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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]+1: Another senior parent. Sidwell's advanced tracks plus grade deflation (relative to peers) may have worked two decades back when there was (perhaps) better appreciation about what these things meant in Univ Admissions offices. It may have helped the very top students signal their quality without hurting the very strong students in the next tier. Now, it is tantamount to kneecapping your troops before sending them to battle. Administration and teachers far too flaky/self satisfied/un-incentivized to change. In 14 years at Sidwell, I can honestly say that I have never felt like my feedback mattered once. 
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I agree with your comment regarding feedback and would add that the signal is that they don't want it (not just that they won't adapt).

But I really think the complaints about top track grading and college admissions are off base.  No matter which school your child attends (public, private, where ever) , there is a choice of whether to take a more rigorous class or not (and on how many to take).

Taking the more rigorous class means you may end up with a lower grade.  The increased work also takes away from your time to spend on other classes.  Some students will still get the highest grades in all their classes despite taking the most rigorous course load.  Some may face a slight decrease in the rigorous class (or some other class) as a result.  And some will definitely get lower grades as a result.

Kids across the country are making the same decisions.  Schools that know Sidwell should be able to figure this out.  And it's just a fact that if a kid is gunning for Ivy/T10 and they can't take the rigorous classes without keeping up with some classmates, it will show.  It's not knee capping anyone - it's merely identifying which students can still thrive with that level of rigor and which end up a step behind (and it may only be a half step for some, and a couple steps for others).

In the end, if the Ivy/T10 cares about that step - they will make decisions based on that information.... Or if they don't, they will be ok with someone being a step back....or maybe even someone who chose not to take the rigorous class.

I'm all for talking about course options such as some honors applied math track (between regular applied math and theoretical Math 1-4 tracks), or honors english/history.  Also for talking about consistency in teaching/grading across different sections of the same course.  Or consistency in teaching methods of faculty overall.

But the idea that students are kneecapped doesn't sit right and sounds like jealousy and excuses. It's just competitive to get into top schools, period. [/quote]

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