Why are private schools not transparent with their test scores?

[Anonymous]

You do not have a high opinion of the quality and endurance of your "private" school brand if you think transparency of such information will ruin your private school. A pity. I don't think all private school parents feel the way you do. I'm quite certain these parents have much more confidence in the school's brand than you have exhibited. I would not label some of your colleagues (private school parents) jerks for their opinions!

[Anonymous]

Many of us that are 3rd generation private school parents and private school attendees could care less. Transparency is no threat.

This poster is probably a nouveau private school parent which explains her angst.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean rookie?

[Anonymous]

Yes, in more ways than one.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that so many posters are afraid that their DCs won't naturally do well on the SAT given the superior education they're paying for. I certainly expect that my DD will do better on the SAT than she would if she were in a public HS, and they don't "teach to the test". It's becaide we believe that the curriculum is superior. After all, isn't that what we're paying the big bucks for? So what are you all so afraid of? Either you believe in your school or you don't. If you don't, you have a problem. Asking them to be accountable isn't punishment, it's just evidence that you're going to need on a transcript anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do not have a high opinion of the quality and endurance of your "private" school brand if you think transparency of such information will ruin your private school. A pity. I don't think all private school parents feel the way you do. I'm quite certain these parents have much more confidence in the school's brand than you have exhibited. I would not label some of your colleagues (private school parents) jerks for their opinions!

I'm very happy/impressed with DC's private school -- it's an enclave from a broader culture that's obsessed with branding. I'm confident DC's getting a good education and your opinion (as well as the opinion of people whose impression of the school would be based primarily on standardized test scores) doesn't matter to me. The risk isn't that publicizing the school's test scores would diminish its reputation -- it's more that it would attract standardized-test-score-obsessed parents whose demands would be at odds with what I value most about the school. Ultimately, i think that what I value about the school would endure, but I'd rather see the school focus on furthering its mission than devote a lot of effort to dealing with parents whose primary focus is on test scores. So, again, if the lack of external transparency drives those parents away, I'd think that the form of self-selection works well for all concerned.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter whether OP or anyone else thinks private schools should publish their test scores. They don't have to and they choose not to and (at least around here) they still have way more applicants than spaces. Don't like it? Too bad.

A number of your area D.C. private schools are looking to fill seats even as we type. They need the tuition revenue and if you can pay you can go.

[Anonymous]

I doubt those private schools would dare publish their test outcome results.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that so many posters are afraid that their DCs won't naturally do well on the SAT given the superior education they're paying for. I certainly expect that my DD will do better on the SAT than she would if she were in a public HS, and they don't "teach to the test". It's becaide we believe that the curriculum is superior. After all, isn't that what we're paying the big bucks for? So what are you all so afraid of? Either you believe in your school or you don't. If you don't, you have a problem. Asking them to be accountable isn't punishment, it's just evidence that you're going to need on a transcript anyway.

That's why these kids get dropped off at Kumon, SAT, PSAT and other tutoring parlors on the way to the hair salon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

1. The PP was not equating "withholding info" with eating spinach. She was using the example of going around and around with her children, answering their questions over and over again, and yet they continue to deny she is answering their questions. Critical thinking skills that allow you to parse this sort of thing are not reflected in SAT scores.

2. The point was that OP wants to enlist the rest of us in a crusade that we think is a bad idea. It isn't that we don't care about the information, its that we think releasing this information could lead schools to treat it as some kind of meaningful data point (when it isn't) and start "teaching to the test" which is exactly why most of us took our children out of public schools. I am happy to see fast food restaurants race to appeal to the public as the healthiest. That would be a good thing. I do not want my DC's schools to feel they have to race to present to the public the highest SAT scores (though my guess is that their schools actually would) because is not a goal I want them to focus on.

3. The public school option actually makes sense in context because they are now, by law, measured by their test scores. So we all can see how that is going. If its what you want, go at it.

Let's put aside my suspicion that you're the same PP you're pretending to defend. Let's punch holes in your logic, instead.

1. So you think that repeating stuff makes you right? We've repeated a lot of actual logic to you, and we also think we're right, but you refuse to listen to us. Just how silly is this stupid metaphor, anyway?
2. So you think the SAT doesn't test for critical thinking? Then obviously you don't understand the SAT, which is really big on critical thinking. All of which seems to make you unsuitable to have opinions about it!
3. I count 4-5 people who think this is a good idea. And maybe 2-3 who think it's a bad idea. Sorry, you're outnumbered.
4. Re the imagined "race to present the highest SAT scores," you seem to be admitting ("my guess is that...") that you don't even know this is true.
5. Your advice for us to go to public schools assumes, wrongly, that we only look at one measure, and that one measure is test scores. This is despite us having told you again and again, that test scores are not the only metric any sane person would look at. Spinach metaphors aside, why do you we have to repeat this point over and over and over to you?

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that so many posters are afraid that their DCs won't naturally do well on the SAT given the superior education they're paying for. I certainly expect that my DD will do better on the SAT than she would if she were in a public HS, and they don't "teach to the test". It's becaide we believe that the curriculum is superior. After all, isn't that what we're paying the big bucks for? So what are you all so afraid of? Either you believe in your school or you don't. If you don't, you have a problem. Asking them to be accountable isn't punishment, it's just evidence that you're going to need on a transcript anyway.

No. You are paying the big bucks for segregation by SES, lacrosse, music, paint and veggies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


1. The PP was not equating "withholding info" with eating spinach. She was using the example of going around and around with her children, answering their questions over and over again, and yet they continue to deny she is answering their questions. Critical thinking skills that allow you to parse this sort of thing are not reflected in SAT scores.

2. The point was that OP wants to enlist the rest of us in a crusade that we think is a bad idea. It isn't that we don't care about the information, its that we think releasing this information could lead schools to treat it as some kind of meaningful data point (when it isn't) and start "teaching to the test" which is exactly why most of us took our children out of public schools. I am happy to see fast food restaurants race to appeal to the public as the healthiest. That would be a good thing. I do not want my DC's schools to feel they have to race to present to the public the highest SAT scores (though my guess is that their schools actually would) because is not a goal I want them to focus on.

3. The public school option actually makes sense in context because they are now, by law, measured by their test scores. So we all can see how that is going. If its what you want, go at it.

Let's put aside my suspicion that you're the same PP you're pretending to defend. Let's punch holes in your logic, instead.

1. So you think that repeating stuff makes you right? We've repeated a lot of actual logic to you, and we also think we're right, but you refuse to listen to us. Just how silly is this stupid metaphor, anyway?
2. So you think the SAT doesn't test for critical thinking? Then obviously you don't understand the SAT, which is really big on critical thinking. All of which seems to make you unsuitable to have opinions about it!
3. I count 4-5 people who think this is a good idea. And maybe 2-3 who think it's a bad idea. Sorry, you're outnumbered. 4. Re the imagined "race to present the highest SAT scores," you seem to be admitting ("my guess is that...") that you don't even know this is true.
5. Your advice for us to go to public schools assumes, wrongly, that we only look at one measure, and that one measure is test scores. This is despite us having told you again and again, that test scores are not the only metric any sane person would look at. Spinach metaphors aside, why do you we have to repeat this point over and over and over to you?

Teach us your number system. Did you learn this number theory from your child private school textbook?

[Anonymous]

Show us more faith in the integrity and quality of private school education. Don't be fearful of SAT scores. It's a real easy exam (low bar ... even in our area public schools). Have no fear. If private schools provide a quality education the SAT is a stroll in the park. There's absolutely no need for defensiveness, obsfucation, intimidation, lying, secrecy and the like. SAT and other educational performance exams are no barriers for quality private or public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

1. The PP was not equating "withholding info" with eating spinach. She was using the example of going around and around with her children, answering their questions over and over again, and yet they continue to deny she is answering their questions. Critical thinking skills that allow you to parse this sort of thing are not reflected in SAT scores.

2. The point was that OP wants to enlist the rest of us in a crusade that we think is a bad idea. It isn't that we don't care about the information, its that we think releasing this information could lead schools to treat it as some kind of meaningful data point (when it isn't) and start "teaching to the test" which is exactly why most of us took our children out of public schools. I am happy to see fast food restaurants race to appeal to the public as the healthiest. That would be a good thing. I do not want my DC's schools to feel they have to race to present to the public the highest SAT scores (though my guess is that their schools actually would) because is not a goal I want them to focus on.

3. The public school option actually makes sense in context because they are now, by law, measured by their test scores. So we all can see how that is going. If its what you want, go at it.

Let's put aside my suspicion that you're the same PP you're pretending to defend. Let's punch holes in your logic, instead.

1. So you think that repeating stuff makes you right? We've repeated a lot of actual logic to you, and we also think we're right, but you refuse to listen to us. Just how silly is this stupid metaphor, anyway?
2. So you think the SAT doesn't test for critical thinking? Then obviously you don't understand the SAT, which is really big on critical thinking. All of which seems to make you unsuitable to have opinions about it!
3. I count 4-5 people who think this is a good idea. And maybe 2-3 who think it's a bad idea. Sorry, you're outnumbered.
4. Re the imagined "race to present the highest SAT scores," you seem to be admitting ("my guess is that...") that you don't even know this is true.
5. Your advice for us to go to public schools assumes, wrongly, that we only look at one measure, and that one measure is test scores. This is despite us having told you again and again, that test scores are not the only metric any sane person would look at. Spinach metaphors aside, why do you we have to repeat this point over and over and over to you?

I am not the PP I was "defending." She was responding to some rant that opponents of this idea had given no reasons by saying reasons have been given over and over and Op just wasn't listening. That was her point. There, i spelled it out for you since you obviously didn't get it.

Your numbers are interesting since you seem to be concluding most of those opposed are the same person, such as that i was the same as the poster using the spinach metaphor, and that those in favor are not posting over and over again. I;m confused by what you are referring to by the [hrase "you don't even know this is true." That what is true? My DC's schools SAT scores? of course I don't know what they are, they aren't public. And I don't care.

Hey, those of you who think this is a great idea, why don't you go and form a PAC, or a blue ribbon commission? Better yet, direct action! A sit-in at the various private schools. Fight the power. DEMAND a brighter future where ALL God's children, or at least those that can afford private school tuition, will have the FREEDOM to pursue SAT scores to their heart's content.

[Anonymous]

I'm very happy/impressed with DC's private school -- it's an enclave from a broader culture that's obsessed with branding. I'm confident DC's getting a good education and your opinion (as well as the opinion of people whose impression of the school would be based primarily on standardized test scores) doesn't matter to me. The risk isn't that publicizing the school's test scores would diminish its reputation -- it's more that it would attract standardized-test-score-obsessed parents whose demands would be at odds with what I value most about the school. Ultimately, i think that what I value about the school would endure, but I'd rather see the school focus on furthering its mission than devote a lot of effort to dealing with parents whose primary focus is on test scores. So, again, if the lack of external transparency drives those parents away, I'd think that the form of self-selection works well for all concerned.

Are you afraid of these parents or their children? Are your children afraid of the children of these parents? Why? Sounds typical of those afraid to compete fair and square in the classroom.

Should your private school only attract competitive lacrosse, football and soccer players and violinists?

What's the admission office for if it can't simply reject applicants interested in academic outcome performance metrics over those with low 200 IM swim times or high SES?