<p>What does this mean? I assume if a HS has class ranking, that's competition; so beyond the "regular" competition, what are colleges referring to? My S is going for his first college interviews and wants to accurately portray his HS. I'm no help. Can anyone shed some light?</p>
<p>I would say that a "competitive high school" is one in which the great majority of kids go on to 4 year colleges, and that historically a certain percentage go on to Ivys and other top level schools. Also, unless it is a stated policy not to include APs (such as at Dalton in New York city), a school that offers a lot of APs would also show that it is "competitive." But this is just my subjective take on it.</p>
<p>P.S. Many competitive high schools do not rank their students.</p>
<p>Really competitive high schools require exams or IQ tests to be admitted. I think of Thomas Jefferson in VA, or Stuyvassent and the like in NYC. Or the top prep schools like Exeter and Andover. Just a bit down the food chain are the high schools in wealthy communities like Scarsdale and Bronxville in NY, less familiar with the names in other parts of the US. I'd also say kids are regular Intel winners, math competition winners, Science Olympiad winners etc.</p>
<p>Somewhat competitive high schools are as HSN described, and I'd say also have SAT or ACT score averages that are well above state averages. Our high school is fairly competitive at the upper end, (lots of APs, 75% go to 4 year colleges, top 5% class go to well known colleges), but is usually described as a "comprehensive" high school - there are a sizable number of more average kids and a good percentage of low income kids.</p>
<p>I agree with HSN.</p>
<p>I would call a public high school competitive if
- the great majority of kids go on to 4 year colleges
- historically a certain percentage go on to Ivys and other top level schools
- a dozen or more AP classes offered and students who take the AP classes pass the AP tests</p>
<p>There are high schools within which the students compete with each other but I wouldn't think that these are considered competitive high schools.</p>
<p>My D. HS does not rank. More so, it does not have "Valedictorians". It offers very limited number of APs. However, as an example, just Honors Freshman HS Biology was using College textbook that was the same as my D. later used in her Freshman year at college, newer edition, of course. She also mentioned that she was much better prepared in her HS Honors Chemistry class than a lot of others who took AP in HS. Colleges simply are aware of the level of preparation at different schools. Her HS is known in our state as being very competitve. It places 100% into 4 years colleges with significant % going to Ivy and other top schools. My D. has received invitations to apply to Harvard & Prinston and we thought that it was a result of her graduating from her school. She did not pursue it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My D. has received invitations to apply to Harvard & Prinston and we thought that it was a result of her graduating from her school.
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First your D graduates high school, THEN she receives invitations just to apply to Harvard and Princeton? Uncanny.</p>
<p>ok, I'm still confused. My son's HS is public w/~1,500 students. I'd say top 15% go to top tier colleges with top 2-3% Ivy/Ivy like. Lots of AP's. 55% go to 4 yr colleges, balance could certainly go, but due to interest or finances, chose other options. Standardized test scores are above average in NJ (which I think are above the natl avg). Based on the above posted info it sounds like his school is not competitive, oh well. Thanks to all who posted and anyone else who wants to weigh in, I'd appreciate it.</p>
<p>As MiamiDAP noted, many competitive HSs use college texts for their Honors level courses. Also, students are ENCOURAGED to apply to top tier schools commensurate with their credentials.</p>
<p>Competitive high schools do not rank so the students are not chasing each other around in a circle so fast, they turn in to butter, like the tiger in "Little
Black Sambo".</p>
<p>BrainCamp, </p>
<p>I'm not sure what it matters if we're calling it "competitive high school" or not. After all, I would think a regional officer at a top-tier college/ university would know the nuances far more than the rough category of competitive or not competitve. </p>
<p>55% going to college is not very competitive <em>however</em> getting the top 15% of students in a top-tier school is a good indication that if your son is in the top 15%, he will have a good chance at those colleges. That is all that matters, isn't it? </p>
<p>The only issue I have with some of the definitions here is that sometimes big high schools have a magnet within them and students in that magnet might as well be attending a "competitve high school." So a school might only have 55% attending college-- but if there's a well-respected magnet program in place, it serves the same purpose as saying it's a "competitve hs."</p>