What level IQ score would be helpful for admissions to a selective private school?

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old has an IQ test recently and two teachers and one administrator at their public school said to me something like "I shouldn't be telling you this, but you're selling yourself short. Look to private."

We've never considered private for financial reasons, unfamiliarity with that world, etc., but their comments made me curious. Is there a certain level IQ score that would really help a child get in? Or get financial aid if accepted? Sorry if this is a clueless question. I know very little about private school admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 10 year old has an IQ test recently and two teachers and one administrator at their public school said to me something like "I shouldn't be telling you this, but you're selling yourself short. Look to private."

We've never considered private for financial reasons, unfamiliarity with that world, etc., but their comments made me curious. Is there a certain level IQ score that would really help a child get in? Or get financial aid if accepted? Sorry if this is a clueless question. I know very little about private school admissions.

Sorry if this is clueless....but is this a serious question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 10 year old has an IQ test recently and two teachers and one administrator at their public school said to me something like "I shouldn't be telling you this, but you're selling yourself short. Look to private."

We've never considered private for financial reasons, unfamiliarity with that world, etc., but their comments made me curious. Is there a certain level IQ score that would really help a child get in? Or get financial aid if accepted? Sorry if this is a clueless question. I know very little about private school admissions.

We had DC's IQ tested in 1st grade but they were already in private. There is only one private in our area that requires an IQ test for admission and we didn't choose to apply to that school because it was too focused on pre-testing daily to prep for the weekly math test they administered. It also didnt have much to speak of in regards to sports or EC's. In other words, it wasn't a well rounded school.

I don't know any private school who will award you financial aid due to a particular IQ test score - you would need to apply and see if you receive any aid based on your HHI and need.

[Anonymous]

There is no place to submit a kid’s IQ score (and doing so would be plain weird), but I assume your kid would test extremely well and get excellent recs.

[Anonymous]

It's not so much IQ at that age as it is the whole package -- able to handle academics, executive functioning, etc., Most schools require admissions tests, which reflect IQ to some extent. Financial aid is typically need based. High IQ kids are pretty rampant in normal private schools. If your kid is truly profoundly gifted, then you might want to explore a gifted school.

[Anonymous]

Are you buying into the premise that gifted children would do better in private school???
Ha ha ha ha.

Although, this may be a case of creating one's own reality. If the teachers believe this, you might be better off out of that school...

[Anonymous]

My children were tested. Both just under 150.

[Anonymous]

No. For one thing there is no place to put IQ in the application. Schools don’t ask after Early elementary.

Since the kids are older IQ is reflected in grades, recommendations from teachers, English, Math, etc, test scores, extracurriculars and personal statement/essays. Schools look at the whole package to get a good sense about the individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My children were tested. Both just under 150.

How does that answer the question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. For one thing there is no place to put IQ in the application. Schools don’t ask after Early elementary.

Since the kids are older IQ is reflected in grades, recommendations from teachers, English, Math, etc, test scores, extracurriculars and personal statement/essays. Schools look at the whole package to get a good sense about the individual.

And interview. They all require an interview. Sometimes the parents too separate from the kid.

We just went through this process for Fall...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. For one thing there is no place to put IQ in the application. Schools don’t ask after Early elementary.

Since the kids are older IQ is reflected in grades, recommendations from teachers, English, Math, etc, test scores, extracurriculars and personal statement/essays. Schools look at the whole package to get a good sense about the individual.

I thought most private schools require the WISC, Woodcock-Johnson, or similar test as part of the admissions package?? Those provide an IQ score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. For one thing there is no place to put IQ in the application. Schools don’t ask after Early elementary.

Since the kids are older IQ is reflected in grades, recommendations from teachers, English, Math, etc, test scores, extracurriculars and personal statement/essays. Schools look at the whole package to get a good sense about the individual.

I thought most private schools require the WISC, Woodcock-Johnson, or similar test as part of the admissions package?? Those provide an IQ score.

Yes, most schools do require tests. Those will be one component. Schools will also look at classroom performance, executive functioning, behavior/cooperation. It's a whole package. I don't think they'd particularly care about high IQ by itself. They want well-rounded kids who are a good fit with the rest of the class.

[Anonymous]

There are extremely smart kids on both public and private schools just as there are kids who don’t test as well or get the highest grades in both public and private. Private schools do not have smarter kids across the board. They have wealthier families. There is a limit to financial aid these schools can provide and lots of very bright kids stay in public. Some privates are more academically selective than others. I would look at those and any public gifted and talented programs you can access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children were tested. Both just under 150.

How does that answer the question?

+1 not very intelligent answer.

[Anonymous]

Here is a serious answer. IQ helps with some things that selective privates look for: ability to learn, maturity, world awareness. But an IQ of 120 is sufficient there. Very high IQ is a detriment to most schools in the younger years because those kids need a different pace and depth. You can look to two places: Feynman (need 130 or above) or Davidson Academy in-line. Nysmith is in Virginia but it is for profit, so I don’t trust it. We send DC to Feynman and it worked well. But please don’t think Sidwell or something will work if your child is highly or profoundly gifted. The flip side is, does IQ help the child to get in if you want one of the Big 3? That depends on so many other factors. The schools don’t want all high IQ kids; they want a diverse student body. So it is like college: a crap shoot in terms of who else is applying, etc.
Hope that helps.