"Not a Meritocracy"

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

[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:

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

The colleges are aware of the high schools and how to evaluate the students do there is no disadvantage. Private school kids get into top colleges at a higher rate than public. The disadvantage works the opposite way than you describe.

It just sounds like anecdotally this is not the case anymore esp at larger schools/state U etc.

So you’re disadvantaged, maybe, at 2% of colleges in America. A true tragedy.

[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.

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

I have no dog in this fight- but intuitively I feel amidst the chaos of gazillions of apps, high GPA is better than high rigor (either at the course level or the school level). A kid who is getting the best possible grades at his school is going to be looked upon favorably, whereas a kid who is not will be looked upon with some suspicion (during the two minute application review). When you are looking at 4.0 after 4.0, why bother with 3.5? I understand some state schools don't even entertain an application below a certain GPA threshold.

[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:

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

I have no dog in this fight- but intuitively I feel amidst the chaos of gazillions of apps, high GPA is better than high rigor (either at the course level or the school level). A kid who is getting the best possible grades at his school is going to be looked upon favorably, whereas a kid who is not will be looked upon with some suspicion (during the two minute application review). When you are looking at 4.0 after 4.0, why bother with 3.5? I understand some state schools don't even entertain an application below a certain GPA threshold.

People paying 200k for that treatment should be made at their schools' for refusing to play the game that everybody else is playing. This would be like a football team morally opposed to the forward pass wondering why it can't win

[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:

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

I have no dog in this fight- but intuitively I feel amidst the chaos of gazillions of apps, high GPA is better than high rigor (either at the course level or the school level). A kid who is getting the best possible grades at his school is going to be looked upon favorably, whereas a kid who is not will be looked upon with some suspicion (during the two minute application review). When you are looking at 4.0 after 4.0, why bother with 3.5? I understand some state schools don't even entertain an application below a certain GPA threshold.

People paying 200k for that treatment should be made at their schools' for refusing to play the game that everybody else is playing. This would be like a football team morally opposed to the forward pass wondering why it can't win

they can always go to public and also get the grade inflation treatment.

[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:

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

The colleges are aware of the high schools and how to evaluate the students do there is no disadvantage. Private school kids get into top colleges at a higher rate than public. The disadvantage works the opposite way than you describe.

It just sounds like anecdotally this is not the case anymore esp at larger schools/state U etc.

So you’re disadvantaged, maybe, at 2% of colleges in America. A true tragedy.

Is it also no big deal if blacks are disadvantaged at these colleges? Discuss.

[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:

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

I have no dog in this fight- but intuitively I feel amidst the chaos of gazillions of apps, high GPA is better than high rigor (either at the course level or the school level). A kid who is getting the best possible grades at his school is going to be looked upon favorably, whereas a kid who is not will be looked upon with some suspicion (during the two minute application review). When you are looking at 4.0 after 4.0, why bother with 3.5? I understand some state schools don't even entertain an application below a certain GPA threshold.

People paying 200k for that treatment should be made at their schools' for refusing to play the game that everybody else is playing. This would be like a football team morally opposed to the forward pass wondering why it can't win

they can always go to public and also get the grade inflation treatment.

Exactly. If you are so sure that grade inflated publics are advantageous...then give your kid that advantage. I am sure your kid will just rocket to the top of the class with " minimal" eork

[Anonymous]

The whole premises that these kids are "disadvantaged" is flawed

1. There is no proof that going to a school "with rigor" makes you smarter or more able to do well and excel at the top colleges - Lots of homework doesn't equal IQ or intelligence no matter how measured

2. There is no proof that all students at these schools are the brightest in the region - the admissions at the private schools are a black box and we all know kids anecdotally who are there who are not going to win a Nobel Prize in mathmatics. We know they can afford a heft tuition and have connected parents

3. No proof that a 3.5 at these school is better than a 4.0 at any public or non-Big 3 school

The only disadvantage might be that schools are only going to take a few kids from most HSs and if your student isn't in the top 1 or 2 that could hurt them - but that is not a structural disadvantage against your child . My kids btw are not in public school but i am really embarrassed by this thread. Your kids don't get to jump the line because you paid alot of tuition for k-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Np. You paid $50k a year to get your kid into a good college. Indeed you are outraged that you are not getting this expected outcome. But classmate larlo’s parents paid an extra $50million to some T20 get their kid into a super great college. And you somehow think that is unfair? You have no moral ground to stand on. You are a hypocrite. You tried to buy your kid a leg up on the public school kids and you lost. You think public school kid parents should similarly resent you for buying your kids way into a better school? I’m sure in that case your argument would be ‘well we all want to give our kids the best opportunities."

OP is worried about her child getting into college. Are parents of private school kids not allowed to say that their child has worked hard, Did she say that kids at public schools don't work hard? [b]No she did not. Does slamming her make you feel better? Sad.[/b]

OP isn’t worried about her child getting into *a* college. There are thousands of colleges.

And yes, she did say public school kids do “minimal work.”

Where did OP say that public school kids do "minimal work"? Maybe I missed it.

[Anonymous]

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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.

It's much, much easier to obtain a masters in teaching/education than it is to get a PhD in Chemistry (or, frankly, even a BS in Chemistry). So, smart schools hire teachers with subject mastery and teach them how to teach, best practices, assign an experienced mentor, etc. What's extremely difficult is getting someone who has a BA in Education to then try to earn a degree in Chemistry to acquire enough understanding of the subject matter to teach it at a high level. Not going to happen.

Public HS teachers major in the subject they teach, not education. They then take an education minor or pursue a MEd for licensure. Elementary teachers major in education.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

As a parent who has had kids in a FCPS, a Big 3 and a catholic school, there is no doubt that the academic rigor/course load at the Big 3 was far more intense. It was also far more difficult to get an A at the Big 3. That doesn't mean the kids at the publics or catholic schools are any less bright but it does mean that the kids at the Big 3 are expected to work much harder. The quality of a B in english at a Big 3 is far above what constitutes an A at FCPS. Just is. The frustration of parents on this board is, in essence: why did I put my kid through that. It's a sentiment that is completely understandable. That other parents aren't empathetic to that frustration is also understandable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

It's much, much easier to obtain a masters in teaching/education than it is to get a PhD in Chemistry (or, frankly, even a BS in Chemistry). So, smart schools hire teachers with subject mastery and teach them how to teach, best practices, assign an experienced mentor, etc. What's extremely difficult is getting someone who has a BA in Education to then try to earn a degree in Chemistry to acquire enough understanding of the subject matter to teach it at a high level. Not going to happen.

Public HS teachers major in the subject they teach, not education. They then take an education minor or pursue a MEd for licensure. Elementary teachers major in education.

Not in every state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flippant comments of the HOS are all the more infuriating when the fact is that most of the Big3 parents I know are not wringing their hands because their kid isn't getting into Harvard or Duke or Stanford. They are worried because their child, who has good grades, test scores, ECs, recs, etc., and who is busted their butt in school for the last four years, is getting deferred from Wisconsin, Tufts, Emory and Georgia. These are all good schools and 2-3 years ago, a strong (but not superstar) student at a Big 3 would have been an auto admit. But now these kids are being deferred. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks, but many families are really questioning whether the slog of a Big 3 high school is worth it.

Tufts acceptance rate is 13% and Emory is 14%. Why would anyone be an auto-admit?

Ok, "auto admit" was a poor choice of words and is obviously rankling some people. My point was just that good, but not tippy top, schools that strong Big 3 students were accepted at regularly a few years ago are now seeing many, many deferrals. These threads always imply that Big 3 parents have their panties in a bunch because their special snowflake is not getting into Yale. That is absolutely not what's happening, by and large. Most Big 3 parents send their kids to these schools because they believe in the education. But is it hard to see your kid work herself to the bone for four years and get deferred from Wisconsin when her neighbor down the street -- an equally smart, engaging and accomplished kid -- who did minimal work at Wilson gets in.

By the way, my kids are in early HS and MS, so I'm just sharing experiences of friends and am looking ahead for my own kids.

This is the quote at issue but I don’t think it was OP who wrote it.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

You do not have the data to back up this statement. You have not been able to show that the students getting in from public school are less deserving than private school kids. All you have is one or two stories of kids from your local publics getting into a school your private school peers were not getting into. And you have absolutely no way of knowing why. There are very high quality public school kids and public schools with high rigor. Regardless of what you think about grade inflation etc, An A student from my kid's high school with 12 APs is outstanding. Not all kids are able to do this by far. There are a few and the kids know who they are. And other than the athletes, these are the ones getting into the T10 schools, UVA Echols etc.

For the T10 schools, so many many applicants are highly qualified. When one kid gets in over another, it can feel arbitrary and capricious. The only thing that has changed recently (if anything) is that private school kids are also feeling the randomness of the process which they were protected from in years past. But get over this idea that your children are disadvantaged.

I have no dog in this fight- but intuitively I feel amidst the chaos of gazillions of apps, high GPA is better than high rigor (either at the course level or the school level). A kid who is getting the best possible grades at his school is going to be looked upon favorably, whereas a kid who is not will be looked upon with some suspicion (during the two minute application review). When you are looking at 4.0 after 4.0, why bother with 3.5? I understand some state schools don't even entertain an application below a certain GPA threshold.

i do understand that you "feel" that. As do a lot of private school parents. Someone is going to have to show that in some way that is rigorous to be anything more than whining thought.

[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.

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.

Not every private school parent is upset. Nor is every public school parent happy. If you use this board as the measuring stick for that you’re naive.

"this is why I choose private" parents are upset.

Is it not unreasonable for private parents to be upset if their kids are being DISADVANTAGED in the application process in a way that is unfair? (Lack of adjustment to GPA for higher rigor, tougher grading)

The colleges are aware of the high schools and how to evaluate the students do there is no disadvantage. Private school kids get into top colleges at a higher rate than public. The disadvantage works the opposite way than you describe.

It just sounds like anecdotally this is not the case anymore esp at larger schools/state U etc.

So you’re disadvantaged, maybe, at 2% of colleges in America. A true tragedy.

Is it also no big deal if blacks are disadvantaged at these colleges? Discuss.

I mean, I'm no big fan of affirmative action or racial preferences of any kind. But, comparing the historical discrimination faced by African-Americans in college admissions versus the slightly lower level of advantage currently happening to rich private schoolers is a little tone deaf.