As the parent of a child who has always had very wonky uneven scores due to a learning difference in math, SSATs were something we worried about a good bit as we applied. Our experience was that some schools weight applicants’ scores more heavily than others and this has more to do with the school’s ethos regarding testing than the rigor of the academics once you arrive. At Lawrenceville, we were told by the AO that she could easily fill the entire class with perfect SSAT scores but that the school was not interested in doing that - they wanted a well rounded community. Good teachers also do not necessarily favor the tippy top student over the middle of the class student who is dynamic in class and excited to learn. Rather than focusing on SSAT scores, I would make sure my child had the opportunity it sit in on a class (and yes at same grade level or just a year above the applicants) to determine if the school is a good fit. Ultimately your peer’s scores are going to be irrelevant - it is how they perform once they get to the school. Every school we looked at had the capability to advance a child in math all the way up to number theory, linear algebra and other college level courses, and it is good to remember that most prep schools will place you not according to grade but according to ability. It is not uncommon for a freshman math whiz to be in class with juniors and seniors - but I would worry if it looked as if your child was going to be placed in ALL classes where she/he was the youngest.