do some schools shy away from high test scores?

[Anonymous]

At a real town hall, people show their faces. Now that the Feynman admin has shared his ID and reasons for posting, why don't you identify yourself, 15:12, and let us know which school(s) you are or have been affiliated with? If your interest in gifted education is genuine, and you're sincerely interested in creating a forum that would benefit the community, we'd love to know who you are and what you have to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At a real town hall, people show their faces. Now that the Feynman admin has shared his ID and reasons for posting, why don't you identify yourself, 15:12, and let us know which school(s) you are or have been affiliated with? If your interest in gifted education is genuine, and you're sincerely interested in creating a forum that would benefit the community, we'd love to know who you are and what you have to offer.

21:23, youre talking pretty high and mighty yourself for someone posting anonymously.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that 15:12 knows that the Feynman admin posting is a he.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a real town hall, people show their faces. Now that the Feynman admin has shared his ID and reasons for posting, why don't you identify yourself, 15:12, and let us know which school(s) you are or have been affiliated with? If your interest in gifted education is genuine, and you're sincerely interested in creating a forum that would benefit the community, we'd love to know who you are and what you have to offer.

21:23, youre talking pretty high and mighty yourself for someone posting anonymously.

Not as high and mighty as 15:12. It also doesn't include the threats (testing goodwill??). It seems unsavory to challenge a Feynman parent and admin who both identified themselves when you are posting anonymously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not as high and mighty as 15:12. It also doesn't include the threats (testing goodwill??). It seems unsavory to challenge a Feynman parent and admin who both identified themselves when you are posting anonymously.

Are you the Feynman parent or the Feynman admin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:140 doesn't seem so high. I'm surprised that there weren't more kids at that level given how well everyone says their kids do. Davidson requires 150, which is a big difference.

Davidson requires 150+ on the WPSSI-III (verbal, performance or full scale) or 145+ on the WISC-IV (verbal, perceptual, general ability index, or full scale). They also have additional application possibilities: achievement tests as well as portfolios of work.

You need an achievement test in addition to IQ, not instead of. Very hard to get in with portfolio, and even then, you need portfolio + IQ or achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Feynman School the average WPPSI is approximately 140

Source for this claim?

I review the applications.

You're part of the school administration posting on DCUM about the school and the scores of particular students?

I need to post on DCUM occasionally to correct false information posted about our school. Anonymous posters on this forum have misrepresented our tuition and admissions policies. I'm sure other schools' officials post from time to time for similar reasons. FWIW, I'm not singling out DCUM--last year The Gazette published an article about our school in which I was misquoted. The Gazette reporter also did not bother to actually visit the school. Not that I expected a puff piece, but the article contained egregious errors, including stating that we require "a series of tests" for kindergarten admissions, which we never have done. (We do require the WPPSI with K applications, hardly unusual.)

I will also post about the school when relevant to the thread, particularly when the thread discusses seeking a school for a young advanced learner. We just opened our doors in fall 2010 and many local parents may not know about us as an option. Also, some parents who heard about us last year may not have given us serious consideration because the Darnestown location was inconvenient for them. We're trying to get the word out re: our new Bethesda location.

As for the scores, which are only one factor in our admissions decisions, this thread is basically about WPPSI scores and so I found it entirely appropriate to post the approximate average score of our current students and to emphasize that even highly gifted learners testing above 150 are well-served at Feynman. I have seen other threads discussing average SAT scores, even comparing them amongst specific schools. Scores are always a touchy subject, but especially given the topic of the thread, and the fact that no students were named, I think you're overreacting here.

Feynman administrator: you should know that Davidson has extremely stringent privacy rules and outing DYS on this site is completely inappropriate. I'm sure the parents of these kids' classmates will know who you are talking about if, in fact, what you say is true. Revealing kids' IQs is also unprofessional.

[Anonymous]

Poor 19:34 - you're revealing your own IQ, as well as EI, and neither appear to be Feynman or Davidson material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Feynman School the average WPPSI is approximately 140

Source for this claim?

I review the applications.

You're part of the school administration posting on DCUM about the school and the scores of particular students?

I need to post on DCUM occasionally to correct false information posted about our school. Anonymous posters on this forum have misrepresented our tuition and admissions policies. I'm sure other schools' officials post from time to time for similar reasons. FWIW, I'm not singling out DCUM--last year The Gazette published an article about our school in which I was misquoted. The Gazette reporter also did not bother to actually visit the school. Not that I expected a puff piece, but the article contained egregious errors, including stating that we require "a series of tests" for kindergarten admissions, which we never have done. (We do require the WPPSI with K applications, hardly unusual.)

I will also post about the school when relevant to the thread, particularly when the thread discusses seeking a school for a young advanced learner. We just opened our doors in fall 2010 and many local parents may not know about us as an option. Also, some parents who heard about us last year may not have given us serious consideration because the Darnestown location was inconvenient for them. We're trying to get the word out re: our new Bethesda location.

As for the scores, which are only one factor in our admissions decisions, this thread is basically about WPPSI scores and so I found it entirely appropriate to post the approximate average score of our current students and to emphasize that even highly gifted learners testing above 150 are well-served at Feynman. I have seen other threads discussing average SAT scores, even comparing them amongst specific schools. Scores are always a touchy subject, but especially given the topic of the thread, and the fact that no students were named, I think you're overreacting here.

Feynman administrator: you should know that Davidson has extremely stringent privacy rules and outing DYS on this site is completely inappropriate. I'm sure the parents of these kids' classmates will know who you are talking about if, in fact, what you say is true. Revealing kids' IQs is also unprofessional.

Feynman parent here...

Our admin did not disclose personal information about the DYS so your accusations are not warranted. Moreover, I have no idea which student is the DYS. Don't forget that our school is filled with advanced learners so there is not one student that would stand out as the only one who would qualify as you have assumed. Actually Feynman School is listed as an educational resource by the Davidson Institute so it's not surprising to me that there is one in the class and there likely will be more in the future.

Have you ever looked at the Davidson website? There is a message board for parents to discuss anything related to giftedness. There is also an entire forum dedicated to testing and assessment where IQ scores are posted and discussed in detail every day. As long as names or other personal information are not included it is perfectly fine.

This is a wonderful school and the founders are very professional and ethical. They care deeply about their mission to educate these children. I am very grateful for the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Feynman School the average WPPSI is approximately 140

Source for this claim?

I review the applications.

You're part of the school administration posting on DCUM about the school and the scores of particular students?

I need to post on DCUM occasionally to correct false information posted about our school. Anonymous posters on this forum have misrepresented our tuition and admissions policies. I'm sure other schools' officials post from time to time for similar reasons. FWIW, I'm not singling out DCUM--last year The Gazette published an article about our school in which I was misquoted. The Gazette reporter also did not bother to actually visit the school. Not that I expected a puff piece, but the article contained egregious errors, including stating that we require "a series of tests" for kindergarten admissions, which we never have done. (We do require the WPPSI with K applications, hardly unusual.)

I will also post about the school when relevant to the thread, particularly when the thread discusses seeking a school for a young advanced learner. We just opened our doors in fall 2010 and many local parents may not know about us as an option. Also, some parents who heard about us last year may not have given us serious consideration because the Darnestown location was inconvenient for them. We're trying to get the word out re: our new Bethesda location.

As for the scores, which are only one factor in our admissions decisions, this thread is basically about WPPSI scores and so I found it entirely appropriate to post the approximate average score of our current students and to emphasize that even highly gifted learners testing above 150 are well-served at Feynman. I have seen other threads discussing average SAT scores, even comparing them amongst specific schools. Scores are always a touchy subject, but especially given the topic of the thread, and the fact that no students were named, I think you're overreacting here.

Feynman administrator: you should know that Davidson has extremely stringent privacy rules and outing DYS on this site is completely inappropriate. I'm sure the parents of these kids' classmates will know who you are talking about if, in fact, what you say is true. Revealing kids' IQs is also unprofessional.

Feynman parent here...

Our admin did not disclose personal information about the DYS so your accusations are not warranted. Moreover, I have no idea which student is the DYS. Don't forget that our school is filled with advanced learners so there is not one student that would stand out as the only one who would qualify as you have assumed. Actually Feynman School is listed as an educational resource by the Davidson Institute so it's not surprising to me that there is one in the class and there likely will be more in the future.

Have you ever looked at the Davidson website? There is a message board for parents to discuss anything related to giftedness. There is also an entire forum dedicated to testing and assessment where IQ scores are posted and discussed in detail every day. As long as names or other personal information are not included it is perfectly fine.

This is a wonderful school and the founders are very professional and ethical. They care deeply about their mission to educate these children. I am very grateful for the school.

There is a difference between a parent anonymously discussing their kid's scores and a school administrator revealing specifics about the school and class that the children are in. Whether you think it's appropriate or not, based on what I know of Davidson, I don't think they would. If Feynman doesn't know that, they ought to.

I'm glad that there's a school trying to help this population and that your child is doing well there.

[Anonymous]

What is your relationship with Davidson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a difference between a parent anonymously discussing their kid's scores and a school administrator revealing specifics about the school and class that the children are in. Whether you think it's appropriate or not, based on what I know of Davidson, I don't think they would. If Feynman doesn't know that, they ought to.

I agree. I also am disturbed about a school administrator posting anonymous positive comments designed to attract applicants on a board meant for parents. This is especially true for a place like Feynman, where the two school administrators are also the founders and primary operators, and so have a direct financial stake in attracting applications. It smacks of deceitful advertising. I know the school had some paid PR person posting puff comments here last year, but at least she had the decency to reveal her association with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a difference between a parent anonymously discussing their kid's scores and a school administrator revealing specifics about the school and class that the children are in. Whether you think it's appropriate or not, based on what I know of Davidson, I don't think they would. If Feynman doesn't know that, they ought to.

I agree. I also am disturbed about a school administrator posting anonymous positive comments designed to attract applicants on a board meant for parents. This is especially true for a place like Feynman, where the two school administrators are also the founders and primary operators, and so have a direct financial stake in attracting applications. It smacks of deceitful advertising. I know the school had some paid PR person posting puff comments here last year, but at least she had the decency to reveal her association with the school.

While I don't agree with your opinion I am intrigued that you are so familiar with the school and administration. How are you so familiar? What private school are you affiliated with?

The school is a non-profit. The founders are also parents of children who attend the school.

[Anonymous]

7:02, wholly aside from the fact that you're behaving like a total ass, and have been long-obsessed with bashing Feynman School every time it appears on DCUM, I like the fact that the founders are heavily involved and have a stake in the school's success.

Are you with Nysmith by any chance and concerned that your best and brightest Maryland applicants now have a viable option close by?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:02, wholly aside from the fact that you're behaving like a total ass, and have been long-obsessed with bashing Feynman School every time it appears on DCUM, I like the fact that the founders are heavily involved and have a stake in the school's success.

Are you with Nysmith by any chance and concerned that your best and brightest Maryland applicants now have a viable option close by?

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