In late March - early April third graders and above take the OLSAT and the SAT.  The OLSAT is more like a general IQ test.  It measures how well a student can learn.  The SAT measures how much a student has learned.  This helps us to see how well we are doing by measuring potential learning against realized learning.  

Some important things to note:

1) We do not teach to the test.

Teaching to the test is something that is not practiced in better public school systems and quality private schools.  Our teachers give a wide range of information on a subject and teach a wide range of skills (i.e., not just addition and subtraction but also multiplication, division, line segments, angles and so forth). Teaching this way broadens the child’s education so that they learn about more things, and it insists that all subjects be mastered, not just what will be on the test. We have sought to provide a well rounded liberal arts education that prepares students to take on whatever comes their way.

2) We do not “cherry pick” students.

One complaint about private schools over the years has been that they scoop out the best students from the public schools and leave the rest behind.  Our students range from intelligent to quite average.

So, how are we doing:

Spring 2009 was our first opportunity to test a group of third grade students. The result was that Sixty percent of our students scored at least a grade level ahead.  Forty percent scored two or more years ahead.

One student scored at half way through the sixth grade on the complete battery. This does not mean that the child should skip to sixth grade.  What it does mean is that the average sixth grader in the fifth month would make the same score as this child.  This student was on the upper end of average on the OLSAT (the IQ test), but above average on the SAT. The student out performed their inborn skill.

Another student scored in the lower end of average on the OLSAT, but scored fifth grade level on the SAT!  This student came to us earlier in the year way behind in math, reading and spelling and has been diagnosed with a learning disability. We feel that God has used us mightily in this student's life.

Most all students scored extremely high on the Bible and theology portion of the test.  Above average scores in Bible and theology is something that many Christian schools struggle for years to try to achieve.

How do we do what we do?

The main keys are high expectations, rigorous academics and consistent discipline and order.

Expectations:

Studies over the years have demonstrated that people, and especially children, respond to the level of expectations placed upon them.  Our teachers and administrators expect the same from our students as we would for our own children.  We take time to listen to their answers, and expect that they will have something valuable to add.  We insist that students do their best work and be responsible for making sure that it is done correctly.  

Academics:

As evidence of our high expectations, students are given a rigorous academic load that includes math at a grade level ahead, formal grammar, and Latin beginning in third grade.

Discipline and Order:

At The Bessemer Classical School students do have fun learning.  We want them to learn to enjoy it.  However, students know where the lines are drawn.  We expect students to be respectful to teachers and all adults as well as to one another.  We also expect students to give solid effort and to respect the level of education that is being provided by doing their very best.  Students also know that we command an orderly classroom environment.  

We are certainly proud of our results for 2009, and look forward to even greater results in 2010.