<p>My son shadowed a friend of his at the local high school today. We made this a requirement for him before we gave the final OK for him to switch from his private school to the local high school.</p>
<p>When we picked him up, he said the miracle words every mother loves (but seldom hears):</p>
<p>"You were right mom. The classes are more intellectual at "Current" school."</p>
<p>I bit my tongue, didn't say anything more, just listened. He said how much fun it was to see his old friends but then described how boring the classes were for him and how the teachers moved at an excrutiatingly slow pace, which, of course, is exactly what I have been afraid of. </p>
<p>When he came home, he told his sister that he thinks "staying at his current school would be OK." On her advice, we're just letting it sit until he broaches the subject with us.</p>
<p>Your son is so thoughtful! Would there be a possibility of his getting accelerated, eg. taking AP earlier if he did go to the local high school? Something like that happened with my S, so that despite the unchallenging nature of grade level classes, he has gotten a decent education. Now is a good time to explore all the possibilities as I believe this is the time when schedules are arranged both in high schools and colleges. If he does decide to stay put, he will have a greater personal investment in making it work for him, so all this exploration is very useful.</p>
<p>What a useful exercise for him ahead of the college selection process. Once again, I can't get over his self-awareness. Is that what happens when your mother is a writer? :)</p>
<p>taking AP earlier if he did go to the local high school?>></p>
<p>We met with the guidance counselor this morning. Seems they do offer AP classes but ONLY when there are 30 or more kids interested in taking them. They have a very impressive list but in reality only offer 2-3 a year. </p>
<p>The other issue is language - the GC made it very clear that language is considered an "elective" not a core class and that most kids only end up taking 2 years. We have found an alternate school where he could continue the Latin on a self-study basis for credit, but that in an of itself requires driving 30 minutes a week after school two times a week.</p>
<p>I think what really did it for him though, was sitting with his friend during the two hours his friend was doing "Teaching Assistant" work which basically translates to printing out pages and entering grades in the computer. Kids at this school either start at 10, get out at noon, or do a TA or Library assistant session during the middle of the day. </p>
<p>Of course, we will see. This worm is still turning. I could be posting again before this is all final :)</p>
<p>carolyn - You're right, it's a rare but wonderful thing to hear. You've obviously done a great job of parenting there! </p>
<p>After two years at a distant private school my DD asked if she could try a "social year" at the local high school. On the first day of classes the Lit teacher handed out the year's reading list. After class my D approached the teacher and asked if she could supplement the list with additional books. "Why?" the teacher asked. "Because I've already studied all the books on this list at my previous school." "Well you're going to study them again." The next year it was back to her old (distant, unsocial, but decidedly more academic) private school.</p>