2025 ERB Results
How Joyful, Gentle Learning Leads to Exceptional Results
At WHPS, we don’t believe children can—or should—be reduced to a number. But when numbers reflect authentic growth, they can serve as a powerful validation of our program and our approach to learning.
This year’s ERB results show just that. Across upper elementary, our students performed extraordinarily well, in many cases scoring in the 90th percentile or above compared to other students in independent schools. Even more importantly, the results reflect what happens when children are challenged in the right ways: they grow not just in knowledge, but in confidence, curiosity, and perseverance.
The ERB is not just a test of what was taught last week or last year. It’s a measure of how well students can apply what they’ve learned, think critically, and tackle the unfamiliar. That’s why we use it—and why these results serve as such powerful validation.
2025 Results at a Glance
Across grades 3–5, WHPS students once again outperformed peers in some of the nation’s most competitive independent schools.
Reading & Verbal Reasoning
Half of our students scored at or above the 77th percentile (top quarter of all test-takers).
Nearly one-third scored at or above the 96th percentile—the very top of the curve.
Vocabulary
40% scored at or above the 89th percentile.
1 in 5 students scored at or above the 96th percentile.
Mathematics
More than half scored at or above the 77th percentile.
Many scored at or above the 89th percentile, placing them ahead of nearly 9 out of 10 peers.
Writing Skills
The majority of students scored at or above the 77th percentile.
✨ Overall Highlight
About one-third of WHPS students scored at the 96th percentile or higher on at least one section of the ERB.
About one-quarter of students reached this level across multiple subject areas.
These students qualify for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), which offers specialized programs and summer opportunities for gifted and exceptionally high-achieving children.
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Class of 2025
One in four students scored at or above the 96th percentile, placing them ahead of nearly all peers nationwide. Every one of these students qualified in multiple subjects.Class of 2026
Over 20% scored at or above the 96th percentile, a level that qualifies them for Johns Hopkins CTY enrichment.Class of 2027
Nearly half the class scored at or above the 96th percentile—an extraordinary result, with most qualifying in multiple subjects. -
It can be tempting—even for schools like ours, where so many children are high-achieving and score far to the right side of the bell curve—to say, “mission accomplished.” But a percentile is not the full measure of a child. A student can ace a test and still struggle in middle school, in relationships, and later in life if all they’ve mastered is academics.
History shows us that pure intellect, without empathy or wisdom, doesn’t always translate to success—and sometimes doesn’t even lead to doing good in the world. Academic aptitude matters, but it isn’t enough.
Howard Gardner’s seminal work in education and the social sciences made this clear: there are many ways to be smart—interpersonal, intrapersonal, spatial, musical, logical, and more. And research continues to affirm that skills like perseverance, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are often better predictors of long-term success than IQ alone.
That’s why at WHPS, the extraordinary ERB scores you see are not our ultimate goal. They’re really more of a reflection—a natural outcome of the environment we’ve built. When students are immersed in joyful, personalized learning and taught to set goals, work with others, and build resilience, academic achievement follows. In many ways, the ERBs are simply evidence of something much bigger: a whole-child education that prepares students not just to excel in school, but to thrive in life.
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In public schools, students typically take a state-mandated test that is criterion-referenced—it measures whether they reach a “proficient” score on a fixed set of grade-level standards. Because these tests are tightly tied to the curriculum map, school districts often spend months drilling the exact skills they expect to appear (I experienced this firsthand as a public school teacher). Scores may go up, but deeper thinking doesn’t always follow.
The ERB is different. It’s primarily used in academically rigorous independent schools and is not tied to any one curriculum. Questions are designed to include added layers of complexity or skills that may not have been explicitly taught—not just what was covered last week in class. That’s why the ERB is norm-referenced: it shows how each student compares to peers nationwide. For example, a child scoring in the 80th percentile did better than 80% of students who took the test.
Who Uses the ERB?
The ERB is the test of choice for most of the nation’s most competitive independent schools. Locally, schools such as Harvard-Westlake, Sierra Canyon, Viewpoint, Campbell Hall, Buckley, Crossroads, Marlborough, Brentwood, Oakwood, Heschel, and Berkeley Hall use ERB assessments. Having this common benchmark creates consistency across independent schools and helps provide a level playing field when evaluating applicants matriculating from one program to another.
It’s also worth noting that the same organization develops and scores the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), which is used by most area private middle and high schools for admission. In some cases, schools may even accept a student’s ERB scores as part of their application.
This approach makes the ERB more than a proficiency check. It’s a measure of critical thinking, problem-solving, and readiness—skills that matter most for long-term success. And at WHPS, we don’t try to “cover” every possible test question. Instead, we help students build transferable habits of mind, so they approach new challenges with confidence.
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WHPS’s story isn’t just about the very top percentiles. Across the spectrum, our students consistently perform well above national averages for independent schools. That’s because strong ERB results don’t happen by accident—they are built on years of intentional, individualized learning that begins as early as preschool.
From emergent literacy and numeracy to social-emotional growth, students develop the habits that make later success possible. By meeting children where they are and challenging them to grow, we ensure that every learner—whether already soaring or still developing key skills—moves forward with momentum.
Because we nurture both intellectual and interpersonal growth, our students don’t just score well on tests—they’re prepared to think critically, work collaboratively, and approach challenges with curiosity and resilience.
Closing Note
We are proud of our students—not just for their scores, but for the curiosity, resilience, and joy they bring to learning each day. The ERB provides one snapshot of that growth, and it affirms the promise we see in every WHPS graduate.
Here’s the best part: these results aren’t an accident. They’re the product of a progressive, personalized approach that keeps students engaged, involves them in goal-setting, and removes the ceiling on how far they can go.
And while standardized testing is not our North ⭐ Star, it does provide powerful validation: this joyful, intentional approach equips students not only with exceptional results, but with the confidence, adaptability, and leadership to take on any challenge—academic or otherwise. Along the way, they also learn something just as important: to approach learning (and life) with curiosity, optimism, and a sense of humor—never taking themselves so seriously that they lose the joy of discovery.
