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[quote=Anonymous]SAM2 - Thank you for all of your thoughtful time put into this. I have to question your school stats.

A few corrections
1) Sidwell has never published what their average SATS. One local paper "guestimated" their scores, but it was purely speculative and we have no way to know those. So we cannot list anything there unless the school publishes otherwise or unless someone from the school shares what is published withing the school. 
2) As for NCS - according to their Handbook on their website - for the class of 2009 The Averages were: Critical Reading: 707; Math: 692; Writing: 724. Where does that fit in? 
3) You clearly don't understand the Presidential Scholar program. The most significant measure is not the semi-finalists or finalists - it is the number of candidates because this is based on the top 20 male and 20 females SATs factored against ACT. The college boards are the source of the decision on candidates. So, you really should list these piece of data as it is more significant than the number of semifinalists, finalists. Many candidates don't bother to pursue the next level. And, in terms of scores the candidates these are on par with the NMSF in terms of the number selected.

The following is from the Presidential scholar website:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/select.html

[i]All graduating high school seniors who are citizens of the United States and have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT college admission test during the two-year window that begins in September, 2007 and runs through October, 2009, are automatically considered for participation. This program cycle concludes with recognition events held in June, 2010. Students who notified ACT or The College Board in writing that they did not want their scores released to outside agencies are excluded. Also excluded are students who did not indicate their year of graduation to be between January and August of the current program year.

The U.S. Department of Education then looks at test records for the top 30 males and top 30 females in each of the states/jurisdictions. For each examinee, the SAT score is converted to the ACT Sum of Scores, according to a concordance table. Each individual examinee's highest test score (in a single test administration ) is identified, and duplicates and/or lower scores are dropped.

The combined file of scores from the top male examinees and top female examinees are then ranked from high to low in each state. The scores associated with the top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees are used to identify the candidates in each state. When ties occur in the cut off score, more than 20 persons of that gender are selected in that state.

To be considered further, candidates must submit candidacy materials, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay.[/i]

So, this is the statistic that is most useful for measurement. It should be noted that many candidates decide not to pursue further the scholarship, because unlike NMSF it requires more work. But it can be assumed that the top 20 males and top 20 females college boards are recognized in the candidates. 
 [/quote]

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