UrbanBaby

07.24.08, 17:52 PM NY Schools
16 replies

Since citywides are at least K-8, are they less likely to teach to the test? Seems they have great scores, so is it because they do what all publics do, and teach to the test, or do they just excel in teaching and the kids do well? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
NY Schools 07.24.08, 05:52 PM Flag

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kids are smarter? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 05:53 PM Flag

as with any school where the kids have greats scores.....it has far less to do with the teachers or teaching......the kids at the citywide K-8s would score 4's on the state tests even if they were at 41, 6, 116, 11, 40 or even at PS19 or 111. I am pretty sure if they took half the A kids and put them at 111 they'd still score 4s on the tests [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 06:06 PM Flag

but do the schools spend a lot of time on test prep? anyone? hoping to avoid that sort of focus if citywide works out. seems like it could be a real plus for citywide [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 06:22 PM Flag

none of the 'better' schools spend a lot of time on the test......the amount of time spent on test prep is directly related to the student body. I'm sure PS111 spends far more time on test prep than PS6 [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 07:42 PM Flag

I beg to differ. Dc's great school made a decision to dig into test prep this last year. Horrible for kids, great for test scores! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:09 PM Flag

which school? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:13 PM Flag

That's the biggest fallacy of education - that bright kids will do well no matter where they are. Bright kids tune out if they're not being taught. As for the dumb standardized tests - all schools do some form of prep because the logic and content of these tests doesn't actually mirror what's taught and how (thank goodness, because they are deadly boring). Most schools buy a test prep workbook and review it for about a month prior one period a day. Some schools care more about the results. A K-8 would care less, in theory, because the test results aren't necessary for middle school admissions as the assume their population will stay through 8th grade. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.25.08, 12:59 AM Flag

Actually, Lower Lab has the best scores and it is not a citywide. But remember regardless of the school, if the kid did well enough to qualify for a G&T he/she is probably good at standardized tests. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 06:55 PM Flag

but does LL spend alot of time of prep? I am interested in finding out if the lower pressure to get a MS spot results in less prep, or if the pressure for the school to have high scores makes it the same. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 07:59 PM Flag

Parents I know at Lower Lab and PS 234 had their kids tutored. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:03 PM Flag

^^^ new poster [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:19 PM Flag

but did the school do it formally? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 08:22 PM Flag

I don't know. Sorry. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.24.08, 09:02 PM Flag

But all I hear from my friends at LL is that the only kids who are prepared to do higher level math are the ones that have tutors, Kumon, etc - which is a lot of kids there. The math instruction ONLY prepares the D2 kids for the standardized tests but not MS/HS math. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.25.08, 01:01 AM Flag

Kumon helps you do higher level math? Never heard that one before. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.25.08, 04:51 AM Flag

Bullshit. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.25.08, 08:58 AM Flag