Is a public school A = private school A- (or B+)?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm in nyc where there are plenty of private schools that are pretty well known for grade inflation.

Here's an example of grade distribution:

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1662473043/packer/jqwg5zprhm5kuweelfde/2022-23SchoolProfileBrochureforCollegeOffice.pdf

I 100% do not assume public schools grade more leniently than private schools. Usually it's the opposite. Public schools kids can actually get a C or a D

Yes. Former private school teacher, public school student. The one time I tried to give a C student a C at my private school faced extreme pushback from the family and then the school. At public school, lots of kids actually get Cs and Ds.

Not anymore. The pressure on public school teachers to get kids to get at least a C is immense. My DH is constantly having to contact parents and get kids to do retakes is ridiculous. He’s basically begging kids to do work. It’s pathetic.

My brother is a high school teacher at a title 1 school and goes on and on about how hardworking kids are and how much responsibility they have. They all have jobs or real home responsibilities, like they cant' stay late at school b/c they have to pick up their siblings, make the dinner, etc bcs mom works til 11. He had a student who missed a week of school and when my brother asked about it the kid said he can never get to school during Restaurant Week because it's too slammed. This is not a kid working at his mom and dad's place, which is super common too, but a kid who literally is working a full-time job while providing for his family. But sure, they're all lazy at your husband's school I guess.

Sounds like those kids shouldn’t bother with school. Let’s be honest. They aren’t going onto college and if their parents can’t even support them, their future isn’t much better than their parents.

They do pretty well at college, thanks for asking. A college schedule has a lot more flexibly. And his high school does a great job educating kids on what regional schools give huge merit money for ACT above a 28. These are not colleges people here care about, but it's a solid education. And their future will be more secure bcs they're literate. Also, as an aside, I think parents who manage despite enormous odds to leave countries in terrible crisis and get to the united states and launch their kids here are courageous and on their way to extraordinarily successful lives themselves. My brother often meets these families in the first hard years here. The immigrant experience is the American experience. Let's be honest.

They don’t go to college if they have to work to support their family while they are still in HS. Be realistic. All of this college ready crap is ridiculous. A kid who needs to work to help pay the family bills isn’t going to college.

Do you have any idea how many college kids also work? Most.

A college kid who works is different than the students you are writing about. Those students miss tons of HS because their parents need their income to live. They aren't going to have any money for college.

[Anonymous]

This is why I love the SAT. Our friends with kids in private HS 50-70K a year kept telling me how it was "like college" and so much harder. Then the SATs came out low but that was a fluke and then they kid goes to college (not hard one) and got terrible grades because it was so hard. Next example, kid left public school for two years and came back and could not keep up - lost ground.

[Anonymous]

our public k-8 system is strong-ish. it falls apart in high school.

our privates school are very mid-table

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in nyc where there are plenty of private schools that are pretty well known for grade inflation.

Here's an example of grade distribution:

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1662473043/packer/jqwg5zprhm5kuweelfde/2022-23SchoolProfileBrochureforCollegeOffice.pdf

I 100% do not assume public schools grade more leniently than private schools. Usually it's the opposite. Public schools kids can actually get a C or a D

Private schools very much want their students to have all As and Bs. They will suggest easier classes for areas where students are weak. They counsel out students not doing well by the end of elementary school, and again by the end of middle school. They are able to pick and choose students who will be successful at the school, and do their best to make those students look as good as possible for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Those kids don’t even attend school on a regular basis. My DH had quite a few students who missed well over 50 days of school. They missed that every year.

Yes. Public school teacher here. The ones getting Cs and Ds DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL.
And there are a surprisingly large number of them.

Let me be frank. It is not difficult to get Bs at most publics if you simply come to school and make any attempt to do the work.

Are we comparing 50k private schools with schools that have high truancy rates? Because I bet the kids from Thomas Jefferson or Bronx Science would like a word.

You are totally missing the point (or being purposely obtuse). MOST public schools (which is the vast majority of kids applying to college) inflate grades - privates (and public magnets which are basically privates paid for by our taxes) don’t. Magnets make up a very small percentage of public schools…

we don't have magnets in nyc so I'm lost on that point. but I'm trying to make things clear. most colleges are not at all selective, so this is moot. if you're talking selective colleges, then no, the vast majority aren't coming from public. It's usually more public than private, but not by a vast number. rigorous public schools don't inflate grades. I've never heard of retakes, but obviously this is something thats happening in Arlington. Can't imagine the resources that would require and most rigorous public schools don't have those resources.

Parents in this are area are care about the most selective colleges so grade inflation matters here (that’s why they are sending them to rigorous magnets or privates). It’s disingenuous to say the “vast majority of kids” at selective schools aren’t coming from public. In fact, 60 percent or more are coming from public.

The DC area has some of THE most rigorous schools in the country. Virginia and Maryland rank in the top ten states for education and the DC area schools are at the top for those lists (Fairfax and MCPS are top in the nation). They are all are doing equitable grading which results in grade inflation.

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.

Disagree on the publics, just more DC bluster. [b]TJ students have a national rep for arrogance not achievement, when they go on to top schools but are quickly overshadowed.

Says the mommy who's still upset that her snowflake didn't get into TJ and pissed off at having to pay top $ for a medicore 'Big 3' (or is it Big 30?) private.

[Anonymous]

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.


According to Niche, NCS is ranked as the number 6th best all-girls private school in the country. St. Albans was ranked as the 4th best all boys private school in the nation by the same publication. Sidwell was ranked as the 14th best private in the nation.

Fortunately, my husband and I can afford to put our three kids into the Cathedral schools. It has been worth every cent we are spending.

DC public schools are a disaster. There was not a chance we would send our kids to DCPS.

According to a recent report from the D.C. Policy Center, graduation rates at D.C. public schools and public charter schools have been steadily rising since the 2018–19 school year. In 2022, 75 percent of all students graduated high school in four years, up seven percentage points from 2019. However, this progress is not reflected in measurements tracking students' academic achievement. On state assessments, the percentage of high school students that "met" or "exceeded" expectations in the math test declined from 18.4 percent in 2019 to just 11 percent in 2022. English scores stayed the same. Absenteeism is also up, with the percentage of students absent for more than 10 percent of the school year reaching a staggering 48 percent in the 2021–22 academic year, increasing from 29 percent three years prior.

My husband went to public high school in the South with 3,800 kids just in 11th and 12th grade. He has done well. Public school kids are not dumb, and can be extremely successful if they are driven. Same for private school kids. This constant back and forth about public vs private is insane. Kids can thrive in both public and private. I happen to believe that our kids are better served by private school. That's a choice we made. if you send your kids to public school, that's your choice as well.

I have a kid that just graduated from HS and he is going to a large state flagship. He wanted to do something different after having a small school experience. I'm sure he will meet your boys from public schools there and they will be friends for life.

Back on topic, grade inflation does happen at public schools. It has not happened at out kid's private schools. The idea of me calling our kids school to "complain" about grades and have them adjusted is just laughable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids don’t even attend school on a regular basis. My DH had quite a few students who missed well over 50 days of school. They missed that every year.

Yes. Public school teacher here. The ones getting Cs and Ds DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL.
And there are a surprisingly large number of them.

Let me be frank. It is not difficult to get Bs at most publics if you simply come to school and make any attempt to do the work.

Are we comparing 50k private schools with schools that have high truancy rates? Because I bet the kids from Thomas Jefferson or Bronx Science would like a word.

You are totally missing the point (or being purposely obtuse). MOST public schools (which is the vast majority of kids applying to college) inflate grades - privates (and public magnets which are basically privates paid for by our taxes) don’t. Magnets make up a very small percentage of public schools…

we don't have magnets in nyc so I'm lost on that point. but I'm trying to make things clear. most colleges are not at all selective, so this is moot. if you're talking selective colleges, then no, the vast majority aren't coming from public. It's usually more public than private, but not by a vast number. rigorous public schools don't inflate grades. I've never heard of retakes, but obviously this is something thats happening in Arlington. [b]Can't imagine the resources that would require and most rigorous public schools don't have those resources.

Parents in this are area are care about the most selective colleges so grade inflation matters here (that’s why they are sending them to rigorous magnets or privates). It’s disingenuous to say the “vast majority of kids” at selective schools aren’t coming from public. In fact, 60 percent or more are coming from public.

The DC area has some of THE most rigorous schools in the country. Virginia and Maryland rank in the top ten states for education and the DC area schools are at the top for those lists (Fairfax and MCPS are top in the nation). They are all are doing equitable grading which results in grade inflation.

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.

What are you prattling on about?
The DMV has one public high school routinely ranked in the top 100 in the US: TJ.

There are at least 5 states that are always ranked as having better schools state-wide than the DMV states do:

MA, NJ, CT, VT, NH

Give me a break, being the top 10 out of fifty states is great. You are desperately reaching here…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids don’t even attend school on a regular basis. My DH had quite a few students who missed well over 50 days of school. They missed that every year.

Yes. Public school teacher here. The ones getting Cs and Ds DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL.
And there are a surprisingly large number of them.

Let me be frank. It is not difficult to get Bs at most publics if you simply come to school and make any attempt to do the work.

Are we comparing 50k private schools with schools that have high truancy rates? Because I bet the kids from Thomas Jefferson or Bronx Science would like a word.

You are totally missing the point (or being purposely obtuse). MOST public schools (which is the vast majority of kids applying to college) inflate grades - privates (and public magnets which are basically privates paid for by our taxes) don’t. Magnets make up a very small percentage of public schools…

we don't have magnets in nyc so I'm lost on that point. but I'm trying to make things clear. most colleges are not at all selective, so this is moot. if you're talking selective colleges, then no, the vast majority aren't coming from public. It's usually more public than private, but not by a vast number. rigorous public schools don't inflate grades. I've never heard of retakes, but obviously this is something thats happening in Arlington. [b]Can't imagine the resources that would require and most rigorous public schools don't have those resources.

Parents in this are area are care about the most selective colleges so grade inflation matters here (that’s why they are sending them to rigorous magnets or privates). It’s disingenuous to say the “vast majority of kids” at selective schools aren’t coming from public. In fact, 60 percent or more are coming from public.

The DC area has some of THE most rigorous schools in the country. Virginia and Maryland rank in the top ten states for education and the DC area schools are at the top for those lists (Fairfax and MCPS are top in the nation). They are all are doing equitable grading which results in grade inflation.

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.

What are you prattling on about?
The DMV has one public high school routinely ranked in the top 100 in the US: TJ.

There are at least 5 states that are always ranked as having better schools state-wide than the DMV states do:

MA, NJ, CT, VT, NH

Give me a break, being the top 10 out of fifty states is great. You are desperately reaching here…

And there are 35K+ private schools in the US. Being in the top 100 is pretty darn impressive. You don't have to be in top 10 to be considered
"good" or even "great."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I know is rich kids get extra time on the SAT

https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/05/28/new-scrutiny-patterns-which-wealthier-students-are-more-likely-get

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/extra-time-for-sats-a-college-application-secret-of-wealthy-families/

Yep. Another way the UMC and rich game the system. But the SAT shows "merit" , right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.


According to Niche, NCS is ranked as the number 6th best all-girls private school in the country. St. Albans was ranked as the 4th best all boys private school in the nation by the same publication. Sidwell was ranked as the 14th best private in the nation.

Fortunately, my husband and I can afford to put our three kids into the Cathedral schools. It has been worth every cent we are spending.

DC public schools are a disaster. There was not a chance we would send our kids to DCPS.

According to a recent report from the D.C. Policy Center, graduation rates at D.C. public schools and public charter schools have been steadily rising since the 2018–19 school year. In 2022, 75 percent of all students graduated high school in four years, up seven percentage points from 2019. However, this progress is not reflected in measurements tracking students' academic achievement. On state assessments, the percentage of high school students that "met" or "exceeded" expectations in the math test declined from 18.4 percent in 2019 to just 11 percent in 2022. English scores stayed the same. Absenteeism is also up, with the percentage of students absent for more than 10 percent of the school year reaching a staggering 48 percent in the 2021–22 academic year, increasing from 29 percent three years prior.

My husband went to public high school in the South with 3,800 kids just in 11th and 12th grade. He has done well. Public school kids are not dumb, and can be extremely successful if they are driven. Same for private school kids. This constant back and forth about public vs private is insane. Kids can thrive in both public and private. I happen to believe that our kids are better served by private school. That's a choice we made. if you send your kids to public school, that's your choice as well.

I have a kid that just graduated from HS and he is going to a large state flagship. He wanted to do something different after having a small school experience. I'm sure he will meet your boys from public schools there and they will be friends for life.

Back on topic, grade inflation does happen at public schools. It has not happened at out kid's private schools. The idea of me calling our kids school to "complain" about grades and have them adjusted is just laughable!



You don’t write any better than my public high school senior.

[Anonymous]

>>NCS is ranked as the number 6th best all-girls private school in the country<<

good lord

[Anonymous]

Big 3's 'A+' = TJ's B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big 3's 'A+' = TJ's B.

That's being lenient, it's more like 'B-'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids don’t even attend school on a regular basis. My DH had quite a few students who missed well over 50 days of school. They missed that every year.

Yes. Public school teacher here. The ones getting Cs and Ds DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL.
And there are a surprisingly large number of them.

Let me be frank. It is not difficult to get Bs at most publics if you simply come to school and make any attempt to do the work.

Are we comparing 50k private schools with schools that have high truancy rates? Because I bet the kids from Thomas Jefferson or Bronx Science would like a word.

You are totally missing the point (or being purposely obtuse). MOST public schools (which is the vast majority of kids applying to college) inflate grades - privates (and public magnets which are basically privates paid for by our taxes) don’t. Magnets make up a very small percentage of public schools…

we don't have magnets in nyc so I'm lost on that point. but I'm trying to make things clear. most colleges are not at all selective, so this is moot. if you're talking selective colleges, then no, the vast majority aren't coming from public. It's usually more public than private, but not by a vast number. rigorous public schools don't inflate grades. I've never heard of retakes, but obviously this is something thats happening in Arlington. Can't imagine the resources that would require and most rigorous public schools don't have those resources.

Parents in this are area are care about the most selective colleges so grade inflation matters here (that’s why they are sending them to rigorous magnets or privates). It’s disingenuous to say the “vast majority of kids” at selective schools aren’t coming from public. In fact, 60 percent or more are coming from public.

The DC area has some of THE most rigorous schools in the country. Virginia and Maryland rank in the top ten states for education and the DC area schools are at the top for those lists (Fairfax and MCPS are top in the nation). They are all are doing equitable grading which results in grade inflation.

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.

Disagree on the publics, just more DC bluster. [b]TJ students have a national rep for arrogance not achievement, when they go on to top schools but are quickly overshadowed.

Says the mommy who's still upset that her snowflake didn't get into TJ and pissed off at having to pay top $ for a medicore 'Big 3' (or is it Big 30?) private.

Nope, on the other side of the country, in a niche academic setting. TJ is known, I’ll give it that—I don’t bring it up, these are people who met TJ alums in college. The rep is they come in with egos but fade to bit players. While students from other elite publics tend the opposite, nice enough but will eat your lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those kids don’t even attend school on a regular basis. My DH had quite a few students who missed well over 50 days of school. They missed that every year.

Yes. Public school teacher here. The ones getting Cs and Ds DON'T ATTEND SCHOOL.
And there are a surprisingly large number of them.

Let me be frank. It is not difficult to get Bs at most publics if you simply come to school and make any attempt to do the work.

Are we comparing 50k private schools with schools that have high truancy rates? Because I bet the kids from Thomas Jefferson or Bronx Science would like a word.

You are totally missing the point (or being purposely obtuse). MOST public schools (which is the vast majority of kids applying to college) inflate grades - privates (and public magnets which are basically privates paid for by our taxes) don’t. Magnets make up a very small percentage of public schools…

we don't have magnets in nyc so I'm lost on that point. but I'm trying to make things clear. most colleges are not at all selective, so this is moot. if you're talking selective colleges, then no, the vast majority aren't coming from public. It's usually more public than private, but not by a vast number. rigorous public schools don't inflate grades. I've never heard of retakes, but obviously this is something thats happening in Arlington. Can't imagine the resources that would require and most rigorous public schools don't have those resources.

Parents in this are area are care about the most selective colleges so grade inflation matters here (that’s why they are sending them to rigorous magnets or privates). It’s disingenuous to say the “vast majority of kids” at selective schools aren’t coming from public. In fact, 60 percent or more are coming from public.

The DC area has some of THE most rigorous schools in the country. Virginia and Maryland rank in the top ten states for education and the DC area schools are at the top for those lists (Fairfax and MCPS are top in the nation). They are all are doing equitable grading which results in grade inflation.

I think we have some of the most rigorous publics. We have strong private schools, but not top in the country.

Disagree on the publics, just more DC bluster. [b]TJ students have a national rep for arrogance not achievement, when they go on to top schools but are quickly overshadowed.

Says the mommy who's still upset that her snowflake didn't get into TJ and pissed off at having to pay top $ for a medicore 'Big 3' (or is it Big 30?) private.

Nope, on the other side of the country, in a niche academic setting. TJ is known, I’ll give it that—I don’t bring it up, these are people who met TJ alums in college. The rep is they come in with egos but fade to bit players. While students from other elite publics tend the opposite, nice enough but will eat your lunch.

Top 10% students at the most rigorous institutions in the US are made up of mostly TJ grads including MIT, CMU, UC Berkeley, Princeton, Caltech etc. Schools do not want to talk about this since it is not pol cor.