As educators, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of inspiring students to dream big and providing them with the tools and guidance to turn those dreams into reality. Yet, one area where our educational system too often falls short is in ensuring students have a clear understanding of where they stand academically and what it takes to achieve their aspirations.
Imagine a high school senior with dreams of attending a prestigious university like Harvard, MIT, or Stanford. Despite their enthusiasm and ambition, their grades and test scores are far below the benchmarks for these types of elite institutions. The student has been inspired by success stories and encouraged by well-meaning adults who have emphasized the importance of aiming high. However, they lack a clear understanding of the academic requirements and the competitive nature of admissions to these universities. As they prepare their college applications, they face a heartbreaking moment of reckoning, when a teacher or leader must break the news that their aspirations require a harsh recalibration.
It’s a scenario that can tug at the heartstrings of any teacher or school leader. No educator wants to be the one to deliver the necessary reality check so late in high school that the door to that type of college or university is in fact closed. Instead, we must simultaneously encourage our students to aim high, while as importantly, empower them with perspective of the work that lies ahead for them and arm them with the knowledge and resources to succeed as early on in their academic career as possible.
Part of knowing what scores you need is knowing where you want to end up. It’s essential for schools to build college knowledge actively at younger grades in order to ensure students are able to self-check if their numbers line up to the college of their dreams. Some students may think all colleges are the same while others may only care about ones they’ve heard of on TV or in the movies. Clearly, neither of these perspectives are helpful for a student – schools need to debunk these myths as soon as possible. Expanding a student’s lexicon of colleges and universities helps them learn about the tiers of institutions that exist. Being upfront and direct with younger students is a valuable level setting that offers clarity and purpose for those who want it and helps set realistic expectations.
At the core of this empowerment is the concept of “knowing your numbers.” Every student should have a firm grasp of their GPA, standardized test scores, and the academic requirements of their target colleges at all times. This knowledge not only serves as a reality check but also empowers students to make informed decisions about their academic journey. Data-driven schools are those which build systems to ensure their students are aware of not only where they stand but also the actions they need to take in order to achieve their desired outcomes.
Action Steps to Ensure Students Know their Numbers:
Early College Exploration:
- Introduce students to a variety of colleges and universities through presentations, college fairs, virtual tours and college campus visits.
- Encourage discussions about the different tiers of institutions and the academic requirements for admission.
Regular Academic Check-Ins:
- Implement systems for students to track their GPA and standardized test scores throughout their high school career.
- Provide tools and resources for students to understand how their academic performance aligns with their college goals.
Goal Setting and Action Planning:
- Facilitate goal-setting sessions where students identify their academic targets and create action plans to achieve them.
- Encourage students to set realistic goals based on their aspirations and academic capabilities.
Family Engagement:
- Involve families in the college exploration and planning process by providing resources and hosting workshops on college admissions.
- Encourage open communication between students, parents, and educators about academic goals and college aspirations.
Student Awareness:
- Implement regular reminders and activities to ensure every student knows their GPA and standardized test scores.
- Utilize homeroom or other dedicated time to coach students on how to track their academic progress using digital tools or student planners.
Interim Exams and Score Reviews:
- Administer interim exams at regular intervals and provide detailed feedback to students on their performance.
- Facilitate test corrections sessions to analyze strengths and weaknesses and set improvement targets as well as review each item on the exam.
Data Sharing and Transparency:
- Share aggregated data about student performance with both individual classes and the entire student cohort.
- Provide on-going updates of progress towards benchmarks and data trends for students in order to help them understand their progress.
It will take time, but students will begin to know and understand their numbers. This will inform their actions in school as well as conversations about what they’re trying to achieve each day. Asking students about their academic performance and what they intend to do as next steps will help you tailor your school leadership.
Reflection Questions for School Leaders:
- What percentage of your students can tell you their GPA if you ask them in passing in the hallway?
- What percentage of your students can tell you their most recent ACT or SAT score?
- What percentage of your students can tell you what they need to do in order to improve their GPA and/or their test scores?
- What percentage of your students can tell you the admission data for the schools they hope to attend?
- What percentage of families would know the answers to the above questions for their students?
Building a positive school-wide culture around ACT and SAT assessments is challenging and essential. This blog is part of a series, “10 Strategies for Building a Culture of ACT and SAT Success,” where we’ve outlined strategies to help school leaders. If you have questions or need support as you build a school-wide culture, please reach out to Thomas O’Brien at thomas@winwardacademy.com.
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About Winward Academy – Winward Academy is one of the world’s leading innovators in the online education space, providing web-based academic support that enhances students’ knowledge, confidence, and competitiveness in middle and high school academics and in college applications. We help thousands of students every year by providing personalized, comprehensive ACT and SAT test preparation and extensive math curriculum support. The Winward Academy learning platform honors over 40 years of education and cognitive psychology research, incorporating proven techniques that promote effective learning.
Winward Academy’s unmatched reputation is wholly attributable to our students’ exceptional success and to the trust earned among students, parents, and schools around the world.
