Minimum test score for Sidwell Pre-K?

[Anonymous]

For what its worth - I've scored like a genius on every standardized test I've ever been given. However, in no other area of my life would anyone mistake me for a genius.

Don't let those 99%'s go to your head.

[Anonymous]

Hey, from a likewise high tester, but pretty average smart person (no genius) I totally agree. Has to be put in perspective!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a link that is helpful in terms of understanding the relative rarity of different IQ scores:

http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/IQtable.aspx

Wow, so a child with a 99 percentile IQ can have a numberical score anywhere between 135 - 202. This is quite a range, no wonder ever kid in DC is in the 99th percentile. I have seen sample WPPSI reports and the percentile are in whole numbers. Does the actual reports go out to the 10th decimal place?

It's the phenomenon of the "long tail" of a bell curve distribution.

It is interesting in this context because it highlights how children who score in the 99th percentile of one of these IQ tests can be anywhere from "gifted" to "highly gifted" to "profoundly gifted".

Another interesting website about some behavioral differentiations among children who score within these different levels:

http://www.educationaloptions.com/levels_giftedness.htm

[Anonymous]

What I find interesting about the article mentioned above is that my DC scored in the 84th percentile and many of the characteristics described in the Level 2 and 3 gifted child descibe my DC. Also many of the characteristics described in the different Levels of Giftedness according to this article are not measured by the WPPSI.

So my question is how are schools looking at the WPPSI test and determining whether students are gifted if the WPPSI does not test the types of skills mentioned in this article which supposedly measure giftedness. Many of these skills determine a childs readiness for school and should be evaluated when determining whether a child can handle the rigor of a curriculum taught at any private or gifted and talented public school.

Please view website if you have not it is very interesting and will probably make many of us realize that despite what the test scores says our children are gifted.

Also I hope Admissions Committees have this type of information when determining whether the students admitted are gifted; I hope it is not just about test scores but the whole child. It seems that the teacher recommendation would be taken into greated consideration than a childs WPPSI scores because teachers (humans) can speak to a child's social and academic abilities.

http://www.educationaloptions.com/levels_giftedness.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I hope Admissions Committees have this type of information when determining whether the students admitted are gifted; I hope it is not just about test scores but the whole child.

Folks, admissions committees are not sifting through the files ONLY looking for gifted children whether "gifted" is measured by the WPPSI or assessed in some other way. Stop fretting if your child didn't score at the 99%. Stop fretting that your child might not be gifted, or that others might not perceive your child as being gifted. FWIW, my child was not determined by the WPPSI to be gifted, and still managed to get admitted to a "big 3" school. No -- we're not connected, wealthy, etc. Does my child have "gifts"? I'm sure he does, just like every other child.

[Anonymous]

I think part of what drives everyone crazy is that it seems so random...at least for me, it definitely engenders this "helpless" feeling. Not understanding what it is they are looking for when they are filling a handful of slots is maddening... Like 9:55PP wrote, if their family is not connected, didn't score in the 99th percentile, etc.... what is it that made that child attractive to the admissions committee? What made them pick that child over the 100s of others? What set them apart? This is where it seems so random... Nothing against 9:55PP's child, I am sure he is extremely bright, sociable, etc. and the admissions committee selected him for a reason, but why him over the bright, sociable child right next to him?

[Anonymous]

To the past few posters: you're starting to sound nuts. Don't let the process do this to you. Don't get carried away with the term gifted. You don't need to see a desciption of your child next to the word gifted on some internet site to make your feel better or affirm your opinion of your child. Don't let the hype on these posts get to you either, particularly the WPSSI numbers. Admission comes down to a variety of factors. There's no point in you wasting your time fretting over this for the next three weeks (when letters are mailed) or all summer (if you are waitlisted) or even longer (if your child is only 2). Things happen and there are circumstances beyond your control and sometimes even the ADs control. Don't let an acceptance, waitlist or rejection determine the worth of your child or really what it comes down to -- you. All you can do is visit the schools, be honest in your applications, be yourself, and see how it goes. Things will work out and your child will thrive even if they don't go to a big three or the progressive three (btw, many posters here are failing to realize that Maret is actually the most coveted school in dc now--harder to get in to than Sidwell by far).

Good luck to all you going through the process now. It will be over soon and eventually you will say why did I make such a fuss over nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(btw, many posters here are failing to realize that Maret is actually the most coveted school in dc now--harder to get in to than Sidwell by far).

I appreciate your post. Not to be flip, but what is it about Maret that's "all the rave". I haven't visited it since it starts at K versus Pre-K, but what's the scoop?

[Anonymous]

12:02 post thank - you for such a down to earth reply. You have really settled my nerves. Also, I think the 9:07 post was trying to get parents to realize that the WPPSI score does not make a child gifted but the many talents they have is what makes them gifted, talented, and unique. I am taking the 12:02's advice and just chilling out versus fretting over all of this Good Luck to All!

[Anonymous]

I've wondered why people don't talk about Maret much on this board. From the school visits I was actually more impressed with Maret than Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:37 - My son was rejected at Sidwell and waitlisted at Beauvoir and GDS. We didn't apply to any others so he is at his preschool another year and we're trying again-same three plus Maret.

Have you already received your notices of rejection and waitlisting? I thought these were not going to go out until next month.

[Anonymous]

I think she's referring to their experience last year. Let's try to calm down, everyone!

[Anonymous]

Maret is really a wonderful school. We looked at 7(!), including the so-called "Big Three", and it was our favorite.

[Anonymous]

PP 14:39 what about Maret impressed you compared to the the big 3? Just curious what in particular stood out for you because everyone seems so wrapped up in the others.

[Anonymous]

It has really lovely facilities -- no split campus between upper school and lower school. It's small and so are the class sizes. The children seem really happy and well behaved, and the school just had a great atmosphere. The faculty seems to get a lot of training and input into curriculum development. Plus, I have several friends with kids there and they love it (they also rave about the food, but I guess that's not as important!).