Saint Anselm, Wash. Int'l and Holton among nation's 20 most challenging private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Holton has beat out Thomas Jefferson and the Chapin School in NY. Only in one's dreams.

If you read the explanation accompanying the rankings, you'd know why TJ is not included. In fact, TJ is mentioned by name.

As a former Holton parent, there are many average and above average students. I agree with the description below as it relates to Holton:

The Challenge Index is designed to identify schools that have done the best job in persuading average students to take college-level courses and tests. It does not work with schools that have no, or almost no, average students. We put those schools on our Public Elites list.

Schools like TJ are not listed because they are PUBLIC schools, folks. This is a listing for PRIVATE schools.

Did you look at the list? It is almost entirely public schools; they just included a few private schools (those with available data) for the purpose of comparison. Most private schools do not make that data public (and if i remember correctly WIS was furious that it was included).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go Stone Ridge and Holton!! Pushing girls to their full potential.

Love it

+1 The Stone Ridge and Holton girls would probably understand the ranking, which has absolutely baffled many on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

I think some of the leading private schools think that the intense focus on the AP is counterproductive BS.

[Anonymous]

Mathews measure is a total waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Holton has beat out Thomas Jefferson and the Chapin School in NY. Only in one's dreams.

If you read the explanation accompanying the rankings, you'd know why TJ is not included. In fact, TJ is mentioned by name.

As a former Holton parent, there are many average and above average students. I agree with the description below as it relates to Holton:

The Challenge Index is designed to identify schools that have done the best job in persuading average students to take college-level courses and tests. It does not work with schools that have no, or almost no, average students. We put those schools on our Public Elites list.

Schools like TJ are not listed because they are PUBLIC schools, folks. This is a listing for PRIVATE schools.

The previous comment was as it relates to Holton. Read the fine print.

. I read the thread and you can't compare based upon the index.

[Anonymous]

Very few private schools are transparent. Very few private schools want the scrutiny. Very few private schools want you to have enough information to make comparisons between schools. As consumers, we are supposed to trust them implicitly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

I think some of the leading private schools think that the intense focus on the AP is counterproductive BS.

When was the last time a school that considered itself a "leading" school DIDN'T quibble with a ranking that it did not fare well in?

[Anonymous]

If schools don't believe in going in whole hog for AP courses, why would they participate in a ranking system based upon kids taking AP exams? Seems pretty straightforward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

There is no focus on AP tests at WIS. In fact, there are no AP classes at WIS. It's an IB school, and most students graduate with a bilingual IB diploma. Some students take AP tests on their own for a variety of reasons (and they do wonderfully, I'm told, despite never haven taken AP classes unless they came to WIS from another school), but the school has nothing to do with it.

Well, gosh, according to their website they offer AP tests in languages. I would expect the kids there to do well on language AP tests. And the challenge index specifically includes IB programs, too, since they are also explicitly college level.

WIS simply offers the AP tests in languages (usually only French and Spanish, but sometimes other languages if a student is interested) as a convenience to those who might want to add info to their college applications. They do not offer the AP course. It only offers IB classes. Students will usually take it in 10th grade, sometimes 11th grade.

Also, it has been noted on other threads about this index before, but WIS does not wish to participate with this index. The information is probably obtained through the IB Organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

There is no focus on AP tests at WIS. In fact, there are no AP classes at WIS. It's an IB school, and most students graduate with a bilingual IB diploma. Some students take AP tests on their own for a variety of reasons (and they do wonderfully, I'm told, despite never haven taken AP classes unless they came to WIS from another school), but the school has nothing to do with it.

Well, gosh, according to their website they offer AP tests in languages. I would expect the kids there to do well on language AP tests. And the challenge index specifically includes IB programs, too, since they are also explicitly college level.

WIS simply offers the AP tests in languages (usually only French and Spanish, but sometimes other languages if a student is interested) as a convenience to those who might want to add info to their college applications. They do not offer the AP course. It only offers IB classes. Students will usually take it in 10th grade, sometimes 11th grade.

Also, it has been noted on other threads about this index before, but WIS does not wish to participate with this index. The information is probably obtained through the IB Organization.

The point (which you apparently missed) is that tt's more than a little disingenuous to claim that WIS students take AP tests "on their own" when the school actually offers them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoever is worrying about the "lunch subsidies" at private schools is confused. There is no such thing as "subsidized lunch" at private schools. That's like asking what percentage of public school students are on financial aid.

It may say 0% under that column, but it's just an oddity of the way the survey was set up.

Also, just to be clear, the subsidized lunch number has no bearing on these rankings, it's just provided as a point of comparison. The Sidwells, etc. of the world don't appear on this list because they refuse to provide their data.

The survey ask who qualifies for lunch subsidies not who provides lunch subsidies ... It is based on income.

The point is, private schools do not collect data on who qualifies for lunch subsidies. It is a moot question.

They do if they apply for FA.

I've heard of "doubling down on stupid," but this is getting ridiculous. Are you really suggesting that the Washington Post Index includes the amount of lunch subsides as a factor in the ranking of high schools? The ranking is explained in detail. In addition, the article provides information that readers may find of interest - including the lunch subsidy information. Are you really having that much trouble sorting this out? If so, it is a wonder that you were able to turn on your computer.

+1 It is very clearly explained as a simple ratio. Nothing else is factored in. READ the intro. Also, while I share the concerns about AP courses, this is not the case with the IB program or the AICE diploma. Both are rigorous and focused on producing a well-educated individual versus simply one test score on one given day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

There is no focus on AP tests at WIS. In fact, there are no AP classes at WIS. It's an IB school, and most students graduate with a bilingual IB diploma. Some students take AP tests on their own for a variety of reasons (and they do wonderfully, I'm told, despite never haven taken AP classes unless they came to WIS from another school), but the school has nothing to do with it.

This! Exactly the point I am trying to make and I have no connection to WIS. The IB diploma and AICE diploma are legit. Schools that offer these program are going to rank well and should! They offer so much more than the AP courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If schools don't believe in going in whole hog for AP courses, why would they participate in a ranking system based upon kids taking AP exams? Seems pretty straightforward.

I agree straightforward. But, is there a single private school that states in materials accessible by prospective students that they "don't believe in going in whole hog for AP courses" (or words to that effect)?

Every schools is entitled to its own philosophy regarding the importance of AP prep, but they should be transparent about it. Wasn't lack of transparency Jay Matthews principal gripe about Sidwell? Anyone relying on the Washington Post Index surely thinks AP prep is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Holton has beat out Thomas Jefferson and the Chapin School in NY. Only in one's dreams.

If you read the explanation accompanying the rankings, you'd know why TJ is not included. In fact, TJ is mentioned by name.

As a former Holton parent, there are many average and above average students. I agree with the description below as it relates to Holton:

The Challenge Index is designed to identify schools that have done the best job in persuading average students to take college-level courses and tests. It does not work with schools that have no, or almost no, average students. We put those schools on our Public Elites list.

Schools like TJ are not listed because they are PUBLIC schools, folks. This is a listing for PRIVATE schools.

Did you look at the list? It is almost entirely public schools; they just included a few private schools (those with available data) for the purpose of comparison. Most private schools do not make that data public (and if i remember correctly WIS was furious that it was included).

No it is not public schools! We are talking about THIS link http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2014/list/private/
Follow the conversation as it was started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the Challenge Index is very accurate when it comes to the private schools because of the intense focus on AP.

I think some of the leading private schools think that the intense focus on the AP is counterproductive BS.

Agreed. Many private schools see the AP courses for exactly what they are-mile wide, inch deep. This is why they offer the IB program. The heavy emphasis on AP occurs more commonly in public schools. It is all about bragging rights and keeping the parents and tax payers placated.