re: CHS has 5 students with perfect ACT scores

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Schools are teaching to the test and these kids take dozens of practice tests. No surprise this seems to be happening more often

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Did not happen at catholic at all when I went there

If you wanted to prep you had to do it on your own

Catholic simply gave us the numbers of places that did prep study

GnArleYBEARS

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5 locks to leave LA after college if not after high school.

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Not a lock. A friend of mine from high school in Chalmette got a 36. Went to Tulane on a free ride.... still lives in Chalmette.

WAFB posted a story about this on their Facebook page 7 hours ago, so I guess some of the media must have been notified today. LINK

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It’s a shame. CHS, BRHS, Jesuit, Franklin, etc. are all just teaching to the test. That’s why all the kids from those schools are so unsuccessful after high school.

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Behold, a man talking completely out of his arse.

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That’s an amazing accomplishment

Congrats to all of them

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Behold, a man talking completely out of his arse.

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I’m quite sure he was being sarcastic. And I agree—you can’t teach a 36. You may be able to help certain kids get a few more math or science questions correctly, teach them test strategies, and that may increase their scores by 2-3 points. But you can’t take a 26 kid to a 36 no matter how much time you devote to it.

And I think that’s the biggest issue—is the time spent on this preparation. I agree with that poster again that the skills to do well in standardized tests can be useful, but how much are we willing to sacrifice of the actual curriculum to “teach the test.” I taught for 2 years at a private school and was somewhat taken aback by the yearlong focus on “the test.” I totally get why they do it—better scores equals higher accreditation, more students, better students, higher tuition, more grant money, etc...it makes sense for the schools to have a vested interest in their kids’ scores.

Also, there’s obviously a benefit to the kids. I guess, like with anything, it’s all about finding the right balance and not sacrificing too much of what they’re there for in the 1st place. It’s not an easy solution.

I wouldn’t be shocked if all they taught was the ACT. Every school is so worried about scores that they basically just abandon teaching a whole school year and only teach kids how to score well on final exams.

Say what you will about test prep, private or public, athletic or nerdy, all have one thing in common which makes the difference and that is solid parenting. Congrats to the moms and dads who pushed those kids.