Two years ago, a private school in our district sent 6 seniors to USNA, USAFA, and USMA. Some of those kids were from two other congressional districts. Last year, another private school sent one to USNA and one to USAFA. This year, The slate winner in our district for USNA is from an inner city public school (my DS). Those kids from the private school who received appointments had tremendous qualifications AND an environment that nurtured and shaped their records. These are just data points.
Waiters ....this thread is for you
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militarylife
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My son is from a private military school and he did not get in. Two kids from two separate public schools did get in.
Our Mids attended a public high school. It's not so much public or private; it's caliber of the school. Our public high school is the equal of the very good private schools in this area. Some parents wanted one of ours to transfer to their private school for sports. He would have killed us if he had had to drop levels in competition. Also, I think they were both more competitive for USNA from their public school.
Finally, an admissions staffer told me that it doesn't hurt future applicants when their school has a history of grads doing well at the Academy. It gives USNA some idea that the school is rigorous enough to prepare them for success. I can name dozens of schools in this state that have never produced service academy kids and likely never will. When your valedictorian gets an 810 on the SAT, something's missing. Yep. I interviewed that kid. Really liked him, but he wasn't ready.
militarylife
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I know I was just responding to someone else on the thread who felt private schools had an advantage. It is just simply not true.
The congressional district we live in is a very oddly shaped district which is 90% suburban and wealthy areas and 10% rural to extremely rural areas in Appalachia. My son attends a small public in the rural area with no AP courses at the high school.
This year, my son was appointed to USNA and USMA and withdrew his app from USAFA. His peer in the same rural area was homeschooled and received an appointment to USMA and waitlisted to USNA while his USAFA app is yet to be determined. We have no idea what else happened in our congressional district meaning the wealthy suburbs.
My 2021 USMA son initially felt like a fish out of water with the amount of private, boarding and wealthy schools his peers attended. Many had the advanced calculus courses but he validated chem and completed the Jedi math series. Initially his peers had an advantage in math due to previous coursework but he still received the A+ he worked for but it was work. During his Yuk year, he is often in Firstie and Cow classes and holds his own. I know his STEM teachers prepared him for the advanced coursework without the label of AP etc.
We’ve had 3 kids in 3 years go to an academy from our school and 2 of them are still there and doing well. My 2023 to be chose USMA after much deliberation of career choice in the service.
I will agree as an educator that private and wealthy public schools have many amenities that would strengthen a file but it’s what the person contributes to their file that ultimately matters.
This year, my son was appointed to USNA and USMA and withdrew his app from USAFA. His peer in the same rural area was homeschooled and received an appointment to USMA and waitlisted to USNA while his USAFA app is yet to be determined. We have no idea what else happened in our congressional district meaning the wealthy suburbs.
My 2021 USMA son initially felt like a fish out of water with the amount of private, boarding and wealthy schools his peers attended. Many had the advanced calculus courses but he validated chem and completed the Jedi math series. Initially his peers had an advantage in math due to previous coursework but he still received the A+ he worked for but it was work. During his Yuk year, he is often in Firstie and Cow classes and holds his own. I know his STEM teachers prepared him for the advanced coursework without the label of AP etc.
We’ve had 3 kids in 3 years go to an academy from our school and 2 of them are still there and doing well. My 2023 to be chose USMA after much deliberation of career choice in the service.
I will agree as an educator that private and wealthy public schools have many amenities that would strengthen a file but it’s what the person contributes to their file that ultimately matters.
THmom
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Both boys were well above the average of 29 but both also had tons of leadership positions in student government, clubs, Boys State and multiple year all state football while playing additional sports.
In my opinion, the standardized test score shows the ability to be successful. I read somewhere that USMA considers the math score on the standardized test to be a good indicator of future academic success.
One big disadvantage for my sons is their school doesn’t add weights from the honors courses until the end of 7th semester. My 2023’s tank went from 10 to 2. Navy did not request this 7th semester transcript so it appears to have not mattered. He was appointed to USMA before his 7th was ready for sending since they require it. PM if you have any questions or need help.
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I teach at a technical university and have had lots of exposure to a wide range of academics. It is pretty startling to first hear the absolute dislike for the SAT in general (East Coast school - ACT not mentioned) and especially how it isn't really an indicator of success or college readiness but when I specifically ask the STEM subject folks if there is a Math SAT score below which they think a student can't handle the curriculum, they ALL agree that there is such a score and just disagree what that score is.