GDS just dropped AP testing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So maybe just maybe the GDS kids were not doing consistently well enough on the AP exams to justify the school seeming to say you will be prepared for AP exams via our rigorous non-AP courses?

False. CC office published last year that a very high percent of GDS test taker scored 4+ in 2022. In fact the fact that they published this year after they said they were dropping AP courses and just keeping testing pissed off many parents. So inconsistent. They would downplay in October whether kids should even sign up and which kids should sign up for tests.

So instead of keeping testing and improving communication to parents but dropping advertising of the test results in their college profile, they dropped testing outright. So now the 10-15 Kids a year who apply to UK schools are scrambling

I know one parent who has called 18 schools in DMV and none will take outside kids for testing

And why would they? They paid the fees to have the courses and to be able to proctor the test. That cost was passed on to their students. Now GDS, a very expensive school, wants to get out of paying the fees, but still have their kids get the advantage of taking the test off the backs of people who paid for it at other schools?

I don't think you understand how the testing works. This is not IB. High schools don't pay the CB to offer AP classes (they do pay to offer Pre-AP because there is no financial benefit to the CB), and instead they receive a portion of each student's registration fee to pay for the administrative burden. Bringing in an outside student, if they have room, does not cost the school financially, as they will receive the same payment from that student.

The fees to offer the courses. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/start-expand-ap-program/start/consider-costs

The link describes the cost of starting an AP course, like teacher training and textbooks. Nothing to do with the marginal cost of allowing an outside student to sit the exam.

You are missing the point. Why would another school that has put in the up front costs to have an AP program support a school that hasn't done so by letting their students come on campus to take the test? Enroll at that school and pay their tuition if you want to take AP tests there. You want to have your cake and eat it to and then also go eat someone else's cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So maybe just maybe the GDS kids were not doing consistently well enough on the AP exams to justify the school seeming to say you will be prepared for AP exams via our rigorous non-AP courses?

False. CC office published last year that a very high percent of GDS test taker scored 4+ in 2022. In fact the fact that they published this year after they said they were dropping AP courses and just keeping testing pissed off many parents. So inconsistent. They would downplay in October whether kids should even sign up and which kids should sign up for tests.

So instead of keeping testing and improving communication to parents but dropping advertising of the test results in their college profile, they dropped testing outright. So now the 10-15 Kids a year who apply to UK schools are scrambling

I know one parent who has called 18 schools in DMV and none will take outside kids for testing

And why would they? They paid the fees to have the courses and to be able to proctor the test. That cost was passed on to their students. Now GDS, a very expensive school, wants to get out of paying the fees, but still have their kids get the advantage of taking the test off the backs of people who paid for it at other schools?

I don't think you understand how the testing works. This is not IB. High schools don't pay the CB to offer AP classes (they do pay to offer Pre-AP because there is no financial benefit to the CB), and instead they receive a portion of each student's registration fee to pay for the administrative burden. Bringing in an outside student, if they have room, does not cost the school financially, as they will receive the same payment from that student.

The fees to offer the courses. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/start-expand-ap-program/start/consider-costs

The link describes the cost of starting an AP course, like teacher training and textbooks. Nothing to do with the marginal cost of allowing an outside student to sit the exam.

So there is a cost to a school for having a student from another school take the exams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

I attended GDS eons ago. I haven't kept up with the school in the years since transferring out, but I remember the school became more "mainstream" during the Peter Branch years. Are they trying to return to their anti-establishment roots, with dropping AP tests as the latest development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

Wrong info-St. Albans and NCS DO offer standard AP classes in math, science, and foreign language. Just not in History or English. And they still offer the exams on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t GDS want kids to do AP exams?
They are useful at most colleges for getting a bunch of credits. You can still graduate college in 4 years but it gives you the opportunity to skip ahead and take more interesting courses.
My kid is at USC and went straight to a 300 level Economics class because he had taken AP Micro and AP Macro Economics + AP Calculus BC. USC advised him to skip the intro Econ classes which most freshmen take.

+1

Many top colleges won't give credit for APs. However they will allow students to place out of some intro level classes.

This is not true…only Harvard won’t give credit. Every other college awards varying degrees of credit for different tests. Other Ivy schools generally give you credit for STEM and languages but few to none humanities.

Very few kids attending top schools use AP credits to graduate early…however they do use them to take a slightly easier schedule some semesters and of course to skip intro classes.

Top flagships accept many AP scores for credit…some kids can essentially start as a sophomore and graduate early if they would like.

When I was at Princeton, it was the same as it sounds like Harvard is now. I think you could use AP or placement tests to get into a more advanced course though or satisfy a requirement, but you had to take the same courseload regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

The schools made the decision pre-pandemic and GDS is the only one of the schools to not reconsider the nuances of decision in light of the massive upheaval in standardized testing since then. What may have been reasonable and advantageous for its students six years ago is likely not advantageous now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

The schools made the decision pre-pandemic and GDS is the only one of the schools to not reconsider the nuances of decision in light of the massive upheaval in standardized testing since then. What may have been reasonable and advantageous for its students six years ago is likely not advantageous now.

Why isn’t it advantageous now? Wasn’t the argument that GDS classes are so much deeper and not tied to the AP curriculum so they are better if your goal is a well-educated student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

The schools made the decision pre-pandemic and GDS is the only one of the schools to not reconsider the nuances of decision in light of the massive upheaval in standardized testing since then. What may have been reasonable and advantageous for its students six years ago is likely not advantageous now.

Why isn’t it advantageous now? Wasn’t the argument that GDS classes are so much deeper and not tied to the AP curriculum so they are better if your goal is a well-educated student?

I don’t think GDS parents trust the admins to somehow know better than Sidwell, STA, NCS etc…that’s the problem. If all of those schools allow kids to take the tests and some backtracked on even removing AP classes…then what does GDD seem to know or understand that literally no other school in the DMV does not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

The schools made the decision pre-pandemic and GDS is the only one of the schools to not reconsider the nuances of decision in light of the massive upheaval in standardized testing since then. What may have been reasonable and advantageous for its students six years ago is likely not advantageous now.

Why isn’t it advantageous now? Wasn’t the argument that GDS classes are so much deeper and not tied to the AP curriculum so they are better if your goal is a well-educated student?

I don’t think GDS parents trust the admins to somehow know better than Sidwell, STA, NCS etc…that’s the problem. If all of those schools allow kids to take the tests and some backtracked on even removing AP classes…then what does GDD seem to know or understand that literally no other school in the DMV does not?

But wasn’t it the same argument for all the schools? Why don’t the other schools trust their own curricula as they said when they all agreed to drop APs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So maybe just maybe the GDS kids were not doing consistently well enough on the AP exams to justify the school seeming to say you will be prepared for AP exams via our rigorous non-AP courses?

False. CC office published last year that a very high percent of GDS test taker scored 4+ in 2022. In fact the fact that they published this year after they said they were dropping AP courses and just keeping testing pissed off many parents. So inconsistent. They would downplay in October whether kids should even sign up and which kids should sign up for tests.

So instead of keeping testing and improving communication to parents but dropping advertising of the test results in their college profile, they dropped testing outright. So now the 10-15 Kids a year who apply to UK schools are scrambling

I know one parent who has called 18 schools in DMV and none will take outside kids for testing

And why would they? They paid the fees to have the courses and to be able to proctor the test. That cost was passed on to their students. Now GDS, a very expensive school, wants to get out of paying the fees, but still have their kids get the advantage of taking the test off the backs of people who paid for it at other schools?

I don't think you understand how the testing works. This is not IB. High schools don't pay the CB to offer AP classes (they do pay to offer Pre-AP because there is no financial benefit to the CB), and instead they receive a portion of each student's registration fee to pay for the administrative burden. Bringing in an outside student, if they have room, does not cost the school financially, as they will receive the same payment from that student.

The fees to offer the courses. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/start-expand-ap-program/start/consider-costs

The link describes the cost of starting an AP course, like teacher training and textbooks. Nothing to do with the marginal cost of allowing an outside student to sit the exam.

So there is a cost to a school for having a student from another school take the exams?

You have to think of the logistics. The tests are taken during the school day. Why would another school want students who aren’t from their school on their campus during the school day?

They all would need to be signed into the office, they would be assigned to different classrooms, someone has to monitor that they leave. When another’s schools sports or debate team visit there are adults in charge and supervising the students. No one is supervising random students. Then add to that it is a security risk because you don’t know if someone is trying to take the test for someone else or if a non-enrolled student is going to cheat another way. If that student a school doesn’t know does something that causes an irregularity then everyone's AP test in that room can be flagged. Additionally, you have to find proctors for the tests and have enough space.

So it is totally not worth the hassle to test students from other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS seems to be interested in maintaining its equity first, woke reputation at all costs. It’s shocking to me that parents pay to have their children indoctrinated there.

+1000

But how does this policy play into this? Seriously asking. My other question with GDS is every time their new policies come up on this board, parents are really mad. Why is there such a disconnect between the school’s choices and what the parents want? I can’t make sense of this.

GDS parent here. Parents are scared of speaking up- especially if you have a junior or senior you don't want to make waves. The school doesn't want to hear from us - the attitude is with a sub 5% acceptance rate there are kids clamoring to get in, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. My kids love it but it has gone off the rails since Kevin Barr left and we can't stand the new administrators. Can't wait for HS to be done. That said this AP thing is true at all the top privates- none of them (Sidwell St Albans etc offically offer AP's anymore.) The only difference is GDS is not making it convenient for kids to sit for the test at school.

This seems to be a recurrent theme on this board from all Big 3/5 parents-really sad we have to keep our mouths shut and let our kids fall victim to the whims of these crazy administrators who seem to want to ruin their ability to compete effectively with public school kids loading up on AP classes and exams.

I knew the children at the Bigs were so very disadvantaged but I had no idea the parents were to be pitied as well. Poor, poor, frightened parents.

They announced the plan to end AP classes six years ago. If you’re surprised by this it’s your own fault.

The schools made the decision pre-pandemic and GDS is the only one of the schools to not reconsider the nuances of decision in light of the massive upheaval in standardized testing since then. What may have been reasonable and advantageous for its students six years ago is likely not advantageous now.

That isn’t the point. The point is the GDS parents today knew what was coming before they enrolled their children in the upper school. Maybe other schools backtracked but that can’t be assumed. You have no one to blame but yourselves if you’re unhappy now.