Applying for Private School--question about sending test results

[tmstranger]

Hello,

 

My oldest is applying to a local private school for high school. 

 

The instructions for the school records ask that I send any standardized test results.  Now, I don't have to send any because I only had him take them in 6th grade for my own information (he's in 8th now).  I know they wouldn't care if I didn't send them as I have a friend here that doesn't do them, and the school did not bat an eye at not having them in his package.  My son did not take the state-based tests.  He took the CAT6. 

 

Would you send those?  They are 2 years old, which doesn't bother me, but I wonder what schools think of those tests.  Are they considered valid indicators? 

 

He scored very well, so the results don't concern.  I'm just wondering what the reputation of the test is.  Anyone know?

 

ETA: They want his MIDDLE SCHOOL RECORDS

Edited December 13, 2017 by tmstranger

[Arcadia]

Did the private school state which standardized tests they want? The ones commonly asked for are ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) Upper (grades 9-12) or the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) Upper (grades 9-12).

My 8th grader has SAT, ACT and AP scores so the schools want those for placement purposes if we decided to put in our applications. The SAT or ACT scores waive the ISEE requirement for the private schools we visited.

 

ETA;

Catholic high schools might ask for High School Placement Test (HSPT) scores instead of ISEE or SSAT.

Edited December 13, 2017 by Arcadia

[gstharr]

You should probably read the admission requirements carefully.  I am sure the school lists the required test(s) for admission. I can't imagine a 6th grade test result is sufficient for H.S. admission. ISSE, PSAT, HSPT. SSAT,and the Catholic school test comes to mind.

[tmstranger]

Did the private school state which standardized tests they want? The ones commonly asked for are ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) Upper (grades 9-12) or the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) Upper (grades 9-12).

My 8th grader has SAT, ACT and AP scores so the schools want those for placement purposes if we decided to put in our applications. The SAT or ACT scores waive the ISEE requirement for the private schools we visited.

 

ETA;

Catholic high schools might ask for High School Placement Test (HSPT) scores instead of ISEE or SSAT.

 

This is the records form that I'm completing that for public or private school kids would be sent to their middle school.

 

He is taking the HSPT this weekend (it was snowed out last weekend!). 

 

They are not specific in which middle school standardized test they ask for.  It literally says, "mail this form along with a copy of the applicant's grades (for at least three school years) and the applicant's standardized testing to:"

[tmstranger]

BTW, I should add that I have spoken to their admissions office about grades.  They know he's homeschooled and that we did not keep grades prior to last year.  That is fine.  Mostly, I think his HSPT results will be the deciding factor in his admission, but I wanted to know if the CAT6 would help or hinder him.  His scores were excellent. Is the test "good" in the eyes of a Catholic private school?

[Arcadia]

That would depend on the Catholic private school. Locally the privates are more familiar with Stanford 10 for private middle school students and even then the HSPT scores is what matters. CAT6 isn’t commonly used here so admission staff won’t be familiar enough to gauge. It won’t hinder just may not be helpful.

 

When we asked, the admissions staff just said to give whatever info we could and they will sieve through since they have placement tests and interviews for most subjects. So if we only have mommy grades, it doesn’t matter either except the child would have more placement tests to take.

[wapiti]

It doesn't matter if the test is "good" if his scores were excellent.  Send them - they can't hurt.

 

Good luck with the HSPT.  Usually, the math is easy and the vocab is hard.  Usually takes about two weeks to get that back.

[tmstranger]

It doesn't matter if the test is "good" if his scores were excellent.  Send them - they can't hurt.

 

Good luck with the HSPT.  Usually, the math is easy and the vocab is hard.  Usually takes about two weeks to get that back.

 

 

Yes, prepping for the verbal has been painful to say the least!  He uses R&S grammar, but shockingly cannot find errors in the test questions.  It's killing me!! LOL!!

 

He's in Algebra II, so he is actually wishing the math would be harder to set him apart from others.  He does fine on those sections. 

 

[tmstranger]

That would depend on the Catholic private school. Locally the privates are more familiar with Stanford 10 for private middle school students and even then the HSPT scores is what matters. CAT6 isn’t commonly used here so admission staff won’t be familiar enough to gauge. It won’t hinder just may not be helpful.

 

When we asked, the admissions staff just said to give whatever info we could and they will sieve through since they have placement tests and interviews for most subjects. So if we only have mommy grades, it doesn’t matter either except the child would have more placement tests to take.

 

Thanks for your insight.  This is all so new to me! 

[hepatica]

Both my DDs had to apply to attend the private school where we live and DH works. Here they require the SSAT, so they each took that.

 

As far as middle school records I put together a homeschool portfolio with syllabi for each subject, books read, assignments and writing samples, as well as any grades from online courses (we had just a few of those). I had to fill out the "school report" form for the application, and ended up putting "not applicable" in many places on the form (for example, they asked that I compare her to other children). Fortunately, we had an online writing course so we were able to get a teacher recommendation from that. My DH wrote the math recommendation, but since he chairs the math department he was essentially writing a letter to himself. 

 

It all seemed to be sufficient and we did not have any problems.