"Not a Meritocracy"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insecurity from public school parents here.
1) You'll find super smart kids at both public and private. I don't see any private school parents denying that fact.
2a) Private school is simply expensive and out of reach for many families. This in itself raises the hackles of public school parents who see this as fundamentally unfair and elitist. I don't think any private school parent would disagree. It's something that many private school parents acknowledge, and feel uncomfortable about, but in the end choose private because they can.
2b) Families who live in $1.5M homes in Ward 3 are also highly privileged, in the grand scheme of things. So, it's a bit disingenuous to criticize private school parents when you yourself likely have a HHI well, well above the city median.
3) As a private school parent, I like the fact that my kids are in a safe, small environment where teachers, administrators, and staff know my kids personally. I like that the teachers respond to my emails. I like that they don't have to walk through metal detectors. I like that kids aren't getting arrested at my kids school. I like that there aren't physical fights daily. I like that the there isn't a "Yale-or-Jail" mentality to the kids, which, frankly is the case at Jackson-Reed; and to make it worse, most of the "Yale" kids are White, and most of the "Jail" kids are Black. White JR parents like to tout the diversity of the school, but their kids' friends are almost all White. There is a lot of segregation within the school. While our kids' private school isn't perfect, there are lot more multi-ethnic/racial friendships than what I observe at JR. My sample size is admittedly small, but I don't see the Yale-Jail divide at top private schools they way I see it at JR.

And yes, for sure, the top JR kids are getting into top colleges, but that's not the main reason we are sending our kids to private. I know my kid will get into college, probably a pretty good one, even with the grade deflation.

This alleged mentality is cited only by people like you, who don’t have kids at JR. It is absolutely not the way kids at JR think about the school or their peers. Stop projecting your class- and race-based assumptions on to other people’s children.

What are the demographics of the kids at JR who don't go to college?

+1 This is why kids are better off with a Quaker education. Kids who aren't headed for college are never even allowed through the front door

A quaker education that costs $$$$ LOL Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insecurity from public school parents here.
1) You'll find super smart kids at both public and private. I don't see any private school parents denying that fact.
2a) Private school is simply expensive and out of reach for many families. This in itself raises the hackles of public school parents who see this as fundamentally unfair and elitist. I don't think any private school parent would disagree. It's something that many private school parents acknowledge, and feel uncomfortable about, but in the end choose private because they can.
2b) Families who live in $1.5M homes in Ward 3 are also highly privileged, in the grand scheme of things. So, it's a bit disingenuous to criticize private school parents when you yourself likely have a HHI well, well above the city median.
3) As a private school parent, I like the fact that my kids are in a safe, small environment where teachers, administrators, and staff know my kids personally. I like that the teachers respond to my emails. I like that they don't have to walk through metal detectors. I like that kids aren't getting arrested at my kids school. I like that there aren't physical fights daily. I like that the there isn't a "Yale-or-Jail" mentality to the kids, which, frankly is the case at Jackson-Reed; and to make it worse, most of the "Yale" kids are White, and most of the "Jail" kids are Black. White JR parents like to tout the diversity of the school, but their kids' friends are almost all White. There is a lot of segregation within the school. While our kids' private school isn't perfect, there are lot more multi-ethnic/racial friendships than what I observe at JR. My sample size is admittedly small, but I don't see the Yale-Jail divide at top private schools they way I see it at JR.

And yes, for sure, the top JR kids are getting into top colleges, but that's not the main reason we are sending our kids to private. I know my kid will get into college, probably a pretty good one, even with the grade deflation.

This alleged mentality is cited only by people like you, who don’t have kids at JR. It is absolutely not the way kids at JR think about the school or their peers. Stop projecting your class- and race-based assumptions on to other people’s children.

What are the demographics of the kids at JR who don't go to college?

+1 This is why kids are better off with a Quaker education. Kids who aren't headed for college are never even allowed through the front door

Lol they admit preschoolers. And don’t admit truly poor people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insecurity from public school parents here.
1) You'll find super smart kids at both public and private. I don't see any private school parents denying that fact.
2a) Private school is simply expensive and out of reach for many families. This in itself raises the hackles of public school parents who see this as fundamentally unfair and elitist. I don't think any private school parent would disagree. It's something that many private school parents acknowledge, and feel uncomfortable about, but in the end choose private because they can.
2b) Families who live in $1.5M homes in Ward 3 are also highly privileged, in the grand scheme of things. So, it's a bit disingenuous to criticize private school parents when you yourself likely have a HHI well, well above the city median.
3) As a private school parent, I like the fact that my kids are in a safe, small environment where teachers, administrators, and staff know my kids personally. I like that the teachers respond to my emails. I like that they don't have to walk through metal detectors. I like that kids aren't getting arrested at my kids school. I like that there aren't physical fights daily. I like that the there isn't a "Yale-or-Jail" mentality to the kids, which, frankly is the case at Jackson-Reed; and to make it worse, most of the "Yale" kids are White, and most of the "Jail" kids are Black. White JR parents like to tout the diversity of the school, but their kids' friends are almost all White. There is a lot of segregation within the school. While our kids' private school isn't perfect, there are lot more multi-ethnic/racial friendships than what I observe at JR. My sample size is admittedly small, but I don't see the Yale-Jail divide at top private schools they way I see it at JR.

And yes, for sure, the top JR kids are getting into top colleges, but that's not the main reason we are sending our kids to private. I know my kid will get into college, probably a pretty good one, even with the grade deflation.

This alleged mentality is cited only by people like you, who don’t have kids at JR. It is absolutely not the way kids at JR think about the school or their peers. Stop projecting your class- and race-based assumptions on to other people’s children.

What are the demographics of the kids at JR who don't go to college?

+1 This is why kids are better off with a Quaker education. Kids who aren't headed for college are never even allowed through the front door

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Lots of Towson-educated “education” majors teaching in our local public schools. The vast majority of them wouldn’t have survived or gotten into a top college or a difficult subject-matter major.

Sure, but the little kid who was educated by the Towson education major could grow up to go into a public magnet program and do exceedingly well in college.

Whereas, a private school kid whose parents spent a ton of money on K-12, and taught by a liberal arts major at some SLAC could end up at UI or Michigan State.

YMMV.

???

What's the ??? about? What major or college the teacher went to, especially in the lower grades, does not really impact what college a kid who was taught by such a teacher ends up at, nor does it indicate what their SAT scores are. So, what does it matter if a private school teacher went to a fancy school or that a public school teacher went to to Towson? At least the public school teacher is certified. Don't you look for certifications when you hire someone? Why wouldn't you want your expensive private school teacher to be certified? Seems weird.

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't understand the point.

Personally, I'm more interested if the teacher's major is in the subject they are teaching and if they continue to take CEUs, especially in the sciences.

I've flipped on this now that I have kids. Having a major gives you a great deal of knowledge about a subject 99% of which is irrelevant to a given high school course let alone elementary school. I'd rather a teacher who understands the subject matter enough to teach it and has actually learned to teach. FWIW the worst teacher that I ever had was a chemistry PhD in his first year of teaching. He had no clue how to deal with a classroom let alone impart knowledge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Lots of Towson-educated “education” majors teaching in our local public schools. The vast majority of them wouldn’t have survived or gotten into a top college or a difficult subject-matter major.

Sure, but the little kid who was educated by the Towson education major could grow up to go into a public magnet program and do exceedingly well in college.

Whereas, a private school kid whose parents spent a ton of money on K-12, and taught by a liberal arts major at some SLAC could end up at UI or Michigan State.

YMMV.

???

What's the ??? about? What major or college the teacher went to, especially in the lower grades, does not really impact what college a kid who was taught by such a teacher ends up at, nor does it indicate what their SAT scores are. So, what does it matter if a private school teacher went to a fancy school or that a public school teacher went to to Towson? At least the public school teacher is certified. Don't you look for certifications when you hire someone? Why wouldn't you want your expensive private school teacher to be certified? Seems weird.

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't understand the point.

Personally, I'm more interested if the teacher's major is in the subject they are teaching and if they continue to take CEUs, especially in the sciences.

I've flipped on this now that I have kids. Having a major gives you a great deal of knowledge about a subject 99% of which is irrelevant to a given high school course let alone elementary school. I'd rather a teacher who understands the subject matter enough to teach it and has actually learned to teach. FWIW the worst teacher that I ever had was a chemistry PhD in his first year of teaching. He had no clue how to deal with a classroom let alone impart knowledge

First, chemistry is considered the most difficult subject to teach and I have never really met anyone who is successful at it. They either hold their PhDs, but cannot convey the material. Or have teaching skills, but lack any real mastery of the subject.

Second, most teachers I know who have a major in the subject also take graduate ed classes along the way and pick up the teaching skils.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Go figure that people can approach the same issue differently than you. You want to bow at the altar of the college board go ahead. Some people don’t and that’s a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Go figure that people can approach the same issue differently than you. You want to bow at the altar of the college board go ahead. Some people don’t and that’s a choice.

Sure. just don't complain when the choice haas consequences that you don't like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Lots of Towson-educated “education” majors teaching in our local public schools. The vast majority of them wouldn’t have survived or gotten into a top college or a difficult subject-matter major.

Sure, but the little kid who was educated by the Towson education major could grow up to go into a public magnet program and do exceedingly well in college.

Whereas, a private school kid whose parents spent a ton of money on K-12, and taught by a liberal arts major at some SLAC could end up at UI or Michigan State.

YMMV.

???

What's the ??? about? What major or college the teacher went to, especially in the lower grades, does not really impact what college a kid who was taught by such a teacher ends up at, nor does it indicate what their SAT scores are. So, what does it matter if a private school teacher went to a fancy school or that a public school teacher went to to Towson? At least the public school teacher is certified. Don't you look for certifications when you hire someone? Why wouldn't you want your expensive private school teacher to be certified? Seems weird.

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't understand the point.

Personally, I'm more interested if the teacher's major is in the subject they are teaching and if they continue to take CEUs, especially in the sciences.

I've flipped on this now that I have kids. Having a major gives you a great deal of knowledge about a subject 99% of which is irrelevant to a given high school course let alone elementary school. I'd rather a teacher who understands the subject matter enough to teach it and has actually learned to teach. FWIW the worst teacher that I ever had was a chemistry PhD in his first year of teaching. He had no clue how to deal with a classroom let alone impart knowledge

First, chemistry is considered the most difficult subject to teach and I have never really met anyone who is successful at it. They either hold their PhDs, but cannot convey the material. Or have teaching skills, but lack any real mastery of the subject.

Second, most teachers I know who have a major in the subject also take graduate ed classes along the way and pick up the teaching skils.

But education majors take classes IN teaching, and also continue to get trained.

I am not saying that all public education teachers are all great. My kids have had some lackluster ones for sure. But, a PP's comment that some Towson education grad would make for a lackluster teacher is wrong. They can be good teachers even if they are not smart enough to go to an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of insecurity from public school parents here.
1) You'll find super smart kids at both public and private. I don't see any private school parents denying that fact.
2a) Private school is simply expensive and out of reach for many families. This in itself raises the hackles of public school parents who see this as fundamentally unfair and elitist. I don't think any private school parent would disagree. It's something that many private school parents acknowledge, and feel uncomfortable about, but in the end choose private because they can.
2b) Families who live in $1.5M homes in Ward 3 are also highly privileged, in the grand scheme of things. So, it's a bit disingenuous to criticize private school parents when you yourself likely have a HHI well, well above the city median.
3) As a private school parent, I like the fact that my kids are in a safe, small environment where teachers, administrators, and staff know my kids personally. I like that the teachers respond to my emails. I like that they don't have to walk through metal detectors. I like that kids aren't getting arrested at my kids school. I like that there aren't physical fights daily. I like that the there isn't a "Yale-or-Jail" mentality to the kids, which, frankly is the case at Jackson-Reed; and to make it worse, most of the "Yale" kids are White, and most of the "Jail" kids are Black. White JR parents like to tout the diversity of the school, but their kids' friends are almost all White. There is a lot of segregation within the school. While our kids' private school isn't perfect, there are lot more multi-ethnic/racial friendships than what I observe at JR. My sample size is admittedly small, but I don't see the Yale-Jail divide at top private schools they way I see it at JR.

And yes, for sure, the top JR kids are getting into top colleges, but that's not the main reason we are sending our kids to private. I know my kid will get into college, probably a pretty good one, even with the grade deflation.

This alleged mentality is cited only by people like you, who don’t have kids at JR. It is absolutely not the way kids at JR think about the school or their peers. Stop projecting your class- and race-based assumptions on to other people’s children.

What are the demographics of the kids at JR who don't go to college?

+1 This is why kids are better off with a Quaker education. Kids who aren't headed for college are never even allowed through the front door

+1, nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. Everyone is disappointed when their hard working student does not get into a desired college. That is true across the board.

Yes, but private school parents seem to be blaming the private school, as if paying for the $$ private school should mean they should get special treatment.

I have no dog in this fight but it seems the position of the private schools is that their kids with lower GPAs are being evaluated more harshly. Like the appropriate adjustments are not being made for the rigor of the grading.

This. My kid has been in public and private. Public school was not rigorous (even though it’s one of the “top area public schools). My kid’s gpa would be much higher in public. Maybe colleges were never really distinguishing between the rigor of schools or mandatory SATs disguised this.

The public school applicants have AP scores to validate their grades. If we're talking about public school kids applying to the type of schools the OP think he kid deserves to attend, you are talking about a lot of 4s and 5s in classes with curriculums that are supposed to be consistent across all schools offering the course.

Is it MCPS where you get an 82 one semester and a 92 the next and they end up with an A for the year? That’s the crazy grade inflation I’m talking about.

Indeed, but as a PP stated, just look at their AP test scores.

Everyone games the system to their advantage. Kids will put in the minimal effort to get the A, but when it counts like the AP test scores, they will show their ability.

Lots of public school kids get majority 5s on APs and 1500+ SAT scores. No amount of grade inflation is going to help with the AP test scores.

I don’t care about AP scores. The colleges are screening by GPAs which are artificially inflated.

AP scores validate or discredit a GPA. They are the one objective measure of course rigor that colleges have. Schools can talk about how rigorous their classes are until they are blue in the face, but a kid with and A and a 5 in a similarly titled class from a no name public school is going to be viewed as having done well in a rigorous class.

There are many schools that don't do AP for many unique and valid reasons.

What valid reasons do private schools use to get rid of AP classes?

They think they can create better classes.

Yet, based on the grade inflation argument, AP exams (and classes) are really the only objective measurement of ability. Basically, private schools are getting rid of AP classes because they don't want to pay College Board. IMO, it's a financial reason. Their teachers aren't even certified teachers.

When I see job postings, I always see how the employers want certifications in abc, xyz, but I guess for private K-12, certifications need not be required. I guess it's because they don't get paid as much. Private school parents are happy to spend $$ on schools being taught by teachers who don't get paid that much and aren't certified. Then, those same parents expect high results for college admissions.

Go figure.

Go figure that people can approach the same issue differently than you. You want to bow at the altar of the college board go ahead. Some people don’t and that’s a choice.

Sure. just don't complain when the choice haas consequences that you don't like

+1 rich private school parents complaining about public school grade inflation, public school bowing at the altar of the college board, and then get upset because their larlo's college admission was lackluster.

Go figure.

[Anonymous]

I guess they know better than the admissions committees.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure this isn’t true of every “big 3” family but my nephews attended a school that is equivalent to those (but in a different city) and their parents are so wealthy & connected that they wouldn’t been fine without even attending college. I know they weren’t the wealthiest family at their school by any means. I’m not sure why wealthy parents don’t let their kids sidestep the rat race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure this isn’t true of every “big 3” family but my nephews attended a school that is equivalent to those (but in a different city) and their parents are so wealthy & connected that they wouldn’t been fine without even attending college. I know they weren’t the wealthiest family at their school by any means. I’m not sure why wealthy parents don’t let their kids sidestep the rat race.

Kids that like school and learning don't see it necessarily as a rat race. Some of these geeks actually like the pursuit of knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College is not a reward for good little boys and girls?

College is a community. College is also educating a society.

Colleges choose students based on who can make their community more full (big names/athletes/artists). They also choose people they think can contribute to society in some way (like the parkland kids, or the smartest kid in some unknown town whose gpa/Sat might be less than yours but it’s the highest there )

It is a meritocracy you just don’t like the measuring stick they use.

This sounds really sweet until you realize that the unifying principle is “building the class that best serves the selfish interests of our institution.” If you think Harvard regarded the Parkland kid as anything more than a bauble you’ve got your head in the sand.

What you are saying that colleges select the applicants they find most attractive for their institution? Wow you really blew the lid off that conspiracy.

More people should have a problem with tax-exempt organizations operating solely for their own self-interest. Harvard has a $30 billion endowment and hasn’t paid a dime in taxes on it since 1636.

I don't have a problem with that. The very reasons organizaitons are given tax exempt status are the same reasons they should not be entangled with goverment influences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure this isn’t true of every “big 3” family but my nephews attended a school that is equivalent to those (but in a different city) and their parents are so wealthy & connected that they wouldn’t been fine without even attending college. I know they weren’t the wealthiest family at their school by any means. I’m not sure why wealthy parents don’t let their kids sidestep the rat race.

Kids that like school and learning don't see it necessarily as a rat race. Some of these geeks actually like the pursuit of knowledge.

No, it's more about the parent's bragging rights than anything else.

You think Trump's father would've been fine with Trump not going to college? He clearly thought it was important since he bribed their way in.