Anonymous wrote:Jeez, what’s going on at Woodson? Terrible showing.

This is probably wrong. More NMSF than commended? Unlikely.

Anonymous wrote:And people say Chantilly is "bad" or "mediocre."

Nobody says that. That school is packed full of korean immigrants.

Anonymous wrote:This is purely based on PSAT scores being in the top 1% of the state (semifinalist) or top 2-3% (commended).

i.e. this is a metric for who can afford SAT tutoring.

It is a metric of who has developed the most cognitive ability. Money helps with that but is not determinative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And people say Chantilly is "bad" or "mediocre."

Who says that? Probably only some Oakton parents wanting to stay put.

Chantilly has made its way into the top 5 of non-TJ schools. It now has the role that Woodson used to have - a top school academically but more affordable than the other pyramids in the top 5.

Even those parents who want to stay at Oakton think Chantilly is a good school. Also, Woodson is still a top 5 school…

It really isn’t. Chantilly any Marshall both have stronger claims to be top 5 or 6 now than Woodson.

Chantilly? Maybe. Marshall? No.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are just obsessed. It’s pathetic.

Or maybe you’re just easily triggered. Facts are facts.

It is considered rude to remind people that their kids are not smart.

Anonymous wrote:The NMSQT is a flawed system in that the index used to score it is calculated by doubling the Reading score and adding it to the Math score and dividing by 10 which disproportionately favors students who are stronger in their verbal skills than their math skills. It is also taken at the beginning of their junior year but not awarded until the beginning of senior year - a full year later.

Being a National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist doesn't even accurately reflect which students have achieved the greatest overall success on the SAT.

DS did not achieve even Commended status on the NMSQT, but went on to get the highest SAT score in his graduating class including a perfect score on the Math section. It's definitely a nice recognition for the students who score high on the PSAT (especially in Reading) but really is not necessarily indicative of those who are the highest achieving in the SATs in terms of the college admissions process.

Nice anecdote. Scary you'd pretend to know the SAT scores of all the kids in his graduating class.

Just because your DS didn't get this particular award doesn't mean it's not valid for others.

The NMSQT is a flawed system in that the index used to score it is calculated by doubling the Reading score and adding it to the Math score and dividing by 10 which disproportionately favors students who are stronger in their verbal skills than their math skills. It is also taken at the beginning of their junior year but not awarded until the beginning of senior year - a full year later.

Being a National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist doesn't even accurately reflect which students have achieved the greatest overall success on the SAT.

DS did not achieve even Commended status on the NMSQT, but went on to get the highest SAT score in his graduating class including a perfect score on the Math section. It's definitely a nice recognition for the students who score high on the PSAT (especially in Reading) but really is not necessarily indicative of those who are the highest achieving in the SATs in terms of the college admissions process.

Evidence (real-world truth)
• Khan Academy users see 100–140 point average gains (College Board data)
• Many National Merit semifinalists use only free resources
• Public-school students regularly outscore private-prep students when disciplined

Free prep can fully match paid prep if these conditions are met:

1️⃣ You use official material
• Khan Academy + College Board practice tests = same content logic used on the real SAT
• Paid companies cannot access “better” questions than College Board

➡️ There is no secret content behind paywalls.

⸻

2️⃣ You do deep error analysis

High scorers don’t just practice — they:
• Track why every wrong answer happened
• Categorize mistakes (concept gap, misread, rushed, trap answer)
• Redo missed questions days later

Paid classes force this; free prep requires self-discipline.

⸻

3️⃣ You practice under real test conditions
• Timed sections
• No pauses
• Same calculator rules
• Same digital format

Free official tests already provide this.

⸻

4️⃣ You follow a consistent plan

Paid classes mainly provide:
• Schedule
• Accountability
• Motivation

Those can be recreated for free with:
• Weekly goals
• Parent check-ins
• Error log spreadsheets
• Khan Academy’s adaptive plan

Yes — it is absolutely possible to achieve the same results with free SAT resources as with a paid prep class. Many students score 1500–1600 using only free tools.
The difference is not quality of material — it’s structure, discipline, and feedback.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the best free SAT prep resources you can use even if you don’t have money — all are legally free and accessible online or through public programs:

⸻

🎯 1. Official Free SAT Prep (College Board + Khan Academy)

These are the most reliable free tools because they come directly from the SAT creators.

📌 Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy
• Fully free SAT prep with personalized practice plan based on your scores.
• Includes practice questions, lessons, videos, and targeted practice modules.
• Covers Math and Reading & Writing skills with progress tracking.
• Works for the current digital SAT format. 

👉 Best overall free SAT resource — personalized and official.

📌 College Board Practice Tests & Materials
• Free full-length practice exams, both digital and downloadable PDFs.
• Official practice tests mirror the real SAT content exactly.
• Also includes sample questions, scoring guides, and answer explanations. 

📍 Pair these official tests with Khan Academy — it’ll tell you where to focus.

⸻

🧠 2. Schoolhouse.world — Free Live Tutoring
• Free peer-to-peer and volunteer-led SAT tutoring sessions online.
• Hosts group lessons covering strategies, questions, and test skills.
• Designed to help students who want structure and interaction. 

⸻

📚 3. Other Free Practice & Strategy Resources

These are not official, but can still be very helpful:

🔹 Test Innovators Free Practice
• Offers free SAT practice tests with instant feedback and explanations.
• Good for additional timed test practice. 

🔹 INeedAPencil (via CK-12)
• Free online lessons and practice questions with explanations for SAT Math and EBRW.
• Good for supplemental practice and concept breakdowns. 

🔹 Community Lists & Guides
• Sites like Test Prep Review, Varsity Tutors, etc., list free practice questions, quizzes, and prep tips.
• May not be official, but can help expand your practice. 

⸻

📈 Tips to Maximize These Free Resources

✅ Start with a full practice test to gauge your baseline score.
✅ Use Khan Academy’s personalized plan based on your weakest areas.
✅ Re-take official practice tests periodically to see real score improvement.
✅ Supplement weak areas with INeedAPencil and Test Innovators questions.

⸻

🎓 Community & School Help
• Ask your high school counselor or librarian — many schools provide free prep books and workshops.
• Some nonprofit programs offer free SAT prep classes regionally — worth asking about at school.

⸻

📌 Final Note

The College Board and Khan Academy partnership provides the most comprehensive totally free SAT prep available online — personalized, high-quality, and directly aligned with the test you’ll take. 

Anonymous wrote:This is purely based on PSAT scores being in the top 1% of the state (semifinalist) or top 2-3% (commended).

i.e. this is a metric for who can afford SAT tutoring.

I checked my 10th graders PSAT score and he would have qualified for commended if he was a junior. This is without any paid SAT prep classes. FCPS provides free SAT courses through Varsity Tutors that any student can access. Khan Academy provides free SAT courses. College Board has many free SAT and PSAT practice tests. Many paid private SAT prep courses offer scholarships.

He has taken practice tests and used the free Varsity Tutors sources. On Instagram a quick search will find many accounts that give free SAT advice including how to solve problems.

YouTube is another great source for free SAT prep. If a student really cares, they will study on their own with free resources.

Students achieving at these high percentiles are intelligent and have put in the effort to study. It is a shame that so many parents on this site want to diminish the hard work of students just because of what school they go to or how much money their parents make.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Commended is meaningless.

As for the admin not telling students and the news reports up in arms about it, I had to explain to DH how commended means they are NOT a national merit finalist. It is like saying, congrats! You came really close! I still don't understand why this is a thing at all anywhere.

Are you and your DH both that stupid? It’s like saying someone got a silver medal rather than a gold one. It’s not a participation trophy because it’s reserved to kids still in the top 2-3%.

It's kind of like 4th place. The levels go from Commended to Semi-finalist to Finalist, and lastly, the actual National Merit Scholarship winners.

Correct. And on the PSATs. So I stand by my post. Who cares.

Anonymous wrote:Note: Students who have a signed opt-out form on file are not listed.

Did ANYONE read the whole page….

I have not signed an opt out. My kid's name has been in school official weekly shout outs and whatnot. They were commended and were not listed. (From Woodson.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has posted about the 770 students named National Merit Commended Students. They've started publicizing this more since the incident where school administrators at TJ and Langley weren't bothering to tell students they were commended students. https://www.fcps.edu/news/770-fcps-students-named-national-merit-commended-scholars

TJHSST 196
McLean 83
Langley 82
Chantilly 65
Oakton 61
Madison 47
Lake Braddock 37
Centreville 30
Marshall 29
Robinson 29
West Springfield 27
Westfield 21
Fairfax 14
Edison 12
Falls Church 12
Hayfield 7
Woodson 7
Herndon 5
Annandale 3
Justice 2
West Potomac 1
Lewis 0
Mount Vernon 0
South County 0
South Lakes 0

No surprises other than the low number from Woodson. The top schools consistently have the most high achieving students.

As has been said, the numbers from many schools are clearly inaccurate.