did well in the class placement test and is in Calc BC as a sophomore. Anyone can have a off day on a test like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

Why would legacy need a definition if it wasn’t a factor? Come on now. Common sense.

You need to read more carefully before commenting. The admissions director did not say that being a legacy was not a factor in determining admission. What he did say is that you first must meet the five mandatory criteria for admission before legacy status is even considered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

Why would legacy need a definition if it wasn’t a factor? Come on now. Common sense.

You need to read more carefully before commenting. The admissions director did not say that being a legacy was not a factor in determining admission. What he did say is that you first must meet the five mandatory criteria for admission before legacy status is even considered.

YOU need to read correctly. A brother currently enrolled is called sibling preference and not legacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Gonzaga, when I attended a small parent-only tour in 2019, the admissions director made it very clear that being a legacy was not one of the five criteria for admission. And that a legacy is defined as: (1) your father graduated from Gonzaga, or (2) you have a brother currently enrolled at Gonzaga.

Why would legacy need a definition if it wasn’t a factor? Come on now. Common sense.

You need to read more carefully before commenting. The admissions director did not say that being a legacy was not a factor in determining admission. What he did say is that you first must meet the five mandatory criteria for admission before legacy status is even considered.

YOU need to read correctly. A brother currently enrolled is called sibling preference and not legacy.

You should stop now. You are making Gonzaga look bad because you are not bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not an admissions test, it is a placement test, hsPt P for Placement, meaning that it determines which classes your child will be in when he or she attends the school. This is what I was told when I expressed concerns about my DC's low score. They didn't seem at all concerned about DC gaining admission, and they have a long record of being a feeder school to DC's first HS choice.

I've found that Catholic schools in this area really don't focus as much on getting the top scoring students, otherwise why even are there "regular" "honors" "college prep" levels of English, Math, etc., which all have similar number of students per class? The schools are looking for other things, either children of alumni, or good teacher recommendations, or good athletes, and yes, good students as well, but they are not trying to just pick a class full of 99th %ile students.

Best of luck everyone!

That is true of every school that has a non-honors track. People on here just don't want to believe it for some reason.

+1. These are not top prep schools. Their mission is to educate everyone.

Yes, this is literally the mission of Catholic schools, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not an admissions test, it is a placement test, hsPt P for Placement, meaning that it determines which classes your child will be in when he or she attends the school. This is what I was told when I expressed concerns about my DC's low score. They didn't seem at all concerned about DC gaining admission, and they have a long record of being a feeder school to DC's first HS choice.

I've found that Catholic schools in this area really don't focus as much on getting the top scoring students, otherwise why even are there "regular" "honors" "college prep" levels of English, Math, etc., which all have similar number of students per class? The schools are looking for other things, either children of alumni, or good teacher recommendations, or good athletes, and yes, good students as well, but they are not trying to just pick a class full of 99th %ile students.

Best of luck everyone!

Bump, this was my post and I just wanted to say to everyone who searches this post up in the future, DC is in at first choice school so please don't stress about HSPT scores.

I know this site has its issues but it has been really helpful in our school journey, so I hope everyone's DCs end up at a place where they can blossom and shine.