Changing High School for Senior Year ??

Parents Forum
1

<p>(Warning—long post)</p>

<p>Last night, my junior daughter raised an unexpected issue with my H and me – the possibility of changing schools next year for her last year of high school. This is a very thoughtful child, not given to drama or hysterics, very flexible and adaptable, an independent thinker. So we are listening closely and taking her concerns seriously. On the other hand, it throws a potential monkey-wrench into planning the next couple of years… </p>

<p>Long story short, she feels (and I think H and I agree) that she has outgrown her current school in a variety of ways. She has attended the same small private school since pre-K. Along the way, we have watched for signs that a change might be needed, but until now things have been okay. Sometime in middle school, she decided that being “popular” wasn’t worth it to her and she directed her energies to academics and her main EC – music -- rather than focusing on the social aspects of school. In 9th grade, a new group of girls came to the school and she found several like-minded friends among them. At the same time, her activities with her youth orchestra furthered expanded her social circle outside of school with a broader and more diverse group of kids. So over the last two years, her social confidence has been growing without compromising her values, which has all been a good thing, and we are very proud of her.</p>

<p>Academically she is a very strong student, and the school has worked for her up to now in terms of academic rigor. But it IS small and it has been the only school environment she’d known. It’s also extremely affluent and (as a result) not very diverse. So far she has been able to navigate these limitations easily and with a positive attitude, but she is finding this year NOT academically stimulating (not necessarily too easy, just not at the level of engagement and intensity that she craves), and the atmosphere confining. Because she’s also begun seriously thinking about and researching college and what she wants, I think the limitations of her school are standing out even more. </p>

<p>Although surprised by the conversation last night, my H and I were both very glad she brought it up, and glad for the timing. We are having our routinely scheduled fall conference with her school advisor next week, and will certainly want to talk about this then. And if we are going to explore and research alternatives for senior year, I know it’s not too soon to start that process. </p>

<p>One alternative that we will explore is our public high school. This is not altogether straightforward; it has many of the issues typical of most urban high schools in the U.S., but it also offers the possibility of counterbalancing many of the things my D doesn’t like about her current situation: it’s a completely different environment, much bigger, more diverse in all ways, a greater number of courses/classes available, etc. </p>

<p>We are prepared to undertake the research and serious consideration of this possibility (and others that may present themselves), which may or may not lead to making a change for next year. The good news is that she is not in an intolerable situation and could certainly “tough it out” for senior year if that seems the wiser course. And we’re certainly not going to make a change of this significance without weighing all the pros and cons and having the potential benefits of a change greatly outweigh the current situation. </p>

<p>I would really like to hear from some of you who have experienced your child changing schools at this stage of high school, particularly considering its impact on things like counselors, recommendations, choosing senior year schedule, etc. And how the transition affects the college search overall, particularly since these last two years of high school are the stepping stones for college.</p>

<p>I will stop now since I’ve gone on so long and give you all a chance to weigh in with your sage advice and experience. Many thanks…</p>

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<p>Two issues occurred to me off the top of my head when I read your post:</p>

<p>1) If your daughter's extracurricular activities are mostly school-focused, her main opportunity to take leadership roles would be during her senior year. But this is only going to happen if she stays at her current school. If she switches schools, she cannot expect to become a section leader in the orchestra or president of a club or captain of a team. The kids who have been in that school all along are expecting to take those positions, and your kid won't have a chance. Of course, if her outside interests are primarily non-school-related (like that youth orchestra), this doesn't matter.</p>

<p>2) Since your daughter attends a small private school, she probably has a guidance counselor who knows her and can guide her skillfully through the college admissions process. At a large public school where she is a new student, the GC won't even know her name, let alone her situation. You can't expect an overworked public school GC to guide your daughter through anything. She would have to figure out the process on her own -- a difficult challenge in an unfamiliar school system (unless she can follow the lead of a close friend attending the same school, preferably one who has had an older sibling go through the same thing). Your daughter would be likely to face some special issues during the admissions process (for example, she would probably want to get her teacher recommendations from teachers in her old school -- how exactly could that be accomplished?) I wonder whether the new school would be able to help her adequately with such situations.</p>

<p>Might it be possible for your daughter to remain in her current school but to work with her GC to figure out a way for her to expand her academic horizons beyond that school next year? For example, if there is a local college, could she do some sort of dual enrollment where she takes some of her courses at her current school and some at the college? Or, if there are some advanced courses offered by the public school system that her private school does not offer, could she spend part of the day at the public school (perhaps paying tuition there) and take one or two of those courses, while taking other courses at the private school? Or is there any sort of internship or work-study program available? Could your daughter combine a partial-day schedule at her school with a partial-day internship at a local business or government agency?</p>

<p>I have not faced the situation you face, but I think that the safest solutions to your daughter's problem are those that let her stay in her current school but provide her with some sort of extra outside learning opportunities so that she won't feel so stifled.</p>

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<p>Marian</p>

<p>Thanks for your response. To your questions:</p>

<p>1) She currently has several leadership positions in her current school but her music EC (violin and youth orchestra) is outside of school.</p>

<p>2) Yes, we are lucky; one of the big benefits to her current school is the personal contact and knowledge between students/family and faculty, counselors and adminstrators. That's why I'm glad we'll be able to begin talking to the school about some of this concerns next week. I am fairly confident (from our positive experience with the school over many years) that they will be helpful in addressing/exploring this with us, wherever it leads. And it's that guidance issue in a different environment that looms large in my mind as a difficult impediment if we were to make a change. </p>

<p>I should clarify about the academic horizons; it's not a lack of rigor or a light schedule that's she's concerned about. Her sense of confinement and constriction at the school is more about the overall atmosphere/environment, which in the past she's been able to deal with by focusing almost totally on academics, but now finds that doesn't compensate for what she finds lacking. </p>

<p>She isn't without plenty of productive things to fill her time! On top of a full academic schedule (all APs and honors courses, and an independent study) she's also head of art club at school. Outside of school she has a serious commitment to youth orchestra and private violin study which takes up an enormous amount of time, and an intermittent part-time job. And she is already investigating some coursework opportunities at several of our local colleges/universities.</p>

<p>I know she'll be fine and can cope with staying at her current school, and after due diligence we may all agree as a family that it's not the right move to make. But I also think we owe it to her to at least investigate alternatives and look at things from as many angles as possible.</p>

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<p>My D changed schools for grade 12....it worked out just fine in her circumstances, but just fine does not mean it was maximizing her potential. DD got to know teachers well, made new friends (eventually) and really impressed people, but it was also a tough time and she still missed some of her old friends and some of the experiences she could have possibly had at the old school. DD graduated very young so was not going away to university right away, if she had been, it would ahve been a challange, for instance the new school graded much more easily so wherein she was top 10-20% at the old school, they would have merged her marks with their students and put her at 50% :eek:</p>

<p>I think she would have been able to get good letters, but it woul have taken until after December to do so, it probably took until late Jan for her to be well-known and truly comfortable.....your DD, if she chooses to change schools, may have to request some teacher letters from her old school.</p>

<p>It was also difficult to not know all the usual things that "everybody" else knows, the outings, the events, the senior "things" are different at each school...my Ds senior pic was not done in time to be in the yearbook, because no one told us in time...the deadline was quite early....so, there are silly (in the greater scheme of life, not to your DD in her senior year though) things that will be off the mark.</p>

<p>DD went from one well-reagrded school to another, but her old school was incredible, whereas her new school, in a different area was simply very good. She ended up feeling really well-educated and intelligent at the new school as she blasted to the top of her classes utilising her old school habits.</p>

<p>Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.</p>

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<p>My daughter changed schools for 11th grade, from a private school (class size = 95) to a public school (class size = 550). Lots of reasons, not all of them focused on her. It worked out fine, but there were definitely a bunch of issues along the way, some of which we didn't anticipate. In retrospect, I would be much more hesitant to do such a switch for 11th grade, and I would advise against it for 12th grade.</p>

<p>Maybe you could consider a college class or two, or independent study, or taking a semester abroad this spring or next fall?</p>

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<p>Sometimes it is better to go with the devil you know, rather than the devil you don't know. I moved part way through HS and it was not a fun experience.</p>

<p>Friendships are cemented by beginning of senior year, not to mention relatiohsips with teachers and counselors. She may also be underestimating the culture shock of moving to an urban HS.</p>

<p>She will be going through big changes freshman year, but at least there will be many others making the that transition.</p>

<p>I agree with the others that say try to make senior year work where she is.</p>

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<p>I agree with what everyone has said. But one further question? Does she know some kids at the high school she would switch to already? That would certainly make the transition easier.</p>

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<p>Thanks for everyone's input. Exactly what I hoped for: opinions, suggestions, things to think about as we consider the implications. I think you all make important points and they are valuable to me. Mathmom: yes she does have some friends at the public HS and you're right, that would be a huge piece of the transition, if it came to that. </p>

<p>Devil you know vs the unknown...again an important factor. LOTS of food for thought. Thank you all.</p>

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<p>How about a year abroad? Check out SYA.org. She can complete her high school lcasses in Spain, France, Italy or China.</p>

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<p>I agree with JHS. If she wants more challenging work, can she consider a college class or two? It really can be hard to insert oneself into already existing groups that have their own dynamics, ways of doing things. As well, she would have to cultivate relationships with a new GC and new teachers. If she wants to apply somewhere ED/EA, that would be tough.</p>

<p>If she is determined, however, make sure she gets recs from current teachers at the end of her classes to be added to her eventual college application.</p>

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<p>No experience to add to the thoughtful insights above. But will emphasize marite's final point. At our hs (with excellent college admissions track record), students identify the teachers for college recs at the end of junior year, approach them with the request and provide our hs's master rec form at that time. So, as to college recs she should be at no disadvantage. Could still seek a rec from a "new school" teacher if she makes a strong enough connection.</p>

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<p>I think many kids, my son included, feel that they have outgrown their high school sometime during junior year. I would advise to just hang in there, as more adventures are just around the corner. A new high school will not necessarily be better.</p>

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<p>Has she nearly completed diploma requirements? Could she finish the one or two courses needed and then take a year abroad or some sort of term away?</p>

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<p>Another point to consider - in my area, students who transfer in at the beginning of or during the senior year are not included in class rank calculations. The local publics require students to have been at that particular school by mid 11th grade in order to be included in class rank. I have no idea if this is a policy that is in place in many schools, but it is worth investigating.</p>

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<p>I just split my family up not to move my S from his HS.</p>

<p>As military family we know there are others issues that you have need to examine. What are the requirements for graduation. In Virginia, you need to pass a SOL in 9 classes to receive a diploma. In Florida you need to pass the FCAT. Thanks to NCLB each state has different testing policies that CAN make it difficult to get a diploma. Are there classes like state history? </p>

<p>As a brat myself, I moved in my senior year from Las Vegas to Phoenix. It sucked. All of the leadership postions are taken, people who are together for 4 years are not really inviting. Most of my friends ending up being sophomores, because I needed AZ history to graduate. This class is taken by 10th graders really not alot fun as a senior.</p>

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<p>My daughter transferred twice in high school- the first because she wanted to, the second (for 11th grade)due to relocation.</p>

<p>First move was for more electives in her field of interest, and frankly to save $$$. There were a few problems:
1) academic level of new school not what it was cracked up to be
2) did not make many friends
3) they did not have some of the same clubs/activities she'd done previously
4) this public school weighted grades, and did not give her honors credit for the (more advanced) courses she took in 9th grade at the elite private school. Because the private school did not call their courses "Honors". This seriously whacked/distorted her weighted GPA and reported class rank.</p>

<p>The second move, though forced, could not have gone better for her. Immediately clicked with the kids there, loves the school. Still there are some issues though. Due to curricular differences she had to take the less advanced language track at the new school. And there are gaps in her education in at least one subject, due to different schools covering topics in different sequences/years. Fortunately she clicked with the teachers at this last school, so teachers' recommendation letters for college weren't a problem for her. Otherwise they could have been. School activities/clubs all interrupted once again. No GPA computed at the new school yet, due to not enough courses there.</p>

<p>College advising has turned out ok, but this would not have been the case if she hadn't been there junior year.We'll see how college admissions go; how the colleges decipher her transcript and accomplishments with the different schools.</p>

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<p>Same as afa81. We as a family moved from one side of the country to the other, had a senior at the time, a junior and a sophomore in high school. Did this 3 years ago, in mid-October. Not fun, but necessary. Looking back things have turned out fine but it was not easy nor enjoyable.</p>

<p>The senior was pretty miserable but not as miserable as the junior. He figured he had X amount of months to get through and he was done. The junior was unhappy socially but she did great academically and athletically. Same with sophomore son, as he ended up val of his new school this past June. DD was the junior and she kept many of her leadership roles (captain, pres) just by doing what she does best! But she did have most of her junior to do that at the new school.</p>

<p>We moved as a family for financial reasons and if we absolutley did not have to we would not. However, we were also looking long-term as far as colleges and grad school and with 5 kiddos the move made great sense.</p>

<p>And again like the above poster my kiddos had to take a 10th grade social studies class required for graduation in the new state and were with 10th graders as seniors. And there were issues with transfer of credits.</p>

<p>And as far as your DD's reasons for thinking of the switch, son last year was in a similar situation, academically. He ended up supplementing with outside classwork and independent research. But as that he was already in a public school the issues of diversity, especially socio-economic were not at all an issue.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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<p>orchestramom, we did not move our kids during HS, but my husband moved for senior year -- military kid -- and it was not a great situation.</p>

<p>It doesn't sound to me like you have a really compelling reason to move your daughter. Many kids are tired of HS by junior year, but the grass is seldom greener anywhere else. The problems you now see may go away, but problems you can't anticipate will rear their ugly heads. I would try to address your daughter's specific concerns while staying at her existing HS. The application process starts immediately in the fall of senior year -- I think it would be tough to focus on that while adapting to a new school.</p>

<p>In fact, there was a possibility last year that we would have to move while S2was still in HS. H and I had already decided that I would stay in our current location until our younger son graduated from HS, while H would either travel or move without us. We are a very close family, but would prefer to deal with the difficulties of living somewhat apart for a while rather than move a child in HS. Fortunately, we will not be moving.</p>

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<p>I'd like to echo lkf and sjmom about kids feeling they've outgrown their school junior year. My son had gone to pre-first and then we moved to a new school district when he was in fourth grade that had a later cut off date for school entry. Because of that he was a year older then many of his classmates and fairly mature for his age. I'm not sure I realized how unhappy he was until I saw the joy in his face at college. </p>

<p>I love the study abroad idea but would suggest it for just the first semester of senior year if at all possible. The end of senior year is usually pretty sweet.</p>