A large number of the top students in our high school have not been getting in to any of the top colleges. Several parents and I have just realized that our high school profile is inaccurate, incomplete and factually wrong. This has been in place for years and is likely a large part of the reason why students have not been considered by the schools. Can the school be sued for negligence and fraud? So many students have been impacted by this issue. Even if they fix it now, the harm done to past classes is immeasurable. Thoughts?
In what way is the profile wrong that it would out and put bar qualified students from acceptance to colleges?
One of the items details that 60-70% of the students have obtained the IB diploma when in fact it is about 7%. For those who actually did the diploma, it diminishes their accomplishment by stating that more students received it than actually did. For those that didn’t do the diploma, it also is an issue for them as well as it makes it appear that they didn’t do something that was easy since 60% of the students did it. There is additional commentary that is incorrect about the school being a school of distinction when it is not and a number of the items are marked as n/a. There is nothing on it for the college to use to evaluate the student in the context of the high school (eg For grades or standardized tests) itself or vs other high schools. All of the above would leave the student not to be seen in a positive light by colleges and make it difficult if not impossible to evaluate them for college entry at top schools. It is factual that we have had multiple years where we have had no acceptances to any Ivy League schools by any students even valedictorians.
Curious, how did you get access to your school profile? Does anyone know how can I get access to my child’s profile? I asked 2 counselors at my child’s HS and they say the high school “doesn’t have one”. Yes, they are not very helpful. They both directed me to a random, not very imformatvie State website that does give population, reduced lunch numbers, very very basic stuff, but nothing as detailed as I would think the school profile should be.
@Smileyface1 Our HS profile is online (on the school website). If it isn’t online I would ask your guidance counselor for a copy.
@Smileyface1 School profiles are compiled and published by the school in question. The information is self reported. Our local HSs post on website and updates yearly.
To the OP, I’m not sure you could prove the IB completed % in and of itself was the reason a student was denied.
We are an IB school and the only 2-3 students who were admitted to Ivy’s in the last decade were recruited athletes. Our students routinely score top SAT/ACT scores + top grades + passionate ECs No vals or sals have ever been accepted to an Ivy.
Agree it’s frustrating.
Adcoms have access to far more info than what shows on a School Profile. There’s a whole industry crunching info from various sources, for various uses. States track, too.
Where are you? Is the problem they don’t get into elites or not even the flagship? IB isn’t just about that diploma. You still need the right understanding of what makes a good app, good ECs, solid LoRs, etc.
Everyone applying to college should examine the school profile. In this area, parents are carefully examining profiles when choosing s place to live, the local schools and other school options.
You would have to talk to an attorney about a lawsuit. I suspect anyone initiating the suit would need to come up with a lot of money and collect the evidence, possibly involving others for class action possibilities. It could be a lot of work. Talk to several lawyers and find out what the possibilities are for it.
You should absolutely take up the issue with both your principal and school board, but I don’t know that you have a legal case. Your school could have done everything right and still not send any students to tippy tops. I’ve read a lot of posts on CC from parents and students worried that their school is overlooked or blacklisted, or whatnot.
The trick about the lawsuit would be this: what dollar value can you possibly put on your student not getting into an ivy when the odds are less than 5% anyway, admissions is holistic, and there are plenty of studies out there showing top students have more-or-less equal outcomes no matter which undergrad college they attend?
Getting that profile updated is a worthy fight, just not one for the courts.
Agree, before a lawsuit, exhaust the possibilities up the chain. All the way.
But they may not be getting admitted because something else is amiss. Don’t assume it’s just because the IB figure is off.
The percent graduating with IB is not a major factor. Adcoms know it’s a tough track and high schools that have more than 70% DO get elite admits. The IB courses (most rigorous) and scores matter, too. Everything in the app matters.
Actually I would think that a college would think that you have a better school than you really do if 60% got IB diplomas.
It goes both ways: your school would likely be considered super rigorous and thus all grades would be seen as possibly deflated…when in fact they’re not.
You dont have a legal case.
However you can help future graduating classes by going to the guidance office and making sure the school people is updated and included the correct, necessary information.