SAM2 wrote:It would be interesting to see what percentage of students admitted to local private schools for 9th grade (the same year as admission to Blair and TJ) were awarded NMSF honors. That would be closer to an apples-to-apples comparison.
What would be more interesting to me is if they took a group of children with the exact same scores in 8th grade, send them to Blair/TJ/GP/Gonzaga/Seneca Vally/Gaithersburg/Blake/etc and then took their scores later and see if there is a difference. (not that I think tests show more than the ability to take a test).
I would also like to see if a TJ or Blair had the sibling rule if they would still be able to produce as many children with NMSF honors.
I have a friend who is a principal who bemoans the fact that all their best student are shipped off to other schools. What great leaders they could be in their local school, it's not like they all of a sudden will stop taking these test better. But it's the game that gets houses sold. Who doesn't want a house in the district with the highest ranked schools (since the NMS goes into the equation as well as a bunch of other things kids who can ace these tests can do - AP testing/etc.).
By the way - I am very proud of these kids (and I know some personally). I think though it is the child that is the NMSF not the school.