Anonymous
09/17/2024 08:25
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
The Loudoun county numbers last year were a spike - it was 44 in 2022.
FCPS, on the other hand, has had 250ish semifinaliats for years until this year.
Doubling in one year, with those numbers, seems even less probable than dropping by 50% the next, especially in context of the sudden large change in the next count over's scores.
The cynical side of me is now considering the possibility that a test security breach has been plugged.
Then pandemic had a big impact on these things and it may be a few more years until it's returned to normal.
That's not how NMSF works. It's not a cutoff score in virginia, it's the top 0.5% of scores in virginia.
NMSF are still the top 0.5% of the state. They didn't cut that in half.
Fewer of the TJ students are in the top 0.5% of the state.
That represents a real drop in the academic quality of the student body.
Anonymous
09/17/2024 08:22
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
or a 1700 or 1800.
Ok - So all kids using Princeton and Kaplan are perfect scorers -- Good to know !!!
I think it's safe to say a kid who struggled to raise their score from 1550-1600 using Khan would get there a lot more easily using one of these services and that was the PP's point. It's true that you get what you pay for even with SAT prep. Some just want to minimize the impact that wealth and privilege has on these outcomes by pretending Khan is comparable whien it isn't.
There is always going to be an advantage to wealth. More resources always helps in almost every theatre but test scores still measure actual ability, at least at the high end of the curve.
If money provided an artificial boost to test scores then we would expect to see better college performance from poor kids with a 1550 than rich kids with a 1550 because the rich kid's score overstates their ability while the poor kid's score understates it. But we don't see this, they perform almost exactly the same.
So whatever money is doing for these rich kids, it is improving them as students and not just improving their SAT score.
https://opportunityinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SAT_ACT_on_Grades.pdf
Anonymous
09/17/2024 08:14
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
The Loudoun county numbers last year were a spike - it was 44 in 2022.
FCPS, on the other hand, has had 250ish semifinaliats for years until this year.
Doubling in one year, with those numbers, seems even less probable than dropping by 50% the next, especially in context of the sudden large change in the next count over's scores.
The cynical side of me is now considering the possibility that a test security breach has been plugged.
Then pandemic had a big impact on these things and it may be a few more years until it's returned to normal.
Anonymous
09/17/2024 08:13
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
or a 1700 or 1800.
Ok - So all kids using Princeton and Kaplan are perfect scorers -- Good to know !!!
I think it's safe to say a kid who struggled to raise their score from 1550-1600 using Khan would get there a lot more easily using one of these services and that was the PP's point. It's true that you get what you pay for even with SAT prep. Some just want to minimize the impact that wealth and privilege has on these outcomes by pretending Khan is comparable whien it isn't.
Anonymous
09/16/2024 21:29
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
The Loudoun county numbers last year were a spike - it was 44 in 2022.
FCPS, on the other hand, has had 250ish semifinaliats for years until this year.
Doubling in one year, with those numbers, seems even less probable than dropping by 50% the next, especially in context of the sudden large change in the next count over's scores.
The cynical side of me is now considering the possibility that a test security breach has been plugged.
Anonymous
09/16/2024 17:04
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
The fact remains that the NMSF number is relative to the .5% and total numbers are less important.
What is important to know is that
for the class of 2024: 37% were NMSF
for the class of 2025: 16% were NMSF
The same .5% were selected as usual but TJ just had many less selected relative to their student population.
What is important to know is that
for the class of 2024: 37% were NMSF
for the class of 2025: 16% were NMSF
The same .5% were selected as usual but TJ just had many less selected relative to their student population.
Anonymous
09/16/2024 15:32
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
The Loudoun county numbers last year were a spike - it was 44 in 2022.
FCPS, on the other hand, has had 250ish semifinaliats for years until this year.
Anonymous
09/16/2024 12:04
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
One possibility you left out: modern educational trends hit northern Virginia well before they hit the rest of the state, if they even have. Those trends are being reversed now (see Lucy Caulkins falling out of favor), but have affected these learners.
Anonymous
09/16/2024 12:03
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?
FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.
Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.
Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.
My question is: what caused it? Some tipping threshold? The old TJ was better able to raise test scores for kids on the bubble -- either through the osmosis of being surrounded by very smart, well-prepped kids or through its curriculum? Longer than normal/less effective online education during Covid shutdowns hit this class at a critical period, whereas the rest of Virginia either was closed for a shorter time or handled it better? Changes made by the College Board to the PSAT have flat-footed the local test prep agencies?
It's worth pointing out that Loudoun's numbers collapsed as well: 82 announced in 2023, 47 in 2024. This, to me, suggests that whatever is happening is not just specific to TJ or even FCPS.
Anonymous
09/15/2024 18:45
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
or a 1700 or 1800.
Ok - So all kids using Princeton and Kaplan are perfect scorers -- Good to know !!!
At least a 1900
Anonymous
09/15/2024 18:27
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
or a 1700 or 1800.
Ok - So all kids using Princeton and Kaplan are perfect scorers -- Good to know !!!
Anonymous
09/15/2024 18:16
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
or a 1700 or 1800.
Anonymous
09/15/2024 14:07
Subject: When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I suspect that we will see a larger increase in the number of commended students but also a large increase in the number of students who do not receive any awards.
The same percentage of kids in Virginia get NMSF every year.
Those NMSF awards went to other parts of the state not other parts of the county.
Commended is a nationwide cutoff.
Yes, I also noticed that VA is a lot less competitive for NMSF than nearby states like MD these days.
The cut-off for NMSF was the same in VA as MD (222) this year. Only a few states (MA, NJ) and DC (whose cut-off rate is pegged to the highest cut-off rate for any state) had a higher cut-off number (223).
Anonymous
09/15/2024 13:26
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT
and if she had used Princeton or Kaplan she'd have surely gotten 1600 on the frist try,.
Anonymous
09/15/2024 13:10
Subject: Re:When are NMSF announced?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.
TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0
Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.
Maybe it should be normalized to the number of students at each school whose parents are paying for PSAT/SAT prep courses.
If paying for PSAT/SAT prep would guarantee a good score, wouldn't the private schools and McLean/Langley have much higher number each year?
Most of the places guarantee a 200+ point improvement.
Regular use of Khan (free) can also lead to large gains.
Khan is free and takes a lot more effort. Just paying $1500 to Princeton review makes it super easy.
You're mostly paying for external motivation because the parent doesn't want to pester the kid.
Khan really isn't all that great compared to for $$ resources like AoPS, RSM or even Brilliant.
Not true - DD got a perfect SAT score at 2nd try. 1560 1st try and 1600 second try and all she used was Khan Academy. It is an excellent prep site for SAT