Annoyed That Private School High School Students Have Better Admissions Results than Public School Students

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01/01/2024 12:33

Subject: Annoyed That Private School High School Students Have Better Admissions Results than Public School Students

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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:Between their inflated grades and $$ to do early decision (because they can pay), this system seems so rigged. Anyone else notice this?

Are we pretending public schools don't inflate grades. I can name several public schools that allow for unlimited test retakes, unlimited extra-credit, and have very low standards for getting an "A" on their essays.

I've known students that have gone through Sidwell/STA/NCS. The work that would get a "B" there would easily get an "A" in most publics.

How do you know that? Do you have any evidence that grading is more lenient in public than in private? Not saying it’s not possible but your argument derived from some students “you’ve known” has absolutely no value.

I know this because I've seen many, many students make the switch, and they almost always take a GPA hit when they go to one of the prestigious DC-area privates. The most elite private schools are selectively screening for students that score above the 85th percentile of the SSAT, usually higher. The work given is typically tougher and the standards are higher.

Just look at the grading policies at NCS for example: https://ncs.cathedral.org/academics/overview/upper-school#:~:text=NCS%20uses%20a%20standard%2C%20unweighted,GPA%20and%20reported%20to%20colleges.

The work that would qualify for a "B" at NCS, would easily get an A at any public school. Depending on the teacher, even "C" work at NCS would get an A at a public school.

Again, how do you know that?

You offer some anecdotal evidence of “many, many” students you’ve “seen” taking a
GPA hit. How would you actually know the GPA of said students is a mystery.

Privates do screen to some degree, but so do magnets, so you’d have to be a bit more specific about what you’re comparing.

I’d argue that a good comparison for grades and course rigor would be the results on AP exams, but privates stopped offering AP courses and exams.

If indeed the grade inflation is rampant in public schools it would be straightforward to compare regular grades with the passing rate on the AP exams. What you’ll find is that some schools do well and others not so much.

Regardless, it’s silly to claim that a B at NCS would easily get at A at any public.

It's not silly at all if you've seen the quality of NCS-level work.

This article is pretty old, but it details how difficult a lot of these schools actually are. You can take a bright kid, give him an army of tutors, and still not come out with straight-A's. You certainly cannot say the same for most standard public schools.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2011/10/09/snowplow-parents-and-the-pressure-at-top-private-schools/

You are seriously challenged when it comes to statistics and logic.

It may be that NCS curriculum is challenging, but there’s a long way from there to conclude that a B at NCS is an A at any public.

If you want to demonstrate that there’s less grade inflation at privates find some statistical data like the distribution of grades, the range etc. instead you’re just relying on anecdotes that might have some marginal value to prove your point, but they are not as convincing as you imagine.

The reality is one can get a good education in both public and privates and there are bright kids everywhere. Parents choose based on their finances and how good of a fit is for their children.