8/10/11 Score

Normally it's in poor taste to talk test scores, but regular readers of this blog know of the tremendous trials and tribulations we've been through with our firstborn. (Secondborn too, but of a different sort.)

One of the most baffling and frustrating things about Gabriel is that despite his early displays of talent in some areas, he's been a pretty mediocre student. Not to mention we're on first-name basis with the school principal regarding his disruptive behavior, and trying to figure out how to reach the kid.

Last year's STAR test scores really showed that too, in which he did about average for his school -- which is fine, I'm not worried about his academic development, but it's puzzling when other parents say things to you like, "please invite me to the party when he wins the Nobel Prize." They're all shocked when I tell them that his math grades were pretty eh.

So it was a relief to see that this year, he got a perfect score on the math section of the STAR test. Decent on the verbal, too, about average for his school. But for me, the math score is a rare data point confirming that we're not in denial or going crazy, he really is capable, despite his constant so-so math test grades last year.

I really don't put much stock in these test scores -- annual statewide tests, not a high bar to begin with -- but with Gabriel it is an unusual relief to finally get some good academic news.

I think that's the last I ever need to say on the matter, especially since this coming year, Julian will be taking the same tests too!

8/10/11