Another WWYD

[momz]

I believe it was mostly the band kids.



DW is a clerk for the district. One of her jobs is to compile the test scores. She doesn't know all the names of all the top scorers from the other elementary school (we have just 2 in our district), but she has inquired into the top scores. DD is consistently top 10 in Math & Science, & #2 in language arts. Another girl is consistently #1 in language and is in a league of her own (that girl's mom is a 6th grade teacher and a really good one). DD is always a pretty big gap behind #1 and then there is another big gap before "all the rest".



There's no way anyone should have to be booted out once invited, regardless of how suspicious the scoring came to be. But, there is room in the classroom for additional kids. We don't know the exact #, but it's believed there are 8-10 "exceptional" students on the outside looking in.



True



I don't want to have anyone booted out, but she didn't just outscore all those other kids (in both grades AND standardized tests) for the past 4 years, she also has better English grades NOW than many of those who are "in". And she's not the only one in her situation.

The whole thing smells fishy. I would look into too. But, also, prepare your daughter to be disappointed. So many things in life aren't "fair". And this could end up being one of those things. Try to find a positive spin to put on it. She won't be as busy, less stress to compete. Consider it a year to explore other interests (math and science maybe, or a club). I don't know, but she may be dissappointed. In my experience dealing with the school system doesn't necessarily involve standard logic...sadly.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The whole thing smells fishy. I would look into too. But, also, prepare your daughter to be disappointed. So many things in life aren't "fair". And this could end up being one of those things. Try to find a positive spin to put on it. She won't be as busy, less stress to compete. Consider it a year to explore other interests (math and science maybe, or a club). I don't know, but she may be dissappointed. In my experience dealing with the school system doesn't necessarily involve standard logic...sadly.

As far as DD is concerned, the matter is already over. If we're somehow successful in getting her into the class, it will be a nice surprise. If not, no reason she needs to be disappointed a 2nd time.

She's a funny kid though. For her, being in an "advanced" class means nothing. She was just looking forward to more & longer writing assignments. Exactly the kind of stuff I tried to avoid

 

[Poohforyou]

The more I read this thread the more I'm bothered by the fact that not only did your wife dig around to find out who had high scores but that she shared that with you. It isn't any of your business how any kid besides your own does on standardized testing. My child is a good student and does well overall but the thought that her scores are being shared around the dinner table by school employees doesn't sit well.

Your child didn't get in either battle with the school or don't but leave other kids out of it.

 

[MariDisney]

The more I read this thread the more I'm bothered by the fact that not only did your wife dig around to find out who had high scores but that she shared that with you. It isn't any of your business how any kid besides your own does on standardized testing. My child is a good student and does well overall but the thought that her scores are being shared around the dinner table by school employees doesn't sit well.

Your child didn't get in either battle with the school or don't but leave other kids out of it.

This is my reaction. If I found out a school employee was somehow sharing test scores or grades on individual students with other parents, I'd be through the roof.

How do you know all the kids who got into the advanced class came from 1 class? Do they publish class lists? When my DD is assigned to a class, I know a group of kids who will or won't be with her because of the kids talking. But for me to know that an entire class got in and 2 didn't seems very odd unless teachers were talking about it. For reference, my DD is finishing 9th grade.

As far as the valedictorian, what does it mean that "everyone in the district" feels like your DD and 1 other student will be competing for that? Ive spent many hours in my DD's school, and I've never even once heard that topic mentioned, even now that she's completing 9th grade (and for what it's worth, she is in advanced classes, the gifted program, blah blah blah, so her classmates are the top academic students). I would imagine that might become a discussion somewhere around senior year, but for it to be even thought of in elementary school seems just incredibly odd. Who are these people you refer to? Elementary or middle school teachers? Other parents? I'm just baffled because in 9 years I've not heard 1 person in or out of school mention the topic.

As others have said, an 8th grade advanced English class won't amount to much in the long run. Personally, I'd probably let it go.

 

[sk!mom]

DW is a clerk for the district. One of her jobs is to compile the test scores. She doesn't know all the names of all the top scorers from the other elementary school (we have just 2 in our district), but she has inquired into the top scores. DD is consistently top 10 in Math & Science, & #2 in language arts. Another girl is consistently #1 in language and is in a league of her own (that girl's mom is a 6th grade teacher and a really good one). DD is always a pretty big gap behind #1 and then there is another big gap before "all the rest".

Her job is to compile CONFIDENTIAL test scores. Honestly if your wife is sharing this info then her job could be on the line.

 

[Missy1961]

Her job is to compile CONFIDENTIAL test scores. Honestly if your wife is sharing this info then her job could be on the line.

Yep. If I ever heard that a parent that worked at that job shared that info, I'd be being upset. Like others have mentioned, she could get fired for that.

Time for you to step back. In the scheme of things, 8th grade advanced English will mean nothing. Heck, I didn't get into AP English in high school and my college didn't give a darn. (and yes, I majored in English in college).

 

[TinkerBelled]

I disagree with the advice to step back. Not because I think it's fundamental to your daughter's college choices, but because if this is a subject she loves and wants to explore, this English class sounds like the best thing for her.

My mom stepped up for me at one point in middle school, and it made a world of difference to me--not because I wouldn't have succeeded without it, but because I was an intellectually curious kid and the class I got into stretched me and challenged me.

This doesn't sound like grade-grubbing or paranoia about her future, but rather about her genuine academic and intellectual curiosity, and I think you're right to work with the teachers on this one.

 

[msjprincess]

Wait a minute. Your wife is asking about others kid's scores and sharing thenthat information? Please tell me I misunderstood what you wrote.

 

[NewRVLady]

I think parents getting too involved in all the placement of their kids has gotten out of hand- really

I was good in math in HS- but wasn't in any of the advanced classes

In my college trig class- I was the only one with straight A's. prof even shared he'd "curve" everyone else's dreadful grades if it weren't for me
Yeah- they all loved me , then

I am also bothered by the wife 's digging in and probably writing down the scores- how else could she remember statistics of 200 kids....and sharing them at home...then wonder if the OP then shares at work? Or with friends?!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

There was a placement test which as I understand it was created by Mrs. S - the 8th grade Advanced English teacher. DD has the teacher recommendation, but scored outside the top 25 on the placement test.

What do you mean by scoring outside the top 25? She did better than them? Or worse?

ETA-
Dumb question. I went back and reread everything

 

[Ceila]

She's 1 of 5 kids of about 60 from her elementary school to score all A's K-6, and the only 1 of ~200 district wide to score advanced on all sections of the standardized tests each of the years it was administered.

No other kid in her grade scored in the advanced category each time? I'd be pretty worried about the school district itself, and its ability to prepare students for college, with those kinds of statistics.

 

[drinkme]

No other kid in her grade scored in the advanced category each time? I'd be pretty worried about the school district itself, and its ability to prepare students for college, with those kinds of statistics.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm all for a public education but I'm thinking maybe the public schools in your area aren't cutting it. Maybe look into a private school for next year. Make sure you get the stats first.

 

[sk!mom]

No other kid in her grade scored in the advanced category each time? I'd be pretty worried about the school district itself, and its ability to prepare students for college, with those kinds of statistics.

That was my point with questioning why they would limit an advanced class to 25 students if they have more who are capable. I seriously question a school with this low standard.

 

[LilyWDW]

Yep. If I ever heard that a parent that worked at that job shared that info, I'd be being upset. Like others have mentioned, she could get fired for that.

Time for you to step back. In the scheme of things, 8th grade advanced English will mean nothing. Heck, I didn't get into AP English in high school and my college didn't give a darn. (and yes, I majored in English in college).

To be totally blunt, she should be fired for it if it came to light. I have seen it happen. Sharing this sort of information is VERY wrong for anyone who has access to it. If I were a parents I would be more then upset...

 

[leebee]

Her job is to compile CONFIDENTIAL test scores. Honestly if your wife is sharing this info then her job could be on the line.

Actually, in most school districts the scores are only confidential when associated with specific student names. The raw data itself is pretty widely available and is used for a variety of purposes. They are, after all, just numbers; including names with numbers is what requires confidentiality. I know in our small school, if a parent asks, they can be told in which percentile their child scored, or what the child's class rank is- both for the entire class and within each subject, so knowing that your child is #2 in ELA or top 10 in math isn't uncommon. I am pretty sure that Mrs. Gumbo4X4 understands the concept of confidentiality and how it relates to her job security.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Actually, in most school districts the scores are only confidential when associated with specific student names. The raw data itself is pretty widely available and is used for a variety of purposes. They are, after all, just numbers; including names with numbers is what requires confidentiality. I know in our small school, if a parent asks, they can be told in which percentile their child scored, or what the child's class rank is- both for the entire class and within each subject, so knowing that your child is #2 in ELA or top 10 in math isn't uncommon. I am pretty sure that Mrs. Gumbo4X4 understands the concept of confidentiality and how it relates to her job security.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is my reaction. If I found out a school employee was somehow sharing test scores or grades on individual students with other parents, I'd be through the roof.

How do you know all the kids who got into the advanced class came from 1 class? Do they publish class lists? When my DD is assigned to a class, I know a group of kids who will or won't be with her because of the kids talking. But for me to know that an entire class got in and 2 didn't seems very odd unless teachers were talking about it. For reference, my DD is finishing 9th grade.

As far as the valedictorian, what does it mean that "everyone in the district" feels like your DD and 1 other student will be competing for that? Ive spent many hours in my DD's school, and I've never even once heard that topic mentioned, even now that she's completing 9th grade (and for what it's worth, she is in advanced classes, the gifted program, blah blah blah, so her classmates are the top academic students). I would imagine that might become a discussion somewhere around senior year, but for it to be even thought of in elementary school seems just incredibly odd. Who are these people you refer to? Elementary or middle school teachers? Other parents? I'm just baffled because in 9 years I've not heard 1 person in or out of school mention the topic.

As others have said, an 8th grade advanced English class won't amount to much in the long run. Personally, I'd probably let it go.

Mrs F (DD's current teacher) asked DD if she was looking forward to the class and DD informed her she didn't make it in. Mrs F then went to find our who DID get in. She discovered zero of her students made it in, and zero of Mrs B's.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No other kid in her grade scored in the advanced category each time? I'd be pretty worried about the school district itself, and its ability to prepare students for college, with those kinds of statistics.

Meh, frankly I'd prefer our school handle it as they do. They don't spend any time prepping for the MAP test.

 

[SMD]

Actually, in most school districts the scores are only confidential when associated with specific student names. The raw data itself is pretty widely available and is used for a variety of purposes. They are, after all, just numbers; including names with numbers is what requires confidentiality. I know in our small school, if a parent asks, they can be told in which percentile their child scored, or what the child's class rank is- both for the entire class and within each subject, so knowing that your child is #2 in ELA or top 10 in math isn't uncommon. I am pretty sure that Mrs. Gumbo4X4 understands the concept of confidentiality and how it relates to her job security.

He said she did inquire about the top scores and specifically said they know who the girl is that scored above their daughter. Based on his own statement, it would appear the violate confidentiality rules. Additionally, there's a difference between obtaining raw data that the district makes available and sharing the information your spouse learned from their job with strangers on the Internet.

 

[Hrhpd]

Actually, in most school districts the scores are only confidential when associated with specific student names. The raw data itself is pretty widely available and is used for a variety of purposes. They are, after all, just numbers; including names with numbers is what requires confidentiality. I know in our small school, if a parent asks, they can be told in which percentile their child scored, or what the child's class rank is- both for the entire class and within each subject, so knowing that your child is #2 in ELA or top 10 in math isn't uncommon. I am pretty sure that Mrs. Gumbo4X4 understands the concept of confidentiality and how it relates to her job security.

But that is not what Mr. Gumbo said. He knows who the child that is outscoring his daughter and how big the gaps are between the top child and his daughter. In other words, Mrs. Gumbo is indeed sharing individual data of children, not just statistical data.

If Mrs. Gumbo was not sharing individual data, then he would not know the #1 child's mother was a 6th grade teacher in the district.

That is not sharing overall statistics, that is sharing data by child.

I believe it was mostly the band kids.



DW is a clerk for the district. One of her jobs is to compile the test scores. She doesn't know all the names of all the top scorers from the other elementary school (we have just 2 in our district), but she has inquired into the top scores. DD is consistently top 10 in Math & Science, & #2 in language arts. Another girl is consistently #1 in language and is in a league of her own (that girl's mom is a 6th grade teacher and a really good one). DD is always a pretty big gap behind #1 and then there is another big gap before "all the rest".



There's no way anyone should have to be booted out once invited, regardless of how suspicious the scoring came to be. But, there is room in the classroom for additional kids. We don't know the exact #, but it's believed there are 8-10 "exceptional" students on the outside looking in.



True



I don't want to have anyone booted out, but she didn't just outscore all those other kids (in both grades AND standardized tests) for the past 4 years, she also has better English grades NOW than many of those who are "in". And she's not the only one in her situation.