NMSFs in DC 2026
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Anonymous
Because BASIS is founded on doing well on standardized tests. If that's core to your identity, then you expect much higher numbers. |
Anonymous
Visi is private |
Anonymous
Yeah, it's this. Even a one point or two point difference in the cutoff will result in double digit differences. |
Anonymous
Core to its identity? No. BASIS doesn't emphasize the PSAT. Nor does any of the Big 3. We all all know that the kids who do well are self-prepping or getting tutors, and a smart, driven kid anywhere can do well on the test. You really think that J-R is almost the same level/quality as Sidwell or GDS just because J-R has 3 NMS and Sidwell and GDS 4? |
Anonymous
Maryland and VA have a cutoff of 224 and DC is 225. but to argue that the point difference explains the double digit and sometimes triple digit numbers of semifinalists at schools, is not a robust conclusion. |
Anonymous
Agreed. That’s a cop out. |
Anonymous
For DC, you are talking very low numbers--the realistic pool for NMS is from, at most, around 21 or so schools. And most of these DC schools are private, with relatively small classes. While NMSC doesn't release the numbers of kids taking the PSAT, it is fair to say that the numbers taking the test in DC are very small and, at least among the schools in the running for NMS, relatively high scoring compared to VA and MD (TJ and some others excepted). DC 225 cut-off; only 37 NMS from 16 schools and only 230 commended from 21 schools VA 224 cut-off; 489 NMS from 100 schools and 1,912 commended from 209 schools MD 224 cut-off; 348 NMS from 81 schools and 1,290 commended from 157 schools |
Anonymous
Yeah, it’s also the suburban cram-school culture. You can’t make NMSF in DC if you get confused on even one question or make even one careless error, and it’s not much easier in the suburbs. For perspective: my kid has an SAT score in the 99+ range. That SAT score is over the 75th percentile mark at every college in the country. They also had a PSAT score in the 99+ range, with a selection index of 218. That is simultaneously an excellent result and 6 points too low to be NMSF anywhere in the DMV. To get large groups of kids getting NMSF in this setting, you really need a culture where a large number of families devote time and money to professional test-prep during the summer before junior year, with the specific goal of being NMSF. Not only does DC not have a cram-school culture, I think we have a bit of an anti-cram-school culture, because some parents stay in the city in part to avoid suburban cram-school culture. |
Anonymous
There's only like 90 kids in each class at Latin. Sure looks like they do better at the semifinalist game, especially on a per student basis, than almost every private school in the city. |
Anonymous
To be fair, NMSF are chosen by doubling the Verbal score and adding it to the math score. It’s not as easy to “cram school” the verbal score as it is the math score. |
Anonymous
Actually, I think the top-scoring students don't do a lot of test prep; they don't need it. They do some practice tests on their own. At least, that's how it works in my high-scoring family. Also, are you sure the level and quality of classes that the J-R NMSF's are taking is not on part with the Sidwell and GDS? |
Anonymous
Why are we now comparing JR to Sidwell or GDS? Nobody has done that. BASIS cares far more than any other school about standardized tests and many BASIS people disparage Latin. This is comparing one charter school against another. |
Anonymous
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For all of the people sniping how this proves [insert] (what school is great or not ) (how meaningless or meaningful it all is) (how much or little test prep is involved) (how DC is easier/harder advantaged/disadvantaged), can you hear yourselves? This thread is a genius parody of how generally insufferable DC area parents are.
Kids took tests. Some got really high scores and were recognized. Some of those kids will get scholarships and/or further recognition. Good for them. I bet you those kids behave better than the adults on DCUM. |
Anonymous
I think all discussions of schools on DCUM are really just parents justifying the individual decisions they made about their kids' education. |
Anonymous
NP. First off, how or why do you think BASIS cares about standardized tests? There is no admission test, there is no PSAT class or test prep, they don't spend any time prepping for CAPE. It's a pressure cooker and many other things, but you've simply made up this point. Second, I've been on DCUM for a very long time and I can't recall once any parent disparaging Latin That's not happening anywhere but inside your own head. Finally, no one other than you is comparing Latin and BASIS. The point the poster to whom you are responding made went way the heck over your head. They were explaining to you how silly it is to try and illustrate the quality of an education based on NMSF numbers. Their point was that to do so you'd have to argue that GDS and Sidwell are indistinguishable from J-R. Which is silly. But you completely missed the point. Take a breath, defensive Latin parent. You seem really insecure. |