Reply to If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?

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Reply to "If your child did poorly on hspt, did they get in anywhere?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DC’s Catholic K-8 had a couple of kids who were shut out, so it is not a given that those kids automatically get in. Seems like there is one or two every year.

Some kids not only bomb the HSPT, but they don’t put effort into the essay. Teachers can only give so much feedback and do so much handholding on the essays without writing it themselves. Not all families are as involved in the application process as the parents on this site.

Other kids may apply to 2 or 3 schools, but those schools are realistically out of reach due to grades or other factors. You would be amazed how many kids apply to schools just because their friends are applying there. Again, teachers can give guidance on which schools may be the best fit but it is up to the student/families to take that advice and apply to at least one school where the chances of being admitted is higher.

Also, some schools that may have been seen as a “safety” in the past are much more competitive now. I’ve known kids turned down from Archbishop Carroll, for example. Like it or not, there are a limited number of spots in each grade and they can only accept so many applicants. Kids coming from Catholic schools need to meet a certain standard to snag one of those spots. They are not automatically admitted.

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This is somewhat helpful, but it would be more helpful to know what school (k-8) and whether the kids who were shut out came from immigrant or 1st Gen families, whether the kids struggled in school or had behavior issues, etc.[/quote]

Some of the shut out kids definitely struggled in school and came from low-income and/or new immigrant families. But other kids with the same profile did great in HS admissions. Family support can make an huge difference, as does showing enthusiasm for a school. Schools don’t want to admit students who will have a tough time making it through and especially who don’t seem like they want to be there.

Other kids put all of their eggs into a couple of super competitive baskets with no “safety.” If a so-so student with a so-so to low HSPT score applies only to GZ and SJC, or Visi and Holy Cross, the odds are not in their favor.

Also, there are always one or two kids who take the HSPT but end up choosing public for whatever reason. Not totally shut out, but the fit may be better financially/location-wise/socially. [/quote]

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