@buuzn03 it would be easier to not have to make a decision. You can talk yourself into or out of almost any school.
Where does your son play - Dallas Jr Stars?
@Korab1 no kidding! I’m very good at analyzing to the point of utter indecision!
He plays for a local team but in the Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League-although he made the AAA spring training for the Dallas Stars Elite, there’s no way to get him to practice multiple times per week. (350 miles one way), hence his decision for New England BS–high level hockey combined with high level education. And we weren’t going to ditch our jobs & move the entire family to Dallas just for him.
@HMom16 In most cases it has worked out. I think that 8th grade kids sometimes have a difficult time imagining themselves as Juniors/Seniors and therefore might opt for the more immediately comfortable option. As parents, we can provide insight into the “long view” and recognize that there is a lot of room for growth.
We had the opposite situation as GMCdaughter chose the more challenging option both academically & geographically (she went to Cate from the east coast). She was confident that she could handle it so we let her go, and she has had a transformational experience. We would not have pushed her to go, largely because of the distance, if she hadn’t wanted to. So definitely every situation is different.
I think, too, it depends on the kid…we all know our children pretty well…one of mine, I may be more apt to go with the “higher-ranked”, more rigorous school if everything else was pretty equal and there was some ambivalence, but the other I may shy away just due to their completely different personalities and response to stress. Again, go with the gut…it won’t steer you wrong!