Reply to do some schools shy away from high test scores?

Forum Index » Private & Independent Schools

Reply to "do some schools shy away from high test scores?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]At Feynman School the average WPPSI is approximately 140[/quote]
Source for this claim?[/quote]
I review the applications.[/quote]
You're part of the school administration posting on DCUM about the school and the scores of particular students?[/quote]

I need to post on DCUM occasionally to correct false information posted about our school.  Anonymous posters on this forum have misrepresented our tuition and admissions policies.  I'm sure other schools' officials post from time to time for similar reasons.  FWIW, I'm not singling out DCUM--last year [i]The Gazette[/i] published an article about our school in which I was misquoted.  The [i]Gazette[/i] reporter also did not bother to actually visit the school.  Not that I expected a puff piece, but the article contained egregious errors, including stating that we require "a series of tests" for kindergarten admissions, which we never have done.  (We do require the WPPSI with K applications, hardly unusual.)

I will also post about the school when relevant to the thread, particularly when the thread discusses seeking a school for a young advanced learner.  We just opened our doors in fall 2010 and many local parents may not know about us as an option.  Also, some parents who heard about us last year may not have given us serious consideration because the Darnestown location was inconvenient for them.  We're trying to get the word out re: our new Bethesda location.

As for the scores, which are only one factor in our admissions decisions, this thread is basically about WPPSI scores and so I found it entirely appropriate to post the approximate average score of our current students and to emphasize that even highly gifted learners testing above 150 are well-served at Feynman.  I have seen other threads discussing average SAT scores, even comparing them amongst specific schools.  Scores are always a touchy subject, but especially given the topic of the thread, and the fact that no students were named, I think you're overreacting here.

[/quote]

Feynman administrator: you should know that Davidson has extremely stringent privacy rules and outing DYS on this site is completely inappropriate. I'm sure the parents of these kids' classmates will know who you are talking about if, in fact, what you say is true. Revealing kids' IQs is also unprofessional.[/quote]

Feynman parent here...

Our admin did not disclose personal information about the DYS so your accusations are not warranted.  Moreover, I have no idea which student is the DYS.  Don't forget that our school is filled with advanced learners so there is not one student that would stand out as the only one who would qualify as you have assumed.  Actually Feynman School is listed as an educational resource by the Davidson Institute so it's not surprising to me that there is one in the class and there likely will be more in the future.

Have you ever looked at the Davidson website?  There is a message board for parents to discuss anything related to giftedness.  There is also an entire forum dedicated to testing and assessment where IQ scores are posted and discussed in detail every day.  As long as names or other personal information are not included it is perfectly fine.

This is a wonderful school and the founders are very professional and ethical.  They care deeply about their mission to educate these children.  I am very grateful for the school.
[/quote]

I think it's helpful to note that the Davidson message board you mention is, indeed, public and open, but the fact that there are parents in cyberspace discussing their kids anonymously is a completely different matter than a school supporter boasting about the DYS status of school attendants. I would be extremely unhappy with any school that made use of my child in that way. If I choose to post on DCUM or Davidson and say that my child, with very specific attributes, is happy at School X, that's my prerogative, but don't employ my child's specific profile for marketing purposes.

Also, in terms of Feynman being listed as a resource by Davidson, so are any number of wide-ranging resources that have been suggested by viewers of the website, including, even, the Captain Underpants series. Here's what the website says about any resource listed:  "The appearance of any information in the Davidson Institute's Database does not imply an endorsement by, or any affiliation with, the Davidson Institute. All information presented is for informational purposes only and is solely the opinion of and the responsibility of the author. Although reasonable effort is made to present accurate information, the Davidson Institute makes no guarantees of any kind, including as to accuracy or completeness. Use of such information is at the sole risk of the reader."[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics