If the FCPS average SAT score is 1181, the Virginia average is 1113, and the national average is 1028, who are all of the students with tippy-top scores?
The average SAT score at TJ is 1516, which is understandable since it’s a magnet school, but McLean is 1292 and Lewis is 1005. If you look at SAT scores provided by colleges, you would think that avg scores would be much higher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, kids who score in the 90th percentile can get through the toughest schools. The universities know this. That is why athletes can get into the best schools and most do quite well.

Most athletes take "easy majors", get tons of tutoring/assistance, and take 5 years to graduate.

My kid attended a Jesuit university with a T20 BB team. Had 2 of the "stars athletes" in classes. They were definately Not smart

But could they spell definitely?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, kids who score in the 90th percentile can get through the toughest schools. The universities know this. That is why athletes can get into the best schools and most do quite well.

Most athletes take "easy majors", get tons of tutoring/assistance, and take 5 years to graduate.

My kid attended a Jesuit university with a T20 BB team. Had 2 of the "stars athletes" in classes. They were definately Not smart

those athletes have an sat under 1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is a 90th percentile SAT score not good enough for all As? An A is 90 percent or better, and additionally if only 90th percentile and above kids get As then really there is no grade inflation. None of this makes sense.

90th percentile doesn't mean you did 90% correct. You can be 1% with 95% correct if everyone else scores higher than you do. These things should only kind of align if the classes are "graded on a curve" which they typically aren't.

The other issue is superscoring and retaking. Those mess up percentiles as well.

Yes but 90th also means there are only 10 percent better than you, giving only As to the top 10 percent is not at all "grade inflation"
I mean how many should have all As--just one percent? think about it...

about 3.7 million kids apply to US colleges every year (this is not counting internationals which are as much as 25% at some of the top schools). so top 10% is close to 400k and even top 1% is around 40k. again, not counting internationals. now, add up all the seats in whatever you consider to be top colleges. do the math.

Anonymous wrote:OP, kids who score in the 90th percentile can get through the toughest schools. The universities know this. That is why athletes can get into the best schools and most do quite well.

Most athletes take "easy majors", get tons of tutoring/assistance, and take 5 years to graduate.

My kid attended a Jesuit university with a T20 BB team. Had 2 of the "stars athletes" in classes. They were definately Not smart

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused... you're asking why your kid didn't get an A on the SAT?

No--- I'm asking why 1350plus is not "smart enough" for most top schools

DP.

It IS smart enough for most top schools.

The problem is that other applicants are "smarter", if you believe that standardized test scores reflect "smartness".

Everything else being equal, colleges don't want "smart enough", they want "smartest available", right?

Anonymous wrote:OP, kids who score in the 90th percentile can get through the toughest schools. The universities know this. That is why athletes can get into the best schools and most do quite well.

exactly

OP here--many say, "oh kid got 1350 but has all As in tough classes so it must be grade inflation" "they couldn't keep up in a top college", I am questioning that myth

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused... you're asking why your kid didn't get an A on the SAT?

No--- I'm asking why 1350plus is not "smart enough" for most top schools

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is a 90th percentile SAT score not good enough for all As? An A is 90 percent or better, and additionally if only 90th percentile and above kids get As then really there is no grade inflation. None of this makes sense.

90th percentile doesn't mean you did 90% correct. You can be 1% with 95% correct if everyone else scores higher than you do. These things should only kind of align if the classes are "graded on a curve" which they typically aren't.

The other issue is superscoring and retaking. Those mess up percentiles as well.

Yes but 90th also means there are only 10 percent better than you, giving only As to the top 10 percent is not at all "grade inflation"
I mean how many should have all As--just one percent? think about it...

I'm confused... you're asking why your kid didn't get an A on the SAT?

90th percentile means 10% did better. Less than 10% of students attend top schools

Anonymous wrote:Why is a 90th percentile SAT score not good enough for all As? An A is 90 percent or better, and additionally if only 90th percentile and above kids get As then really there is no grade inflation. None of this makes sense.

90th percentile doesn't mean you did 90% correct. You can be 1% with 95% correct if everyone else scores higher than you do. These things should only kind of align if the classes are "graded on a curve" which they typically aren't.

The other issue is superscoring and retaking. Those mess up percentiles as well.

OP, kids who score in the 90th percentile can get through the toughest schools. The universities know this. That is why athletes can get into the best schools and most do quite well.

Why is a 90th percentile SAT score not good enough for all As? An A is 90 percent or better, and additionally if only 90th percentile and above kids get As then really there is no grade inflation. None of this makes sense.