NCS Reception

[Anonymous]

Can't say which South Carolina like school, but yep, wait listed. Shocking. Disappointing. Even with the so-so grades. Hit the books, kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

A lot of top schools do not give A plus, including Sidwell, MCPS, etc. I think the question should be why does STA has that policy?

Your thinking is off. If a child gets 98-100 percent of the answers on all tests, homework, and quizzes, which could easily be done in math, then that is an A+ average. What are you suggesting? That the school purposely hurt the child's score and lower it? That is absolutely ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All she's saying is that NCS Bs didn't do anything for getting her daughter - who had scores above the Ivy averages - into a competitive school. Wait listed at South Carolina? She probably thought these Bs were valuable after freshman year and didn't realize how screwed her daughter was. I think she said it was her fault.

A kid, from any school, with 3.2 and high scores is not going to go to a top level college. NCS or any other school can not fix this

The question is would they be getting better grades at another equally rigorous school and if so that would place them at a better college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

[Anonymous]

The admissions officers at these colleges know the policies of the schools, especially the ones from which they get a lot of applications. There really isn't an impact to the students of these policies as long as they are known. I suppose it could be an issue at colleges that don't know NCS?

[Anonymous]

I am confused by all this focus on A pluses. Is there any other school besides STA that gives them, public or private? (MCPS doesn't, FCPS doesn't, Sidwell doesn't, GDS doesn't, etc) Nobody is "lowering" a kid's grades by not including A pluses in their grading scales.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused by all this focus on A pluses. Is there any other school besides STA that gives them, public or private? (MCPS doesn't, FCPS doesn't, Sidwell doesn't, GDS doesn't, etc) Nobody is "lowering" a kid's grades by not including A pluses in their grading scales.

well, it's just something to pick on NCS about. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The admissions officers at these colleges know the policies of the schools, especially the ones from which they get a lot of applications. There really isn't an impact to the students of these policies as long as they are known. I suppose it could be an issue at colleges that don't know NCS?

NCS girls do very well in college placement so I don't think their grading policies hurt the students. They've been around over 100 years so I think they would have corrected any grading issues by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

Please tell me which schools you are considering that give A+. I do not know of one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

Please tell me which schools you are considering that give A+. I do not know of one.

I don't understand what you mean. Isn't a 98 and above average an A+? What do you mean you don't know of any schools that give A+ grades? I know students at all of these schools that receive 98 and above grades and therefore A+ grades. Are you saying you do not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

Please tell me which schools you are considering that give A+. I do not know of one.

I don't understand what you mean. Isn't a 98 and above average an A+? What do you mean you don't know of any schools that give A+ grades? I know students at all of these schools that receive 98 and above grades and therefore A+ grades. Are you saying you do not?

I will add that maybe I just know the small minority that really excel in their studies. Are you saying that if your child has a 98, 99, or 100 average in a class, you would not want them to receive the proper credit? I am confused in what you are saying. If a kid really excels in a class such as math or science and their grades reflect that - then they should receive the proper grade. A 99 average is an A+ and is not an A or A minus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

Yes they are separate and parents seem happy with STA so please don't change it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

Please tell me which schools you are considering that give A+. I do not know of one.

My daughter is excited to attend NCS and I have no doubt it is an excellent school but reading these threads make me very worried for her! I think I won't read them anymore and just will judge for myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

A lot of top schools do not give A plus, including Sidwell, MCPS, etc. I think the question should be why does STA has that policy?

Your thinking is off. If a child gets 98-100 percent of the answers on all tests, homework, and quizzes, which could easily be done in math, then that is an A+ average. What are you suggesting? That the school purposely hurt the child's score and lower it? That is absolutely ridiculous.

I think the above posters confusion stems from the different grading system STA uses (numerical 0-100) as compared to the letter grading system used by other schools. The 98 example used above is an A in the letter grade system, regardless of the school. Also, colleges regard the 98 from STA as an A (unweighted)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work hard, study and complete the material, A's are obtainable at NCS also (they don't give A+'s). That said, there are not many,if any, who graduate with a 4.0, because it is hard to be that dedicated to every subject, all the time. Same is true for any rigorous school. I have never heard stories of teachers refusing to give anyone in the class an A, but they do expect you to work for it.

They should give A+ grades - why not? STA does and they are equally rigorous.

It is a school policy, not up to the discretion of individual teachers. I don't know why -- maybe they figure the kids would compete too much to convert As to A pluses? It wouldn't be my policy but I don't know their past experiences. There's periodic talk of harmonizing the grading scales of NCS and STA because the students cross-register in many courses, but I guess both schools like their current approaches and they are still fully separate schools in terms of administration.

A score is a score and should not be lowered so a school can say they don't give A pluses. If this is true, then his may not be a good school fit for us after all.

Please tell me which schools you are considering that give A+. I do not know of one.

I don't understand what you mean. Isn't a 98 and above average an A+? What do you mean you don't know of any schools that give A+ grades? I know students at all of these schools that receive 98 and above grades and therefore A+ grades. Are you saying you do not?

I will add that maybe I just know the small minority that really excel in their studies. Are you saying that if your child has a 98, 99, or 100 average in a class, you would not want them to receive the proper credit? I am confused in what you are saying. If a kid really excels in a class such as math or science and their grades reflect that - then they should receive the proper grade. A 99 average is an A+ and is not an A or A minus.

No, an A+ is considered a weighted grade on transcripts (above a 4.0, like used in public schools). STA does not give weighted grades. STA does give a superb education.