Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a Big3 school with significant grade deflation. It appears that the kids are not doing well at all with college admits this year. Maybe 5 kids total got EDs so far?
I know multiple kids who were deferred or rejected at University A or B when their peers at less competitive privates and publics were admitted to University A or B.
These are really smart and hard working kids but the school is such that only 1/12 kids in some classes are granted an A.
Is the grade deflation catching up? I just wonder what admissions really thinks when all the applicants from our school have GPAs under 3.8, many quite a bit under.

Am I just worrying too soon in the admissions season or have you noticed this too?
I have an underclassman.

I think it's too early.

The pattern I have seen this year is that there were many deferrals (and some rejections) in ED across all the private schools (not just Big X but also others). Our DC went to a k-8 so we know kids at a variety of the local school. ALL admits to the most competitive schools ("top 10-15") that we know were legacy. It was even legacy for kids that got into schools more in the 30's with ED admits.

I know only one ED that wasn't a hook and that student had chosen a school significantly lower than others. They love the school, it's a great school but the student was VERY competitive stats-wise for the school. Unlike other EDs we know - this student didn't use ED to try to get into an uber competitive school (albeit still competitive school for others).

From what we've seen, I get the feeling that colleges are moving away from using ED as a way to snag full pay and are waiting for RD to determine those kids. ED seems to be heavily slanted to athletes, legacy, URM this year (I know it has always included those - but this year it seems ONLY those).

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a Big3 school with significant grade deflation. It appears that the kids are not doing well at all with college admits this year. Maybe 5 kids total got EDs so far?
I know multiple kids who were deferred or rejected at University A or B when their peers at less competitive privates and publics were admitted to University A or B.
These are really smart and hard working kids but the school is such that only 1/12 kids in some classes are granted an A.
Is the grade deflation catching up? I just wonder what admissions really thinks when all the applicants from our school have GPAs under 3.8, many quite a bit under.

Am I just worrying too soon in the admissions season or have you noticed this too?
I have an underclassman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

No , UC (please don’t refer to CA as Cali) schools do not care about yield protection. UC has a formula and if your private school doesn’t provide AP classes that can hurt. It’s pretty common in CA for smart kids to take several classes at local community colleges during high school or even do self study for AP exams. The public schools don’t always offer as many AP exams.

I think private schools AP dilemma is a catch-22 situation. They don't want to offer them because they don't want to provide another data point of comparison with public schools, but not offering APs, it makes their students not as strong as public kids. They end up relying on their school's name recognition and parents ability to pay full cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

No , UC (please don’t refer to CA as Cali) schools do not care about yield protection. UC has a formula and if your private school doesn’t provide AP classes that can hurt. It’s pretty common in CA for smart kids to take several classes at local community colleges during high school or even do self study for AP exams. The public schools don’t always offer as many AP exams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

No , UC (please don’t refer to CA as Cali) schools do not care about yield protection. UC has a formula and if your private school doesn’t provide AP classes that can hurt. It’s pretty common in CA for smart kids to take several classes at local community colleges during high school or even do self study for AP exams. The public schools don’t always offer as many AP exams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Yield protection. These Cali public schools are all safety schools for the average GDS student and GDS students rarely attend. Colleges catch on eventually and stop giving spots to kids who they know will choose to attend better schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a senior at one of the big 3. While I wont comment on deflation, I will say that looking at UC system acceptances of kids from DC area private schools vs. DC / Maryland public schools is eye opening. The public high schools have shown higher % acceptance last 2-3 years vs, DMV privates to the UC system (UC has a portal that publishes all of the data by HS).

So I do very much think that some combination of a) deflation and b) lack of APs / having eliminated AP classes and telling kids to not bother with AP testing leads to DC area private school weighted GPAs looking MUCH lower than public high schools where kids can stack on APs and get these weighted GPAs deep in to the 4+ range whereas this would be basically impossible at GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, Maret, St Albans/NCS. Dont get me started on the god-awful stupid advice my Big 3 gave sophomores, juniors and now seniors last 3 years to NOT take AP tests even in the upper level classes that are AP equivalents.

But even putting that aside, UC system doesnt accept the nomenclature that some of the Big 3 use now that AP classes are gone. For instance, an extended or honors course at our HS would not count in UC wGPA as AP level. Only a "upper level" class would count.

For all the talk of equity, these DC private schools shot themselves in the foot with large public state universities by getting rid of AP classes and practicing grade deflation at the same time

These large public universities get 100k+ applications and very clearly have a wGPA screen and in cases like U of M a wGPA plus SAT/ACT screen unless a kid is a recruited athlete or URM.

So for the 3.7-3.9 weighted GPA kid from one of these private schools odds of getting into UCLA, Berkeley, and U of M is probably lower than its ever been b/c the competition from both DC area and in-state public schools are pulling 4.6 wGPAs...

I don't think getting kids into big public Us has every been the goal or strength of elite private high schools, but, I do question where you are getting your information? Can you please provide the data for acceptances by private and public school in the DMV showing that the public schools have a higher acceptance rate to public universities. I am willing to believe this, but, am curious where you get your data. My own thought is that elite public high school students are less likely to attend public universities, so those yield algorithms may be weeding them out.

The long post you quoted literally stated that they’re drawing data from the UC portal that shows admit data by high school, to UC campus.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-us/information-center/admissions-source-school

You can see that in 2018, 21 applied from GDS and 8 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 7 were admitted.

But in 2021, 23 applied from GDS and fewer than 3 were admitted, while 20 applied from Walls and 8 were admitted.

The difference is that GDS dropped APs, and Walls did not.