Getting into 9th Grade -- importance of SSAT scores

[Anonymous]

Nobody in this conversation is saying whether the percentiles they're talking about are SSAT percentiles or national percentiles - which makes a huge difference, since obviously most kids taking the SSAT are strong students.

Since SSAT percentiles are based on the kids who took the SSAT over the past three years, only about 1% can possibly obtain such scores, and no school can possibly restrict itself to such a rarefied group.

[Anonymous]

As the mother of a child with Aspergers, I'm trying not to be offended. You may be right, maybe our kids are the pariahs who can never be accepted. But how can I not react to this accepting, jokey reference to the fact that the schools must make sure they aren't accidentally letting in one of them. Them being my son (who is not only very intelligent, but also well-behaved and does have an awfully full life). Its no wonder I see so many parents of kids with Aspergers treat it like a shameful secret.

[Anonymous]

are the precentiles talked about here the SSAT percentiles or national percentiles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the mother of a child with Aspergers, I'm trying not to be offended. You may be right, maybe our kids are the pariahs who can never be accepted. But how can I not react to this accepting, jokey reference to the fact that the schools must make sure they aren't accidentally letting in one of them. Them being my son (who is not only very intelligent, but also well-behaved and does have an awfully full life). Its no wonder I see so many parents of kids with Aspergers treat it like a shameful secret.

THANK YOU!!! My son has Asperger's and he is the most amazingly involved child on the planet. He is so focused on his extracurriculars -- maybe just because of his personality, but I think also because of the AS -- he will be amazing at several different things by the time he is in 8th grade. He's only in 2nd grade and he already is well on his way to this kind of greatness. He's also quite smart and obsessed with things that other people don't really want to hear about, but people do have to understand that AS is a social disability, but doesn't preclude a kid from being extremely well-rounded. Yes, his friends are better able to navigate the social world and we work hard on that, but I am very proud of what he overcomes and how much he accomplishes at such a young age. You would be proud to have him as your son as well. Asperger's is a disability not a badge of dishonor. Shame on the other poster.

[Anonymous]

I think I saw well-behaved mentioned once on this forum and that surprises me. That is just as important as test scores when entering 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Financial aid, maybe. They don't give academic scholarships. -- parent of 99th SSAT percentile (overall) kid who got waitlisted at Sidwell.

Once your kid gets past the 95th percentile, I don't think additional percentages matter. They do look at the whole child, and in one case we've seen, at the (wealthy) parents too, in order to reach down into the 70th percentiles for SSATs. We know the wealthy family in question.

Perhaps you know better, but the kid might have brought something to the table besides rich parents. I know of one kid who got into Sidwell with very scattered SSATs, and professional parents with no prospects for large donations. But the kid had excellent grades, a slew of interests, and was very talented artistically. It's not all about money (or connections).

I'm the PP you were responding to (I've been away from DCUM for a bit). It was the money, we know the family. The kid is a great kid, but no outstanding academic, sports, or other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, you should also check out Landon. It's not in DC, but not that much of a commute, and might be a good place for your son.

Hey thanks for the response. Sorry it took me so long to realize that some had responded. I just happened to look and there it was. Oh in regards to Landon, one of my son's freinds just got accepted there. That seemed to be a bit of a tight squeeze. I think they only had 15 openings. Anyways, pretty good choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A question the schools would ask is, has his previous schooling prepared him for the very competitive academics at some DC privates? It sounds like maybe his previous school wasn't in DC, as you mention that you've lived here for about a year only. So you might check into how his academic profile (where is he in math, what has he read in English) matches up against the grades he would be entering.[/quote

Great point. Here is what I do know. The school he is in now is not challenging him at all. It is a bit frustrating. I am giving him extra assignments at home. Where we lived prior to this year he came home every nite swamped with so much to do. I am not sure about how much this will set him back. I don't wanna change him now because he will be in 8th grade next year. To sum it all up he is not being challenged right now. He may look excellent on paper but the truth is he has not developed the study skills we feel he needs. Do you think we should press forward in getting him to the challenging curriculum he deserves or try to find a school that is on a similar level as his junior high school? I am sort of leaning towards getting him out in the deep. I think he can swim.

[Anonymous]

For second tier schools, what % on the SSAT would be acceptable? Assume an interesting, extroverted kid with diversity in her favor, excellent recommendations. Report cards are a weird format at her school (Montessori) so I'm not sure they would matter that much. They are fine though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For second tier schools, what % on the SSAT would be acceptable? Assume an interesting, extroverted kid with diversity in her favor, excellent recommendations. Report cards are a weird format at her school (Montessori) so I'm not sure they would matter that much. They are fine though.

Like what do you consider to be a second tier school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the mother of a child with Aspergers, I'm trying not to be offended. You may be right, maybe our kids are the pariahs who can never be accepted. But how can I not react to this accepting, jokey reference to the fact that the schools must make sure they aren't accidentally letting in one of them. Them being my son (who is not only very intelligent, but also well-behaved and does have an awfully full life). Its no wonder I see so many parents of kids with Aspergers treat it like a shameful secret.

THANK YOU!!! My son has Asperger's and he is the most amazingly involved child on the planet. He is so focused on his extracurriculars -- maybe just because of his personality, but I think also because of the AS -- he will be amazing at several different things by the time he is in 8th grade. He's only in 2nd grade and he already is well on his way to this kind of greatness. He's also quite smart and obsessed with things that other people don't really want to hear about, but people do have to understand that AS is a social disability, but doesn't preclude a kid from being extremely well-rounded. Yes, his friends are better able to navigate the social world and we work hard on that, but I am very proud of what he overcomes and how much he accomplishes at such a young age. You would be proud to have him as your son as well. Asperger's is a disability not a badge of dishonor. Shame on the other poster.

r

I personally love to work with kids with Aspergers. They are so talented and intelligent. I use to work at a high school that placed them in colleges. I placed two at Duke Univ and they are doing so well. They have friends and girlfriends. I have learned that college kids are more mature and usually perceive folks with Aspergers as just another unique individual.

[Anonymous]

Burke, Field, Bullis, Sheridan... anything that's not NCS, Sidwell, GDS, Maret.

And I only use "second tier" as short-hand. No disrespect intended, I like all three schools I listed above very much and would love to have my child at any of them.

[Anonymous]

i like bananas

[Anonymous]

My husband used to do admission work with a top 25 college on the east coast until last year, and tells our kids that US News has ruined top college admissions. Anyone who tells you that an elite high school will get you into an Ivy faster has no idea what they are talking about. Colleges are now into check-the-box categories and high GPA/SAT numbers to boost their US News ratings. I can't imagine "the Big 3" schools and others don't try their hardest to get very top students, so SSAT numbers and GPA will influence them. The privates all want good admission numbers, too, and also et ranked by US News. While HYP have lots of 2400 scorers to choose from, and might look at other things (do you have a compelling story, etc.), most really good schools try to attract top scorers.
And the DC Independents know that!

[Anonymous]

If my daughter received 80th percentile overall is that strong??