Holton college placement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm pretty familiar with Sidwell's college placement record and I'd say that it looks similar for the middle 50%. Your point re variability from year-to-year is well-taken, however. Actually, what strikes me most is that the school paper publishes a list of where all the grads are going, not to mention that the school itself has a link to the article on its website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

Overall, I'd say the Holton list is not that much different from those at the other schools (which, BTW, don't all publish lists, so we're both going on best guesses here, right?). The Holton list might differ in 2 respects:

1) fewer top 10 schools from both the research universities category and the liberal arts colleges category; and,

2) more state schools that are not among the "public Ivies" -- I hate this term, but you know what I mean. This may reflect high school culture more than anything else, including the students' strength as candidates for admission, the counseling program or even family finances (though this last factor might be the most signifcant of these). My guess is that young women graduating from a small all-girls high school may be more eager to go to a big state school with a Greek scene, football games, etc., than are young men and women graduating from a slightly larger coed high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm pretty familiar with Sidwell's college placement record and I'd say that it looks similar for the middle 50%. Your point re variability from year-to-year is well-taken, however. Actually, what strikes me most is that the school paper publishes a list of where all the grads are going, not to mention that the school itself has a link to the article on its website.

I thought same thing! Nothing to hide but not so sure I'd want DC's name/college published for the world to see. Holton should be proud of its accomplished seniors but that's going a bit too far. Then again, we don't know if every senior gave the school permission to post that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm not a holton mom, but this comment is just plain wrong. The middle 50 percent is very similar at all these schools. You may have a couple more percentage going to ivs at NSC St. Albans sidwell only because they have a few more kids with high test scores, but more than 2/3 of the holton class are going to colleges that are tough to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm pretty familiar with Sidwell's college placement record and I'd say that it looks similar for the middle 50%. Your point re variability from year-to-year is well-taken, however. Actually, what strikes me most is that the school paper publishes a list of where all the grads are going, not to mention that the school itself has a link to the article on its website.

I thought same thing! Nothing to hide but not so sure I'd want DC's name/college published for the world to see. Holton should be proud of its accomplished seniors but that's going a bit too far. Then again, we don't know if every senior gave the school permission to post that information.

It was buried a page or two in, not on the front page. The student newspaper has been publishing the list for years. What's to hide?

[Anonymous]

Safety school for Holton Grad is the University of Maryland Scholars Program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm pretty familiar with Sidwell's college placement record and I'd say that it looks similar for the middle 50%. Your point re variability from year-to-year is well-taken, however. Actually, what strikes me most is that the school paper publishes a list of where all the grads are going, not to mention that the school itself has a link to the article on its website.

I thought same thing! Nothing to hide but not so sure I'd want DC's name/college published for the world to see. Holton should be proud of its accomplished seniors but that's going a bit too far. Then again, we don't know if every senior gave the school permission to post that information.

It was buried a page or two in, not on the front page. The student newspaper has been publishing the list for years. What's to hide?

I didn't come away with the impression that the school was trying to hide the list but rather the poster's daughter had nothing to hide but mom still wouldn't want personal info posted. I guess it's like looking at an abstract painting and each one interprets differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a fine list, but compared to STA/NCS, Sidwell and GDS the middle 50% seem to be going to schools that would be the bottom 25% at these other schools. This matches with the number of NMSFs/Presidential scholars at Holton vs the other top schools at least this year, but in these small schools, there can be a lot of variability from year to year, particularly for schools that start with PK/K like Sidwell/GDS, and 3rd or 4rth for Holton and NCS/StA. Kids mature at different rates, and apply themselves differently, hard to predict how a 5-9 year old will be performing in 7-10 years.

I'm pretty familiar with Sidwell's college placement record and I'd say that it looks similar for the middle 50%. Your point re variability from year-to-year is well-taken, however. Actually, what strikes me most is that the school paper publishes a list of where all the grads are going, not to mention that the school itself has a link to the article on its website.

I thought same thing! Nothing to hide but not so sure I'd want DC's name/college published for the world to see. Holton should be proud of its accomplished seniors but that's going a bit too far. Then again, we don't know if every senior gave the school permission to post that information.

It was buried a page or two in, not on the front page. The student newspaper has been publishing the list for years. What's to hide?

Nothing to hide, but any parent will know where DD's friends are going; beyond that, who cares where kids you barely know are going to school? Publishing a list just adds to the pressure kids are under in college admissions; instead, the end of high school should be about reflection and celebration.

[Anonymous]

That's exactly how I read it, as a celebration.

[Anonymous]

Over on the NCS thread posters were slamming NCS for posting lists of girls and their colleges. Apparently a girl attempted suicide one year and NCS stopped doing this.

(I'm not sure I find the BCS bashers completely credible, so I'm just reporting what they said. I do find it curious that when Holton does the same thing it's just a lovely tradition.)

[Anonymous]

The Holton list is very impressive.

http://www.holton-arms.edu/uploaded/documents/News/June_Scribbler_2013_final.pdf

Holton girls are not under the type of uber competitive stress that would cause publication of this list to lead a girl to attempt suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Holton list is very impressive.

http://www.holton-arms.edu/uploaded/documents/News/June_Scribbler_2013_final.pdf

Holton girls are not under the type of uber competitive stress that would cause publication of this list to lead a girl to attempt suicide.

and I don't have a girl at either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2) more state schools that are not among the "public Ivies" -- I hate this term, but you know what I mean. This may reflect high school culture more than anything else, including the students' strength as candidates for admission, the counseling program or even family finances (though this last factor might be the most signifcant of these). My guess is that young women graduating from a small all-girls high school may be more eager to go to a big state school with a Greek scene, football games, etc., than are young men and women graduating from a slightly larger coed high school.

+1,000

As a single sex grad, this is why I hate these threads.

I got into as many top 20 schools as most of my classmates at the time, and was a National Merit Finalist. Yet, because my family had scrimped and scraped to send me to school, I was at a 2nd tier no-name state university. Make no mistake, I was embarrassed and ashamed as classmates wore their new college sweatshirts around campus and the matriculation list was posted. I wanted to say "Wait, but I got in to X, Y and Z awesome schools!" My private education set me up for great success at the state school and onwards into law school and my professional career, but at 18 it was hard to take.

I think there's nothing wrong with posting matriculation lists, but recognize that the quality of a school or its students should not be judged solely by the matriculation list.

[Anonymous]

(I'm not sure I find the BCS bashers completely credible, so I'm just reporting what they said. I do find it curious that when Holton does the same thing it's just a lovely tradition.)


It's just another difference illustrating the very different tone of the two schools, which starts at the top down. NCS comes across as achievement oriented, where Holton seems to encourage more balance. The HoS is very involved in the life of the school -- I think she knows every girl's name, in all three divisions. It's unusual when she does not attend a student function. The counseling program and all of the counselors are top-notch. The moms are only half as crazy, and most are not uber competitive, and the school keeps them at arms length.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
(I'm not sure I find the BCS bashers completely credible, so I'm just reporting what they said. I do find it curious that when Holton does the same thing it's just a lovely tradition.)

It's just another difference illustrating the very different tone of the two schools, which starts at the top down. NCS comes across as achievement oriented, where Holton seems to encourage more balance. The HoS is very involved in the life of the school -- I think she knows every girl's name, in all three divisions. It's unusual when she does not attend a student function. The counseling program and all of the counselors are top-notch. The moms are only half as crazy, and most are not uber competitive, and the school keeps them at arms length. Baloney. My daughter attends Holton middle school and while she was talking to another girl, the head of school approached and carried on a brief conversation without even acknowledging my daughter, turned around and left. My daughter was embarrassed and was told by her buddy not to sweat it because the head knows her family well.

The head of school is known for good administrative/paper skills but poor people skills. She will not acknowledge even a parent in the corridors if she doesn't 'know' you. We are there for the quality education and definitely not for the people skills of the head. The head is selective who she reaches out to.