2015 NMSFs announced (Plano, Grapevine, Coppell: top school, college, places to live)

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by jdallas

I'm betting on the influx of new residents into the HP (and other) areas over the past year from places other than Texas. New blood from higher educated regions.


I'll just leave this container of kerosene right here where I found it....

I thought about that, too, but it's unlikely THAT many people have moved in to have a 66% increase in NMSF population. It may just be an exceptional class.

[numbersguy100]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

Should be easy to prove if it's random variation:

2012: 12
2014: 14 3% of student population for comparison
2015: 16
2016: 27

Nope. Not random variation. They are obviously engaging in a concerted effort to improve the count of NMSF students they have. Texas also has one of the higher scores that you must achieve to be a NMSF scholar. Only CA, MA, MD, and NJ are higher. NY, WA, CT, and VA are tied.

I don't think you understand the meaning of the term "prove". In any case, IF there is an upward trend, it seems more likely that some combination of the school and parents have decided to dedicate resources to increasing the number of NMSF in any given year. Does this mean we should all move to HP and our kids will achieve similarly? Of course not. I still find it really interesting that 5% of a public school class could achieve this, even when you acknowledge that HPISD is not your typical public school.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

What do you think the NMSF program is? It is solely based on PSAT scores -- nothing more. The PSAT is literally a shorter version of the SAT.

I certainly can refrain from posting, but I can also choose to post and say "we've had too many damn threads about school SAT scores."

No one wants you to refrain from posting, however, you simply must understand that your thinking vis a vis this topic is narrow and virtually everyone disagrees with you to some degree.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

In all of this, we're overlooking that WT White had an NMSF. When was the last time a non-magnet DISD school had an NMSF? How many non-magnet DISD NMSFs have there been over the last...I dunno, decade or so? Seems like it's kind of a Big Deal.

Agreed.

[NP78]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

In all of this, we're overlooking that WT White had an NMSF. When was the last time a non-magnet DISD school had an NMSF? How many non-magnet DISD NMSFs have there been over the last...I dunno, decade or so? Seems like it's kind of a Big Deal.

While it is a big deal to the student (and should be, I don't want to diminish that in anyway), it doesn't mean anything in terms of DISD or W.T. White. If we saw some type of trend of relatively significant numbers of NMSF coming from that school or DISD than it would be noteworthy (whether you evaluate that as indicative of student quality or education quality, or both, plenty of posts devoted to that), but one is just an outlier at this point.

[4Movingeast]

GCISD staying strong with 19- good job Mustangs and Panthers!

[serger]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

How does that prove it isn't random variation?

Also, if the district is intentionally seeking to improve SAT/PSAT scores, through means such as test prep, that would of course raise scores. Quality test prep works. That isn't the same thing as saying educational quality has improved, though. It's sort of like an IQ test: you can "study" for an IQ test by practicing the specific types of problems found on most IQ tests. Your score will go up, but that doesn't mean your IQ has gone up. It just means the test is no longer accurate. If HP is offering test prep, their scores will go up, but those scores wouldn't be reflective of the education quality any longer (my view is they already aren't reflective of that, but test prep would definitively muddy any such reflection).

Yep, test prep works. You can quickly improve your test score, especially if money is no object, and you take it countless number of times. The "knowledge" changes very little. What comes after PSAT, maybe PPSAT?

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by serger

Yep, test prep works. You can quickly improve your test score, especially if money is no object, and you take it countless number of times. The "knowledge" changes very little. What comes after PSAT, maybe PPSAT?

I always get a kick out of this line of thinking. What Karen Dillard did years ago was cheating and they got hammered legally. Other than that kids who prep really are learning useful information - it's not much different than tutoring. People prep for the MCAT, Step 1, Step 2 (both parts), Step 3, medical boards, CPA and bar exams and a number of other tests.

Also many colleges require students to send all SAT/ACT tests taken.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

Moreover, do we really need another thread about Plano schools and SAT/PSAT/ACT scores? Do you people not have anything more interesting to discuss.

Plano is vapid. There's really nothing else to do there but keep up with the Jones's.

[Aceraceae]

Originally Posted by DTXman34

Plano is vapid. There's really nothing else to do there but keep up with the Jones's.

A Mitsuwa is opening at legacy and 75. That should be enough to justify its existence.