Why are private schools not transparent with their test scores?

[Anonymous]

That's pretty much it pp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I absolutely agree with you that parents should look for whatever information they feel is necessary to make informed decisions. I just don't think private schools have any obligation to give it to you.

Private schools may choose to withhold data and information. They have no obligation. But, when this information is tied to the educational mission these schools withholding this data is done at their own peril. No one is interested in sports scores...unless you are Landon or some other institution of similar ilk defined soley by this muscular mission.

Well, after all that, maybe we agree in the end. Parents have every right to want data, but schools have no obligation to be transparent. Whether or not a school will suffer for failing to disclose data probably depends a lot on the school and its other pressures.

And as an aside, please lay off the gratuitous slaps at Landon. It detracts from the discussion. I've never even set foot on Landon's campus, so I really don't care about the school. But when you constantly dig at them, you sound like the idiot guy at the party who keeps repeating the "Waaasssssuuuup!" joke from 1995.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

would like a list of schools that teach vocabulary - so I can avoid them like the plague. I can just picture my son's head on the desk asleep.

I don't think a school or a SAT prep course will significantly affect test scores.

If a kid likes to read and write - they do it more often and therefore they are good at it. Their verbal scores will show it.

If kids can think logically and enjoys math they will do better on the math and reasoning sections of tests.

I do think tests measure aptitude to some degree but not quality of their education.

I fail to see what this drivel has to do with providing families with outcome data to allow them to make informed decisions about schools. When in doubt, more information is better than less, families are capable of sorting out wheat from chaff. Families do not need your assistance in this matter. We prefer the methodology and the data so we can draw our own inferences. We are not interested in swallowing your refried conclusions.

They don't care what your think or want - get over it. YAWN!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I absolutely agree with you that parents should look for whatever information they feel is necessary to make informed decisions. I just don't think private schools have any obligation to give it to you.

Private schools may choose to withhold data and information. They have no obligation. But, when this information is tied to the educational mission these schools withholding this data is done at their own peril. No one is interested in sports scores...unless you are Landon or some other institution of similar ilk defined soley by this muscular mission.

I am interested in sports scores. Every public school in the county publishes scores and uses tax dollars for coaching and I support that, not just financially.

[Anonymous]

Don't you think your child is more than methodology and someone else's scores? The test results of a school don't say all that much about the actual teaching and curriculum when that school is filled with kids who are from well-educated, affluent families who engage their children in learning outside of the classroom while others are tutored within an inch of their lives. All of that is separate from classroom instruction yet it certainly affects the test scores.

Pick the school that suits your family. Face it, around here all the privates are good. Your kid will shine at some and be outshined at others.

[Anonymous]

Don't you think your child is more than methodology and someone else's scores? The test results of a school don't say all that much about the actual teaching and curriculum when that school is filled with kids who are from well-educated, affluent families who engage their children in learning outside of the classroom while others are tutored within an inch of their lives. All of that is separate from classroom instruction yet it certainly affects the test scores.

Pick the school that suits your family. Face it, around here all the privates are good. Your kid will shine at some and be outshined at others.

If all private schools around here are good why is it necessary to pick a school? A simple random process would suffice?
I know this is a difficult concept for you to grasp and understand. Some parents, students, and families wish to know how students perform academically at certain schools and where they end up at the next level befroe picking a school. Some parents and students are simply not interested in sports scores and college lacrosse and swimming scholarships.

What do you know about the importance and/or significance of test scores to advise families not to worry about them and not take them into account when choosing a private school?

Are you suggesting, if the school your children attended was in the bottom decile of area private schools regarding test scores and performance and the best exits were to Podunk University, you would elatedly kick up your heels because of the "great fit"?

These variables are important criteria for some of us to evaluate when making decisions about where to spend half a million dollars for preK to 12 education for our children.

Therefore, we shall continue to seek this information when purchasing area private educational services. Sorry to burst your empty bubble.

[Anonymous]

Wow if not publishing test scores will deter smug fools like you from submitting applications to DC's school, I'll happily advocate for less transparency.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a real defensiveness about asking for SAT scores. And not a lot of thoughtful reasons why not.

Viz,
1. All the posters who keep saying, repeatedly, "they don't publish scores, so shut up already." Like we shouldn't even dare, because it's so presumptuous for us to ask for SAT scores. Or maybe the point is supposed to be, we shouldn't bother trying. Because if you can't build Rome in a day, then you shouldn't even try?
2. 22:40's insults instead of actual answers to 22:16 (who is not me). And lots like this.
3. The seemingly deliberate obtuseness (transparency is different for private schools; you get info on tuition and location, what else do you want).

Why? What are you guys afraid of?

[Anonymous]

PP is working so hard to keep this thread and issue alive. On and on. Hey, go for it. Go out there and advocate for the scores, if thats what you want to spend your time and energy on. You obviously aren't going to convince the rest of us that its worth it, but go at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP is working so hard to keep this thread and issue alive. On and on. Hey, go for it. Go out there and advocate for the scores, if thats what you want to spend your time and energy on. You obviously aren't going to convince the rest of us that its worth it, but go at it.

Actually, there seem to be lots here who would like to see the scores. And two at most who oppose seeing scores (unless it's just you sock puppetting yourself).

Your post, however, nicely sums up the defensive tactics (really, it's just about keeping a thread "alive", some random DCUM thread????).

Instead, why don't you try to explain why you think the scores aren't useful? Without insulting people, or impugning their motives (again, "keeping the thread alive"), or playing dumb, or claiming wrongly that SAT is the ONLY criteria some would use.

Here's a radical idea: why don't you offer a reason that makes sense, and rings true.

[Anonymous]

NP here: I have four kids, 3 of whom have taken the SAT, and who attended or currently attend a school that doesn't release SAT scores. While I realize that the OP and some PPs on this thread have already made up their minds about this topic, for those who are sincerely interested in the pros and cons, I"d like to explain why I think SAT scores would not be helpful in deciding whether a school is right for your child -- indeed, why they might be the least important piece of information you could consider.

First, my kids and every single one of their friends and classmates -- at a wide range of public and private schools throughout the area -- did some SAT prep, so their scores actually reflect the strength of the SAT prep course they took or the tutor with whom they worked, not the strength of the school, which doesn't do any SAT prep. (More specifically, for those who might be considering various SAT prep options, the difference between their PSAT scores and their SAT scores indicate the effectiveness of the prep.)

Second, there is very little direct correlation between material covered on the SAT and material covered in high school classes, so a student's success on the SAT says little about the strength of the high school's curriculum or faculty. A case in point -- the math part of the SAT mostly covers math that kids will take in 9th or 10th grade, but kids don't take the SAT until spring of 11th grade. Two of our kids were in the most accellerated math classes offered by their school, so they had covered the SAT math material a full 2 years before they took the SAT. Our 3rd kid, who is not as strong a math student, had taken the material in 10th grade and found it easier to prepare because it was fresher in his mind. According to many parents and teachers with whom I've spoken, this is not at all uncommon. So, you could do well on the SAT with a good foundation in basic algebra and geometry, but without having gone on to algebra 2 and calculus. Thus, SAT math scores will tell you nothing about the upper end of the math curriculum that a particular school offers.

Finally, I'd just like to add that we chose our kids' school because it wasn't all about teaching to the test; rather, we wanted a school that would inspire a love of learning, foster critical thinking skills, develop a healthy skepticism about authority, and support our family values of respect for all and commitment to giving back. We got all that, and the college thing has worked out fine so far (1 just graduated from college and the second is a rising college junior; I'm sure it'll be fine for kids 3 and 4 as well .)

[Anonymous]

As test scores do not reflect the quality of area private schools some of these disingenious DCUMMIES actually believe sports scores do not measure athletic quality, talent, success or the quality of the sports team/program.

I wonder where these folk attended school...if they did go to school?

[Anonymous]

Argument predicted on counting chickens before they are hatched

Finally, I'd just like to add that we chose our kids' school because it wasn't all about teaching to the test; rather, we wanted a school that would inspire a love of learning, foster critical thinking skills, develop a healthy skepticism about authority, and support our family values of respect for all and commitment to giving back. We got all that, and the college thing has worked out fine so far (1 just graduated from college and the second is a rising college junior; I'm sure it'll be fine for kids 3 and 4 as well .)

[Anonymous]

Why do schools use or have test scores if they are useless and do not reflect the quality of education ... then hide them? Ummm. Seems silly and stupid.

Why do parents of kids in private school prep their kids for these tests? Seems silly and stupid.

Why do these useless test represent a billion dollar mega tutoring and test prep industry in America? A useless exercise translating into a billion dollar industry?

It is now clearly obvious why attending area private schools at the bottom of the testing performance barrel may be a perfect fit for many DCUMMIES and their progeny.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a real defensiveness about asking for SAT scores. And not a lot of thoughtful reasons why not.

This defensive poster comes from a long lineage of low SAT test scores.