These were essentially trial runs for national exams. They could easily be implemented as graduation requirements—testing English, math, and maybe one or two electives. There is really no reason to scrutinize eight different subjects like they did this year...
The concept behind national testing isn't flawed. It serves as a necessary reality check to see which schools are actually performing and where grades don't align with actual proficiency. It helps identify where students are pulling straight A's despite having no grasp of the material...
Let’s not play judge and jury here. When it involves your own child, it’s bound to be a massive disappointment if they can't even apply to the school they actually want.
I’m not advocating for any kind of outrage, but this whole process is just an overwhelming amount of stress. You're left wondering which college your kid can realistically aim for that actually aligns with their talents and interests...
Well, if he's short by less than half a point, it just means he lacks the weight from core subjects since he can't make up for it by bumping up several electives...
That’s the issue; some teachers at certain high schools might bump those grades up while others won't, leaving our students at a disadvantage...
I still say if a grade isn't earned, it isn't earned. Period. He earned them fairly... If there are other schools available when you don't hit the cutoff, why act like failing to get into one specific school is the end of the world?
It’s all quite stressful for me, especially since my kid could have pushed harder to secure better grades. A mix of health issues, puberty, and a touch of laziness finally caught up with him...
Some grades are earned. For others, a different teacher might have sparked more interest or motivation, but I wouldn't go so far as to call the grading unfair...
Looking at the big picture, I believe things eventually fall into place—perhaps even for a reason. Missing out on a first choice isn't the end of the world, whether it's their second, third, or sixth option... If the child is doing alright, they will find their way in school. It might actually be for the best that they didn't get into their top pick ☕
What is the actual point of all this obsession with grades and GPAs?
I was part of the last generation that took entrance exams, and back then, nobody made a massive deal out of every single grade. Even top students would pull a C in art or gym, and it wasn't the end of the world.
Now, every minor dip in a GPA is treated like a national tragedy, especially here in NYC.
A standardized test or a national exam would fix a lot of these issues... But no one seems interested in that. Knowledge doesn't seem to matter anymore; it's all about chasing high marks and averages. Apparently, they even look at your total high school GPA for college admissions—I suppose that's to stop them from slacking off and only studying what they actually enjoy.
I was just talking to a high school teacher about why they constantly raise the admission standards. She told me it's because they keep getting students with higher and higher grades but progressively worse actual knowledge. The only way to filter them is to keep hiking up the requirements.😵
Regarding our enrollment process—they’ve released some rather polished video tutorials on how to navigate the application portal. It might be worth a look, or perhaps have the kids check them out...
I honestly admire anyone with the patience and stamina to work with kids day in and day out, constantly pushing them to reach their potential
Some people seem to forget that even among students, there are plenty who are brilliant and capable, yet incredibly lazy or just plain unmotivated... Back in the day, you had more leeway in choosing a school, but nowadays, that lack of drive or basic organization can come at a very high price
On a different note, regarding this obsession with getting into prep schools—I was recently browsing Reddit and reading advice from software engineers about which schools to choose for kids interested in tech The consensus is pretty much unanimous: any prep school is better than the best vocational school. Why? Because they provide a broader foundation and perspective; they can always pick up coding at college
Just a thought... why is everyone so hell-bent on those prep schools
skyfall, we’re actually planning to pivot toward vocational options starting next school year
Perhaps I haven't been "pushing" myself hard enough, given these results. If I had managed just two more points here or a 5 instead of a 4 in Chemistry, my college options would be significantly broader than they are now... A little extra tutoring in Chemistry wouldn't hurt.
Watch out if you have fewer students; starting next year, a new vocational curriculum is expected to roll out, which will drastically limit the ability for anyone in technical schools to enroll in university If that whole mess kicks off...
Then we might actually see a surge in applicants for prep schools😵
At Central High, the minimum score for general studies is 70 and 72 for STEM, yet the last student enrolled last year needed a 76.43
Luciana was the only one among those who took the entrance exam with 72 points—the cutoff for STEM—but since the actual enrollment required nearly 82, it’s highly unlikely anyone with 72 would have made the cut... However, since every school held its own separate entrance exam last year, perhaps this year students with at least 73 or 74 will actually stand a chance
Every single year the news outlets scream about how broken the system is, yet nothing ever changes... even Fuchs mentioned somewhere that there is absolutely no talk of using national standardized tests for high school admissions 😵 When are the elections finally happening?!?
Susan James As stated by... So, everyone from your elementary school is heading straight to college... I suppose that makes high school GPA and SAT scores quite a pressing matter... 🤔
Not a single student in my kid's class is opting for the three-year track. So, I suppose everyone is just assuming they'll head straight for graduation...
By the way, high school X is the most popular choice around here. I guess it just depends on which neighborhood the kids are coming from
Anyway, I heard IX raised their entry threshold to 73 points. Good grief... they were accepting kids with way fewer points last year And then people have the nerve to claim NYC isn't a madhouse...
At our recent parent-teacher meeting regarding high school enrollment, Shell presented us with data showing how various schools rank on standardized tests and where their graduates typically head next... 😉
We’ve been pacing around the house trying to decide on a path. He isn't interested in a traditional prep school, yet it's difficult to gauge which vocational tracks actually appeal to him. He changes his mind daily... It's absolute chaos. 😛 I suppose something will eventually click before the deadline hits...
On another note, when are these schools actually supposed to publish their requirements? They say the deadline is the 28th, which is just lovely... 😵 I'm seeing outdated information from last year on some school websites, while others simply point to a central district portal for all updates... They certainly aren't in any rush... ☕