This is another great example where if there were AP classes or some standarized aptitude test (ACT is closest to that given 4 subjects of accumulated math, reading, science, writing subject matter and skills), you'd know more where you kid stands.

DC Private schools don't want that though. They'd prefer to tout their "secret sauce" and "deep learning" and "not teaching to the test" while keeping parents and students totally in the dark about their actual learning or skill level.

ACT or SAT could be quite the rude awakening for sleepy families who let their kids coast by at their "Big 5" private school. But most parents here whip up some online study courses and practice tests and do the school's job for the school. School can remain more mission-centric, parents can supplement the test prep and academic holes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

I think you have grossly overestimated your influence in this situation.

It is not based on one complaint. I know many parents who had similar complaints. Good on all of them!

Dude, that was a troll post. Grade deflation and curving down at DC privates has been around for years and years.

Serious question: are these schools deflating grade, or does it look like simply because other schools are inflating grades?

Yes they're deflating grades. In fact they have to add higher level material to tests or more subjective essay questions to attempt to delineate between super highly talented (or aided by tutors, parents) and highly talented.

Remember the fun game at exams in college where you were told the scope of the test was these 100 things and only 5 questions would be on the exam? Fun times. Then question 5 would be beyond the material and next level theories or a big twist, which would allow someone to try to demonstrate their abilities. Or smart kids would know not to bother spinning their wheels on the experimental questions (key skill folks!).

This is a city with a highly educated populace that values education, sending children with all the supports one can offer to test in and apply to small private schools. Many do superb work. Many go to college and are bored the first two years given they already know the material or read the same book. But while at these schools the name of the game is See Where You Max Out. Meanwhile, Bs for everyone.

Even my kids' lower school only gives B+ on worksheets that are 100% correct.

Not sure the psychology there but that's been happening in 3rd and 4th grade onward.

Ironically when you take an assessment you don't get it back to see what was wrong and how to correct it. Also bizarre and a missed learning opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

I think you have grossly overestimated your influence in this situation.

It is not based on one complaint. I know many parents who had similar complaints. Good on all of them!

Dude, that was a troll post. Grade deflation and curving down at DC privates has been around for years and years.

Serious question: are these schools deflating grade, or does it look like simply because other schools are inflating grades?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

I think you have grossly overestimated your influence in this situation.

It is not based on one complaint. I know many parents who had similar complaints. Good on all of them!

Dude, that was a troll post. Grade deflation and curving down at DC privates has been around for years and years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

Once up on a time, we accepted that kids were getting As because they were doing the work they should be doing and doing it well. Now it means the work must be beneath them. Some people think smart kids have to suffer to "prove themselves," and they are literally destroying the fabric of our childrens' lives.

When all the kids look the same on paper how do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

I suppose many of these parents grew up in the world where everyone got a trophy. I'd rather have a society that truly recognizes gifts AND being mediocre is totally acceptable and valued. These days being average is seen as a failure and we cannot recognize talent because everyone is "top 1%", which is a statistical impossibility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

I think you have grossly overestimated your influence in this situation.

It is not based on one complaint. I know many parents who had similar complaints. Good on all of them!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average Sat/ACT score at NCS is the 98th percentile. Meaning there are many kids in the top 2%. Yet most of these kids don’t get A’s and I don’t think anyone gets straight A’s

My daughter has straight As in high school at NCS and currently has close to 100% in 3 classes. She is very smart but more importantly, she has a crazy work ethic. there are a few others like her in her grade. They are just indefatigable. I was not half the student that she is.

Is she in the upper school or middle school. Big difference.

Anonymous wrote:I might be the cause of this thread. I complained to admin about 4 or 5 years that my daughter's grades were too high; her ERBs are 7 to 9s, so she's bright. But what the heck am I paying the school for if they cannot challenge this child. She should absolutely not get 100 in anything!!! All her scores are above 95, which is ridiculous. I told them there should only be 2 maybe 3 As per class. How else are the colleges going to differentiate the kids? Especially with this move against SAT/ACTs.

Now my little one is coming through. I don't have ERBs yet but her WPPSI was 140. She has exactly 0 As.

Once up on a time, we accepted that kids were getting As because they were doing the work they should be doing and doing it well. Now it means the work must be beneath them. Some people think smart kids have to suffer to "prove themselves," and they are literally destroying the fabric of our childrens' lives.