Son got a 36 - high school ignores it!?

mamacol · 05-28-2008, 08:43 AM

We got our son's ACT results Friday and he got a 36 composite. I was so excited and no one was home to tell, so after leaving a voice mail for my husband at work, I called the hs guidance counselor. She wasn't in, so I left her a voice mail with the big news. Which really is big around here - articles in the papers, photo in the school lobby, all that.

I thought she might call me yesterday to share the hs's happiness/pride/whatever, but NOTHING! When S got home he said that he received a note from the GC congratulating him, so that is nice. But honestly I thought they would make a bigger deal about it. The last time someone from this school got a 36 (two years ago), it was all over the news.

I guess because I'm so impressed, I think everyone else should be!

Did anyone's perfect scorer get some recognition from their school? Or am I nuts?

mattmom · 05-28-2008, 08:48 AM

I don't think schools usually do make test scores a public matter, other than National Merit commendations and so on. Of course it is wonderful and impressive that your son got such a great ACT score, but I don't think a public announcement of it would be appropriate or usual. Certainly in areas where the SATs are more common, no one publicizes the 800s officially. I think I would congratulate your son, be delighted for him, and leave it at that.

sharonohio · 05-28-2008, 08:50 AM

My D just got a plaque and recognition at a school board meeting last night. The school also sent off the press release (included in a letter from the ACT folks which took several months to receive) which I gave to the principal to the local papers and they did an article on her.

They really didn't do much at first. It took passing the formal notification from the ACT off to get them moving (I believe they had also received a copy of the letter earlier but it never made it to anyone who cared).

jessiehl · 05-28-2008, 08:50 AM

It would be nice if they recognized academic stars (not just the ones who ace standardized tests, but champion academic teams, kids who win big in the science fair, and so on), but the achievement is worthwhile in its own right. It does not need publicity/fawning to be worthwhile.

Perhaps take your son out to a nice dinner or something as congratulations.

Northstarmom · 05-28-2008, 08:56 AM

Congratulations!

Scores are a private matter. If you want your S's test score in the news, tell the media. Don't expect the school to do that because I think it would be considered an invasion of privacy for them to do so. They could, though, comment after you or your S gets the media at the school's doorstep.

Also, given that it's close to the end of the school year and the faculty/staff at school are very busy, I think that it's terrific that the GC took the time to send your S a note. In addition, we just came off a holiday weekend. The school has barely had time to make note of his score. Gosh, your S only got the score Friday. I'm amazed that the GC has even sent a note. The GC seems to have done quite a lot already.

While I understand why you are so delighted with your S's score, I think your behavior is a bit over the top in calling the school about it. They would get his score anyway, and to me, calling them seems pushy. A lot of times people are more prone to give attention and congratulations to those who seem modest than to those who seem to be begging for attention for their accomplishments.

If the media does do a story on your S, be cautious on what you say. Anything that you or your S says that indicates, for instance, that his excellent score means he'll be headed to Harvard next year, probably will come back to bite you.The same goes for what you say to friends and acquaintances. As you can see by looking at the Ivy forums on CC, the top colleges get an overabundance of applicants with high stats, including perfect college boards. Many such students are rejected. ECs and factors beyond students' control such as where they live and their parents' education, whether their high school is a feeder or has never sent someone to the college -- help determine whether students are accepted to the top colleges.

So, make sure that your S applies to a safety school that he'd love to attend.

Grace · 05-28-2008, 09:11 AM

Schools are often inconsistent and confusing about who and what they honor, which leads to parents (especially) and some students feeling hurt and ignored.

Congratulations to your son. I hope that everything else will go well for him and that he will be offered admission to a school that he loves and that is a good fit for him.

MidwestMom2Kids_ · 05-28-2008, 09:21 AM

Not this year but last year we had two perfect SAT scores and one perfect ACT and the school put out a press release; the three kids had their pictures in the local suburban weekly. It was very nice.

My daughter said plenty of 34's and 35's this year (her graduating year) but no 36's.

Congratulations to your son!

Northstarmom · 05-28-2008, 09:24 AM

Keep in mind that the S's score was received Friday, the day the mom called the school. Monday was a holiday. Tuesday, the GC sent the S a note.

To me, it seems like the school has had a quick response, and the mother is being very unrealistic to have apparently expected that the school would drop everything to inform the media by now.

tokenadult · 05-28-2008, 09:27 AM

My high school decades ago didn't make any deal at all about the top SAT scorers at the school. My counselor was apathetic like that; her pets were kids who didn't score nearly as high.

We have a local TV station here that every Monday during the school year has an "Academic All Star" feature story. One year, the story was about three girls at a high school across town who all got 1600s on the two-section SAT and 36s on the ACT. All at the same high school. I wonder what they put in the water over there. Other academic all stars mentioned by the TV news segment have other amazing accomplishments; I'm glad there is press coverage of such things in my town.

I'm helping to organize a celebration for students in the Midwest Academic Talent Search in our state who scored high on the SAT or ACT at middle-school age. A lot of states have had statewide ceremonies like that for years, but this year will be a first for Minnesota.

Congratulations to your son.

bookworm · 05-28-2008, 09:28 AM

I think it was 9th or 10th grade that my S scored top score on a state exam, and that was posted on billboard by school. I received several calls from friends who noticed it (I was still at work). Yes, it felt good.

Then, a new principal, and no more academic notes posted. Instead, birthdays and sports and meetings. No more mention of perfect PSATs, presidential awards, etc. I would be nice to see math team, academic team, or debate team receive some recognition. Most important is that your S did so well, he's now thru with ACT tests, and doors to admissions and merit scholarships are open.

momofthreeboys · 05-28-2008, 09:35 AM

Unless the kids or their parents "announce the news", our school does not typically announce in any public forum who achieves National Merit, high ACT, SAT, etc. scores. Every couple years one of the senior scholars will mention their score in the newspaper blurb as "their proudest achievement." The school might say at the senior awards ceremony something to the effect that "several seniors received National Merit Finalist status" or "two of the seniors achieved 36 or 35" or whatever on their ACT...but never names. Congratulations to your son, the "payoff" will hopefully be his continued future success.

interesteddad · 05-28-2008, 09:38 AM

If it were my kid, I'd keep my mouth shut and go about my business of helping put together a good college list and submitting focused applications.

There are several hundred other students in your kid's class. There's little to be gained from rubbing a standardized test score in their faces.

nngmm · 05-28-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Did anyone's perfect scorer get some recognition from their school? Or am I nuts?

No offense, but yes, you're nuts

... The counselor congratulated him - what else did you expect? I'd think it would be strange if she called you... It's just a test score, after all!

cptofthehouse · 05-28-2008, 09:43 AM

I've never heard of big hoopla over a test score. I've seen National merit and Ap scholar news in the paper, but nothing about perfect scores unless it is a peripheral mention in a article about a kid doing something else and other achievements are mentioned. I don't think you are nuts being happy about the score. It is a great achievement, but no, I don't see celebrating it publicly.

Northstarmom · 05-28-2008, 09:46 AM

My hometown paper has done articles only when the same student got a 36 and a 2400. I think there have been 2 local students who accomplished that in the last 4 years.

There also is a lag time when such articles are done. They aren't published, for instance, the day after the student gets the score. It takes time to write a press release (which may need to go through channels before being released), and it takes time for the newspaper to decide to do the story.