2018 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates from DC Private Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

People can't stand that public school kids are doing well because they convinced themselves that the only way for their child to receive a good education was to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's understandable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a post in the DC private school forum, but scrolling down the MD list, there are an impressive number of kids coming from Blair HS.

Well they have a lot more students to choose from. How many students in the graduating class from Blair? Some of the private small schools only have 80 kids in the class.

That is a silly way to look at it. The reality is that in 8th grade a bunch of kids take the SSATs and a bunch of them score really high and then scatter across a variety of public and private schools. Those same kids then score really high on the PSAT. Add to that group a bunch of 8th grade kids who never take the SSAT and are scattered among public and private schools where they stay, take the PSAT and score really high. A bunch of these kids will concentrate themselves in magnets and top private schools if those are available to them, but some stay the course where they started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a post in the DC private school forum, but scrolling down the MD list, there are an impressive number of kids coming from Blair HS.

Well they have a lot more students to choose from. How many students in the graduating class from Blair? Some of the private small schools only have 80 kids in the class.

That is a silly way to look at it. The reality is that in 8th grade a bunch of kids take the SSATs and a bunch of them score really high and then scatter across a variety of public and private schools. Those same kids then score really high on the PSAT. Add to that group a bunch of 8th grade kids who never take the SSAT and are scattered among public and private schools where they stay, take the PSAT and score really high. A bunch of these kids will concentrate themselves in magnets and top private schools if those are available to them, but some stay the course where they started.

adding for this one, then also do well on the SAT and ACT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

This is not hating on public schools. Both SWW and Banneker are public schools, with considerably more history and rigor (and I would bet higher grades and SAT scores) than Haynes has ever had. This particular issue is good public HSs with long academic traditions vs a suspiciously-well-connected charter school from nowhere with little other evidence to recommend it. Much like the increased HS "graduation" rate in DCPS of late...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a post in the DC private school forum, but scrolling down the MD list, there are an impressive number of kids coming from Blair HS.

Well they have a lot more students to choose from. How many students in the graduating class from Blair? Some of the private small schools only have 80 kids in the class.

That is a silly way to look at it. The reality is that in 8th grade a bunch of kids take the SSATs and a bunch of them score really high and then scatter across a variety of public and private schools. Those same kids then score really high on the PSAT. Add to that group a bunch of 8th grade kids who never take the SSAT and are scattered among public and private schools where they stay, take the PSAT and score really high. A bunch of these kids will concentrate themselves in magnets and top private schools if those are available to them, but some stay the course where they started.

Not really. If you are comparing 90 students in a grade with 500 tjay matters. So how many students in Blair graduating class?

[Anonymous]

18 students from Montgomery Blair High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a post in the DC private school forum, but scrolling down the MD list, there are an impressive number of kids coming from Blair HS.

Well they have a lot more students to choose from. How many students in the graduating class from Blair? Some of the private small schools only have 80 kids in the class.

That is a silly way to look at it. The reality is that in 8th grade a bunch of kids take the SSATs and a bunch of them score really high and then scatter across a variety of public and private schools. Those same kids then score really high on the PSAT. Add to that group a bunch of 8th grade kids who never take the SSAT and are scattered among public and private schools where they stay, take the PSAT and score really high. A bunch of these kids will concentrate themselves in magnets and top private schools if those are available to them, but some stay the course where they started.

Not really. If you are comparing 90 students in a grade with 500 tjay matters. So how many students in Blair graduating class?

Matters for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

People can't stand that public school kids are doing well because they convinced themselves that the only way for their child to receive a good education was to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's understandable.

You are talking about small programs doing well. No general public schools without special programs are doing so great to sit here and brag. Most privates have 70-100 kids per grade than say a public that has 500-700 kids per grade. Some privates in DC are up against a lot less kids and other schools so Sidwell always does well because most of those kids reside in DC. It doesn't make them better than another public per say. This whole things is like comparing apples to oranges and I don't really see the point. I personally don't see any stand outs if you relate size of school, location, and special programs.

Like the PP said, having a system like Blair where you find the best 100 kids out of 50,000 high schools kids in one county and give them a free gifted program will of course bring out fantastic kids and scholars. For some families trying to get into that small system may work, but we didn't want that and didn't like basic public, and that is okay. We received a huge financial aid package at a great private and pay less than 10K a year. It is extremely worth it for my child who needed smaller classrooms, teachers that are involved and have the time to work on each child, a focus on learning and not a set curriculum and standardized tests. I know for 100% certain that my child won't be one of these presidential scholars and that is okay. Every school doesn't fits every child. Public school was not a fit for my child. Their stress levels decreased and they are so much happier. I would hope that is all anyone would want for their child. A happy and healthy childhood. I know parents in public and private who are so focused on the rat race and their kids are miserable. I know parents who left privates for public and are happier. I just don't see the point in fighting what schools are better. The kids that won should be happy. I just hope they are genuinely smart while still being happy and healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

This is not hating on public schools. Both SWW and Banneker are public schools, with considerably more history and rigor (and I would bet higher grades and SAT scores) than Haynes has ever had. This particular issue is good public HSs with long academic traditions vs a suspiciously-well-connected charter school from nowhere with little other evidence to recommend it. Much like the increased HS "graduation" rate in DCPS of late...

... or the DC mayor's "honors for all" plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

People can't stand that public school kids are doing well because they convinced themselves that the only way for their child to receive a good education was to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's understandable.

I'm happy that the public schools are doing well. If my kids were a little higher-achieving, we'd have them in public schools ourselves and be saving a lot of money in the process. I think private school is best for the above-average (but not top) students who would not otherwise stand out in public school.

My DH got a perfect SAT back in 1990, and he's done well for himself, but it's not like it gives you a perfect life.

My kids have no chance of getting a perfect SAT, but I think they'll do fine in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting reading this thread - often the points made about non-private schools attempt to cast doubt on the numbers/achievement, but no one seems to be doubting that the numbers of the private schools are too high. E.g., EL Haynes has a shady connection to the process; TJ parents are crazies who tutor and pressure their kids from a young age; Blair is high because of the magnet which draws from the whole county, etc. Always a reason the achievement shouldn't be deemed as impressive for a school.

People can't stand that public school kids are doing well because they convinced themselves that the only way for their child to receive a good education was to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's understandable.

I'm happy that the public schools are doing well. If my kids were a little higher-achieving, we'd have them in public schools ourselves and be saving a lot of money in the process. I think private school is best for the above-average (but not top) students who would not otherwise stand out in public school.

My DH got a perfect SAT back in 1990, and he's done well for himself, but it's not like it gives you a perfect life.

My kids have no chance of getting a perfect SAT, but I think they'll do fine in life.

Two out of three of my kids were presidential scholar semi-finalists. I can tell you they are faaaaaaaar from perfect. LOL. It's an honor but really doesn't mean that much in the grand scheme of things.

[Anonymous]

Interestingly enough, my most challenging kid from an academic perspective was the one who got the best test scores. It's an honor, but it is not determinative in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the ACT cutoff in Maryland is for this award? DD got a 36 ACT, but it was 35, 35, 36, 36. I imagine she probably won't make the cutoff as MD is pretty competitive.

[Anonymous]

There was a kid stabbed at EL Haynes yesterday!