Manhasset Missing from Rankings
Public school rankings were just published. According to a recent report, Manhasset is not one of the top 13 public schools in the country. But, six neighboring districts are. Click here for more information.
Source: "Profiles in Education" Jan 10-16, 2024 by Anton Media, the publisher of the Manhasset Press
We need to address gaps in our educational programs that are preventing our district from achieving in the rankings. One key area of opportunity is our advanced placement programs which unnecessarily limit access and enrichment to high potential students.
AP Placement Driven by Advanced Math in Grade 6
In Manhasset, accelerated/advanced placement begins with math placement at the end of 5th grade. If denied, students are essentially tracked out of the highest level courses throughout high school regardless of how they develop thereafter. To learn more, click here. We need ensure selection is equitable, accurate and transparent. We need greater flexibility to accommodate student needs as they grow.
Limited Flexibility
Currently, there is no differentiation or enrichment of students in math before grade 6. Many students would benefit from greater academic enrichment earlier in elementary school. In 2023, approximately 50% of the 5th grade class scored at or above the 90th percentile on a national aptitude test (CogAT), yet the district had offered them no meaningful math enrichment until that point.
We need enrichment in earlier grades similar to the ELA model. In addition, if we maintain the current admission policy for 6th grade advanced math, we should provide students with the in-school instruction needed to score well on the placement exam at the end of grade 5 (the "secure exam"). If you are not familiar with the selection process, click here.
We need greater flexibility after grade 6 as well. Students who are not placed in advanced math in grade 6 need options to test into the advanced pathways.
Access Too Narrow
Differentiation occurs in grade 6 through the advanced math program, the gateway to future advanced courses in both math and science. However, it is not accessible to all who deserve it. In 2023, we had 110 students who scored over the 90th percentile on CogAT, yet we offered only 56 students access to our advanced program. Why are we excluding capable students from this enrichment? Furthermore, we chose students based on poorly conceived policies that were inconsistently applied.
Who cannot access the advanced math programs?
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Many students aren't even included in the evaluation process (due to the arbitrary CogAT threshold).
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Some students are denied due to lack of outside tutoring (as secure exam tests material not taught).
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Some students are denied due to an inaccurate/biased teacher rating (attributable to flawed data collection).
Click here to understand the existing gaps in advanced placement selection.
What's wrong with the advanced science selection process?
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Only students selected to the advanced math program can access the 7th grade advanced science program; Students excluded in grade 6 can never "catch up" and join this pathway.
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Unfortunately, since COVID the selection process has become ad hoc. Selection criteria are not pre-established and communicated publicly. Click here for more information.
We have an opportunity to add additional sections to advanced math and science to include more students rather than limiting the pool unnecessarily.
Limited Transparency
Parents that sought feedback on the selection process have been denied information to understand placement. Some could not get information about their child's test scores, the distribution of the test scores or about the teacher ratings. Many parents did not know what was required to secure admission and are not told the real long term implications of the placement decisions.
The lack of a clearly defined placement policy and the absence of transparency makes it difficult to understand the outcomes. The information provided in this site under "Facts and Data" has taken months to collect and can be a valuable tool to parents.
Parents should be able to get information about the advanced placement selection process readily. The process and the outcomes should be transparent. Parents deserve child specific feedback about a decision that impacts their child's academic prospects throughout high school.
About Manhasset Excellence
Manhasset Excellence aspires to ensure excellence in Manhasset Schools by promoting flexibility and transparency in advanced placement programs. We are educating the Manhasset community about the selection process for the 6th grade advanced math program in hopes that a complete understanding about the policy and its implementation will allow parents and administrators to work together to establish better placement processes for all subjects in the future. Information presented is estimated based on available information from the Board, administrators, the math department and parent feedback.