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Why are private schools not transparent with their test scores?
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Anonymous
Transparency is transparency. Don't be an idiot. Of course nobody is compelling them to release scores -- but why won't they release this added bit of information? I promise you, nobody will make SAT scores their only criterion for choosing a private high school. Does anybody choose Harvard solely because of the SAT scores of the average entering class? |
Anonymous
The name calling is a really effective way to make your point. |
Anonymous
| If 17:10 claims she doesn't see any value in transparency, then she's trying hard not to see it, even closing her eyes. I don't really think she's dense. But how can you say "transparency is a misnomer" with a straight face, unless you're trying really hard to miss the point? |
Anonymous
SAT score range - this is criteria for entrance not for exit. SAT score range does not tell you what the college will produce - just what it will tolerate. Is there a private school for which you can not find location and tuition? |
Anonymous
| Well, she might be thinking about all the "specials" (music, art, etc.) that many of the privates have vs. their growing absence from the no child left behind test prep machines formerly known as public schools. |
Anonymous
| We have enough emphasis on test scores. Education is not purely quantitative. I don't think privates should release their scores. |
Anonymous
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It's funny that people don't want privates to release their scores but they are quick to brag about their kids WPPSI scores, ERBs, SATs, and colleges. They brag about which schools sends the most kids to ivy league schools, which has the most merit scholars, presidential scholars, most selective, the big 3.
All metrics, their is nothing wrong with SAT scores, AP scores, in fact some of them mention it. If you look at some of the top schools they are more than willing to brag about them. In fact, I noticed how much higher the SAT scores were at some of the privates in MA vs. in this area. I also like to see how many kids get >3 or >5 on their AP exams. There is a noticeable difference at some schools on AP test scores and I think this is a direct reflection of teaching. Both SAT and AP allows you to compare to public schools. What I found was that some of the schools performance is not better than some publics especially that top publics. Once you take into account that private select their students (you can argue that some publics do the same thing) that there isn't a huge difference. Even with this information I choosing to send my kid to private school because I like the ratios, well rounded curriculum, p.e., breaks throughout the day, participation in extracurriculars and no constantly testing philosophy. The schools say that they use the test to measure themselves, to compare themselves to other privates and to make sure their curriculum is teaching the right things. If they needed it, perhaps it will be useful for parents to know that they are not wasting their 15-30k. If you knew that your school had the lowest ERBs in the area for elementary, middle or your kids grade level, would you pull them? I know it would make me investigate other options vs. just simply writing a check hoping that my kid is getting the best education. It would also make some of the schools reduce their price and make them more accountable to the parents. |
Anonymous
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The smell of smoldering hypocrisy.
" Big 3, all Ivy, no prep, 99 percentile WPSSI scores ... but why should private schools release their "30K/yr" scores? Sounds like damn lies. If private schools released their scores it would definetely be BAD for business. Plain and simple. Follow the money stupid. Only private schools with stellar scores could do so. And there are not to many of these creatures in the D.C. area. |
Anonymous
Location and tuition are important to families -- but they are useless as indicators of school quality. Surely you understand this. The whole point is that SATs would be used as an exit measure for high schools, and surely you understand this as well. As for teaching to the test, most privates, including ours, teach vocabulary just so kids do well on the SSATs (K-6) and SATs. |
Anonymous
"Anonymous" demands transparency. How ironic. |
Anonymous
| OP -- they don't because they know there are twits on DCUM and want you to MYOB unless your kid is going to their school |
Anonymous
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The only twit tis you:
Transparency eliminates ... ...the inferiority complexes ...defensiveness ...entitlement syndrome ...unlevel playing fields ...self-consciousness ...lies Why is there an excessive amount of outside tutoring in $30K/yr private schools ostensibly to improve "test" scores of children attending privatye schools? |
Anonymous
Most brilliant and logical reason thus far justifying the lack of transparency. If your school released those scores to the public would you still attend this school? |
Anonymous
| She says she prefers to go to a school that doesn't release test scores. I guess Harvard, MIT and Stanford will not be considered since they release SAT performance scores of entering students? Try Hampshire College! |
Anonymous
It's a good thing this school doesn't release their test scores; such revelation would prove the school doesn't live up to the hype and hope and many parents would exit and run for the hills. There is good reason why some schools do and some don't release test scores...self-preservation. |