Private HS on Macom land?

[jenrik2714]

What about Rosary and Marmion in Aurora? Are those good schools

Going to an all girls catholic high school myself, I felt the girls were just as wild as the public school kids if not more crazier. I also attended a public school as well. The girls were more calmer in the public school. My uncle used to be a bus driver for Pace in the Oak Lawn area, and he said the McCauley girls were rude.

Dr Who: Of course they are going to have higher scores. They weed out the lower scoring students and I know for a fact they probably don't have many LD or other children with disabilities so of course that will make the numbers look good.

[doctorwho]

from the Lisle Sun, I thought I was right on these scores:

Benet Academy posts high ACT scores

The Benet Academy class of 2007 posted an average composite score of 28.2 on the ACT, with one-third of this year's graduating seniors receiving a composite score of 30 or above. This is the fourth consecutive year Benet Academy has posted a composite ACT score of 28 or higher.
All Benet students take the examination during their junior year. The Illinois composite average was 20.5, and nationwide the average was 21.2.

Benet Academy is a Catholic Benedictine college preparatory high school at 2200 Maple Ave. in Lisle.

[momto4]

doctorwho said:

momto4 said:

In what areas do St. Francis or Benet offer stronger academics than IPSD? I've been very impressed with what we have and it seems like it would be difficult to even match at most private schools.

Also I thought our cost per student was just under $8K? Or are there different numbers by ES, MS, and HS? If there are, my apologies as I wasn't aware of that.

Now understanding that Benet or St Francis etc do not take all the same tests we do - so apples to apples can only be done on things like ACT -- the last ACT score I saw for Benet I believe was slightly over 28.

Now of course one can argue the chicken-egg theory here. Are they getting better education or is it strictly because you have to 'test in' so the lower scoring students are already out of the mix.


And the cost per student in 204 is $8616 - not $11000

I used to have a link to a Sun Times breakout of by school etc - but it expired...it was from 2005

Over 20% of Waubonsie's senior class is being honored next week as Indian Prairie Scholars. These students have a 3.6 or higher GPA after 6 semesters. I would be willing to bet that the average ACT among this group might well be 28. Of the kids whose scores I know in this group, all of their scores are above 30.

Since WV doesn't have NHS it's impossible to know how many kids might be in it. I know there are consistently a large percentage of kids on the honor and high honor roll.

While I think that Benet's average is excellent, so are most other schools that only select from the top academic group. Also by definition the private schools have kids whose parents care about their education and that goes a long way toward student success.

Averages are only that. Do they offer something in way of academics - a particular course or series of courses other than religion-based classes, that would better prepare a student academically for college than something offered in 204?

Schools with very low average ACTs also can turn out some students who excel as long as they offer rigorous academics to those who want it.

I'm not in any way knocking private schools, just wondering if there is anything at all to this notion of better academics.

[doctorwho]

momto4 said:

doctorwho said:

Now understanding that Benet or St Francis etc do not take all the same tests we do - so apples to apples can only be done on things like ACT -- the last ACT score I saw for Benet I believe was slightly over 28.

Now of course one can argue the chicken-egg theory here. Are they getting better education or is it strictly because you have to 'test in' so the lower scoring students are already out of the mix.


And the cost per student in 204 is $8616 - not $11000

I used to have a link to a Sun Times breakout of by school etc - but it expired...it was from 2005

Over 20% of Waubonsie's senior class is being honored next week as Indian Prairie Scholars. These students have a 3.6 or higher GPA after 6 semesters. I would be willing to bet that the average ACT among this group might well be 28. Of the kids whose scores I know in this group, all of their scores are above 30.

Since WV doesn't have NHS it's impossible to know how many kids might be in it. I know there are consistently a large percentage of kids on the honor and high honor roll.

While I think that Benet's average is excellent, so are most other schools that only select from the top academic group. Also by definition the private schools have kids whose parents care about their education and that goes a long way toward student success.

Averages are only that. Do they offer something in way of academics - a particular course or series of courses other than religion-based classes, that would better prepare a student academically for college than something offered in 204?

Schools with very low average ACTs also can turn out some students who excel as long as they offer rigorous academics to those who want it.

I'm not in any way knocking private schools, just wondering if there is anything at all to this notion of better academics.

I absolutely agree with you that a selective entry process will skew results - I am just providing the facts that some base their decisions on. My WVHS graduates ACT's were higher than Benet's avg as were many of her friends....

I know for a fact excellent educations can be had in 204 - 203 and many places

.

[doctorwho]

jenrik2714 said:

What about Rosary and Marmion in Aurora? Are those good schools

Going to an all girls catholic high school myself, I felt the girls were just as wild as the public school kids if not more crazier. I also attended a public school as well. The girls were more calmer in the public school. My uncle used to be a bus driver for Pace in the Oak Lawn area, and he said the McCauley girls were rude.

Dr Who: Of course they are going to have higher scores. They weed out the lower scoring students and I know for a fact they probably don't have many LD or other children with disabilities so of course that will make the numbers look good.

agree on the scores --no different than one can compare magnet schools who test in also, with regular high schools -- if the scores were not averaging higher after being that selective , something would be wrong.

[doctorwho]

jenrik2714 said:

What about Rosary and Marmion in Aurora? Are those good schools

Going to an all girls catholic high school myself, I felt the girls were just as wild as the public school kids if not more crazier. I also attended a public school as well. The girls were more calmer in the public school. My uncle used to be a bus driver for Pace in the Oak Lawn area, and he said the McCauley girls were rude.

Dr Who: Of course they are going to have higher scores. They weed out the lower scoring students and I know for a fact they probably don't have many LD or other children with disabilities so of course that will make the numbers look good.

from what I could find:

I really don't know as much about either school - except I know the VB coach at Rosary.

ACT Scores: Rosary High School’s Class of 2007 had an ACT average composite score of 25.4

Marmion Academy 24.2



The Illinois state average was 20.5
The National average was 21.1

[dpc]

title1parent said:

One other thing that should be mentioned, and I do not know if things have changed, but private schools do not provide special education for students with special needs. When I was in HS, our Catholic school welcomed an entire family into it, many of which were good athletes, however one sibling had cerebral palsy and they did not take her. She ended up at the public HS. Another friend, who's son went to Holy Angels, had to take her son out of school and have him transported to the public ES for Speech. The Catholic school in my hometown also did not have Driver's ED, and the public HS had to provide that for the private school.

Like I said, has been a while, but private schools can pick and choose who they want to attend.

In the case of many Catholic schools, it is not that they don't want the special need/ed kids but rather they don't have the resources to offer the necessary services to these kids. There are also public schools that don't have the services either which is why many non-204 special needs kids attend 204 schools.

[dpc]

jenrik2714 said:

They don't want their children to go to school with low income kids
Same morals..what does that mean?

I'm not following your question. Can you explain?

[jenrik2714]

I wanted to find out what they meant by the moral values or a Catholic school and how are they better.....I know they teach religion but is the moral character of a child attending Benet different than a child attending WVHS

[doctorwho]

dpc said:

title1parent said:

One other thing that should be mentioned, and I do not know if things have changed, but private schools do not provide special education for students with special needs. When I was in HS, our Catholic school welcomed an entire family into it, many of which were good athletes, however one sibling had cerebral palsy and they did not take her. She ended up at the public HS. Another friend, who's son went to Holy Angels, had to take her son out of school and have him transported to the public ES for Speech. The Catholic school in my hometown also did not have Driver's ED, and the public HS had to provide that for the private school.

Like I said, has been a while, but private schools can pick and choose who they want to attend.

In the case of many Catholic schools, it is not that they don't want the special need/ed kids but rather they don't have the resources to offer the necessary services to these kids. There are also public schools that don't have the services either which is why many non-204 special needs kids attend 204 schools.

With some exceptions at the alternative high school when it opened and a few seats sold to 203 ( long over ) - I believe this is not a true statement. My understanding is there are NO non 204 tuition students ( they would have to be charged )- in 204 schools at all.

Please provide backup for this claim..

[sam2]

doctorwho said:

momto4 said:

In what areas do St. Francis or Benet offer stronger academics than IPSD? I've been very impressed with what we have and it seems like it would be difficult to even match at most private schools.

Also I thought our cost per student was just under $8K? Or are there different numbers by ES, MS, and HS? If there are, my apologies as I wasn't aware of that.

Now understanding that Benet or St Francis etc do not take all the same tests we do - so apples to apples can only be done on things like ACT -- the last ACT score I saw for Benet I believe was slightly over 28.

Now of course one can argue the chicken-egg theory here. Are they getting better education or is it strictly because you have to 'test in' so the lower scoring students are already out of the mix.


And the cost per student in 204 is $8616 - not $11000

I used to have a link to a Sun Times breakout of by school etc - but it expired...it was from 2005

I agree that the average cost for all students in 204 is in the mid-$8,000 range. However, for primary and middle it is in the $6,000 range and for high school it is $11,000. I have the link to the data somewhere and will post it when I find it.

Also, I agree that a good education is possible in 204.

Someone mentioned standard tests and I'd like to ask for thoughts on the disparity in National Merit Scholarship finalists in 204 vs 203. According to the Tribune, this week, some 47 or 48 students in 203 qualified. 204 had only 16 -- all from Nequa. Now, this is a dramatic improvement over a few years ago when we had only one or two but I don't understand why we have only 1/3 as many as 203. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

[dpc]

doctorwho said:

dpc said:

In the case of many Catholic schools, it is not that they don't want the special need/ed kids but rather they don't have the resources to offer the necessary services to these kids. There are also public schools that don't have the services either which is why many non-204 special needs kids attend 204 schools.

With some exceptions at the alternative high school when it opened and a few seats sold to 203 ( long over ) - I believe this is not a true statement. My understanding is there are NO non 204 tuition students ( they would have to be charged )- in 204 schools at all.

Please provide backup for this claim..

I never said "non-tuition" 204 students. Look at my quote. Of course they must pay tuition if they don't live in the district but attend our schools or use our services.

[doctorwho]

dpc said:

doctorwho said:

With some exceptions at the alternative high school when it opened and a few seats sold to 203 ( long over ) - I believe this is not a true statement. My understanding is there are NO non 204 tuition students ( they would have to be charged )- in 204 schools at all.

Please provide backup for this claim..

I never said "non-tuition" 204 students. Look at my quote. Of course they must pay tuition if they don't live in the district but attend our schools or use our services.

I said No non 204 tuition students (( sorry for cumbersome wording))

there are no non 204 students period attending 204 is the net of what I am saying - if they were they would have to pay to attend but my understanding is 204 is accepting none at this time, and has not in a while.

there, that's clearer....

[momto4]

sam2 said:

I agree that the average cost for all students in 204 is in the mid-$8,000 range. However, for primary and middle it is in the $6,000 range and for high school it is $11,000. I have the link to the data somewhere and will post it when I find it.

Also, I agree that a good education is possible in 204.

Someone mentioned standard tests and I'd like to ask for thoughts on the disparity in National Merit Scholarship finalists in 204 vs 203. According to the Tribune, this week, some 47 or 48 students in 203 qualified. 204 had only 16 -- all from Nequa. Now, this is a dramatic improvement over a few years ago when we had only one or two but I don't understand why we have only 1/3 as many as 203. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

Thanks, I'd like to see that link as I've never seen this broken down before.

A good education is definitely possible in 204 as is an excellent education. I have yet to hear (other than a magnet school) where a student can get a better education unless they need some specialized coursework we don't have available.

I don't know about NMS finalists, but here is the semi-finalist list I posted last week -

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-illinois_semifinalists_websep14,0,1697575.htmlstory

Waubonsie Valley High School
Genevieve A. DiMarco
Kelsey A. Lied
Hannah M. Miller
Kajsa D. Nichols-Smith
Kaitlin M. Steele
Karen E. Wydra
Feifan Yu

Neuqua Valley High School
Tristan J. Barron
Elizabeth K. Brucker
Stephanie L. Burchard
Bradley D. Campbell
Kun Chen
Christopher M. Derrick
Lauren Hock
Amanda L. Hua
Neha T. Jayaram
Michael S. Lowes
Peter D. Lundquist
Sean M. Mills
Robert P. Pino
Lindsey E. Prozorovsky
Timothy K. Toby
Yuan Zhao

[dpc]

jenrik2714 said:

I wanted to find out what they meant by the moral values or a Catholic school and how are they better.....I know they teach religion but is the moral character of a child attending Benet different than a child attending WVHS

Okay thanks for the clarification. IMO, it depends on how you define "moral" and based on that definition, there will be moral kids at both schools.