I don’t care about your child’s SAT score…

I need to be honest with you; I’m less concerned about your (or mine, too) child’s SAT score… or their ACT score…. than I am about the knowledge that he/she acquires by the time they graduate. I know society and the “education industry” says that as a superintendent, I should care more about standardized test scores.  But, I don’t.  I want them to do well; sincerely, I do.  But when we talk about your child – instead of scores, tell me what they are passionate about, what skills you have seen them develop, what challenges they have faced, and how they have worked to overcome them.  Tell me about how they treat others, how hard they work to achieve what is important to them, and how they reach out to help others in need.

Over the last ten years, I have handed out 4,500+ Saline diplomas – a fact that is humbling to me.  When I reflect on all of the students that have walked across that stage, I don’t think about class rank or test scores – I think about the people they are. I share their hopes for happiness and success.

As a school district, we need to comply with state and federal mandates.  Also, it is true that the performance on the SAT/ACT can be the key to opening doors to elite colleges, universities, programs, and even scholarships. However, as a community, we can still focus on what we value as important.  Our student attributes – Collaborative Leader, Ethical & Responsible Citizen, Creative Innovator, Complex Thinker & Problem Solver, Positive Communicator, Globally Connected, Motivated & Self-Directed; these are the characteristics that will allow students to succeed in whatever they choose to pursue after high school.  

Here is the good part…. If we focus on developing students that embody those attributes – they will score just fine on the SAT/ACT.  And even better, these students will be prepared to grow, overcome adversity, and possess the confidence that they will need to thrive in a global society.