Is graduating from a title 1 school a hook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

That is why it is a semi-hook. If you can get straight As, do well on the SAT and hold leadership positions at a school where no one else is trying, that is someone who top colleges want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

[Anonymous]

my kids both mentioned in briefly in an essay. I think it provides really valuable context - for my kids, why they did do much outside of school. (there was nothing much in school). and they had SATs over 1520 so it quelled any nerves about readiness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

+1

My DS had the same experience. As I’ve already said on this thread, I agree that diverse, majority non white colleges value students from socioeconomically diverse high schools. May be a slight advantage for UMC white kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Dartmouth data, if you are a disadvantaged student, a 1550+ will triple the acceptance rate. It's not important how you call it. Hook or not hook, the advantage is huge and real.

But the OP made it clear her student is not personally disadvantaged. I don't think the school being Title I on its own is much of an advantage. That said, if her student is one of few to have ever achieved those types of stats and/or looked outside local CCs and universities, it may work for some sort of geographical diversity. Rural would help even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

None of this is true about the urban Title 1 HS my DS attended in CA. Passed all APs and got 4s and 5s on 80% of them, with minimal self study and test prep outside of class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

None of this is true about the urban Title 1 HS my DS attended in CA. Passed all APs and got 4s and 5s on 80% of them, with minimal self study and test prep outside of class.

gettings 4s and 5s is great, but it's basically what 1/3 of all kids going to college are doing. that's hardly gettin you into any top school. unless you have a dozen APs all 5s and then that's just table stakes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

None of this is true about the urban Title 1 HS my DS attended in CA. Passed all APs and got 4s and 5s on 80% of them, with minimal self study and test prep outside of class.

gettings 4s and 5s is great, but it's basically what 1/3 of all kids going to college are doing. that's hardly gettin you into any top school. unless you have a dozen APs all 5s and then that's just table stakes

NP. Ok. But you just said that kids going to title 1 schools can’t get a rigorous education or do well on AP exams without tons of self study. Which is false, and what PP was responding to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

None of this is true about the urban Title 1 HS my DS attended in CA. Passed all APs and got 4s and 5s on 80% of them, with minimal self study and test prep outside of class.

Similar experience with both of my kids at a high FARMS / ESOL school in NOVA. They are not first gen, played club and varsity sports, 4s and 5s on AP exams, with no outside help. Leadership roles on and off campus. Most of their friends were academically focused students. Friends off to UVA, VT, some “fancy” SLACs, UGA, UT, UF, Wisco. A few playing their sports in college as well. Was attending that school a hook? Not sure, but it didn’t hurt them in my view. We were also able to save more money for college tuition by not paying too much for our house in a more prestigious school pyramid. No regrets!

[Anonymous]

title 1 is 60% of students in poverty right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t low income as a family or first generation to attend college, but live in a low income zip code and teen attends large public title 1 school. Will graduate in top 1%, lots of DE and AP classes, expecting SAT to be above 1500 based on PSAT scores. No national awards, but some cool ECs, strong leadership, job, interesting hobby. No one, or rarely anyone, applies to college out of state. He is wanting a school in top 5-20 (which are all out of state). Does coming from a school with limited resources and no one from your high school applying give an admission boost?

Um, no. If anything, it's probably a detriment.

Do you have some cynical notion that admissions officers will look more favorably on a child who has "survived" a ... what ... ghetto environment or some shit like that?

It’s actually really hard to do well, stay motivated, and seek out opportunities to excel when everyone around you is far below grade level, into trouble, and completely apathetic about school.

There’s a lot of research showing that integrated schools benefit all students, including higher-income and higher-achieving kids.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/19/446085513/the-evidence-that-white-children-benefit-from-integrated-schools

Have your kids attended Title I schools? Assuming that being surrounded by lower-income students automatically makes it “really hard to stay motivated,” or that high-achieving kids are somehow held back, just isn’t true at our school. It’s absolutely possible to stay motivated, take rigorous classes, lead, etc. My children and their friends have done exactly that and have gone on to attend top schools in Virginia and across the country.

I don’t know whether attending a Title I school is a “hook,” but colleges evaluate students in context and understand that students who’ve learned in socioeconomically and culturally diverse schools often develop adaptability, perspective, and openness that serve them well in college.

If more parents could look beyond GreatSchools ratings, they might find that their children gain exposure to different perspectives and experiences. Title I schools aren’t lacking because of the students; they’re under-resourced because of broader structural issues.

Disagree. It absolutely is harder to find rigor in title 1 schools. In the regular or “honors” classes, there is nothing honors about them. Teachers have to significantly lower expectations and tailor assignments to what most of the class can realistically be successfully completing. Even the AP classes are not as good. Teachers often cannot get through a years worth of content. If you take an AP class, you practically need to self study all year and do plenty of test prep if you want a 4/5. The class alone will not prepare you well at all. You have to be extremely self motivated outside of school and disciplined to move ahead in these schools.

None of this is true about the urban Title 1 HS my DS attended in CA. Passed all APs and got 4s and 5s on 80% of them, with minimal self study and test prep outside of class.

Similar experience with both of my kids at a high FARMS / ESOL school in NOVA. They are not first gen, played club and varsity sports, 4s and 5s on AP exams, with no outside help. Leadership roles on and off campus. Most of their friends were academically focused students. Friends off to UVA, VT, some “fancy” SLACs, UGA, UT, UF, Wisco. A few playing their sports in college as well. Was attending that school a hook? Not sure, but it didn’t hurt them in my view. We were also able to save more money for college tuition by not paying too much for our house in a more prestigious school pyramid. No regrets!

Forgot to add, the my kids and their friends took 7+ AP courses. Some taking 10.

[Anonymous]

My kids weaved attending Title 1 elementary and middle school into supplemental essays.
Accepted at top choices.
The essays were touching on how their life experiences have helped them be able to connect with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another factor is that your kid probably has more leadership opportunities than they would at a "better" high school.
For example, my kid is captain of a varsity team and probably wouldn't have even made the team if they were in different school. Becoming president of Honor Society or being a officer in SGA isn't as competitive.

+1 The chances are better coming from a Title I school or an elite private. The middle class gets screwed again.