<p>I'm a rising junior this year and I really didn't enjoy my high school last year because I felt like I wasn't challenged in my classes and I didn't like the people I was with. My high school used to be the best in the district but it has really gone down hill. We have drug busts about 1-2 times a month and I see drug deals way too often. I also can't put my backpack down or out of my sight because we have 1-3 thefts EACH DAY. I really didn't feel safe at my high school and was disappointed in the easiness of the classes.</p>
<p>I was really excited because I thought it would be different this year. I chose to participate in a dual enrollment program at the local community college. While I was disappointed to leave all of my friends at high school, I was excited because I thought the classes would be more challenging and the people there would really want to learn. However, today was my first day and I was really disappointed. I have a horrible headache from the smell of all the smokers in my class and most of my classes consist of high school drop-outs with a few parents thrown in. I barely have any homework and really don't feel like I will learn very much this year. I don't want to waste another year of high school where I am not challenged and not enjoying myself.</p>
<p>Basically, I have three options now. I can go back to my old high school and hope to get back in the AP classes. Option Two, I can stay at the community college and try to make the best of it. Option Three, I can attend the private jewish high school about 1/2 hour away. Ideally, I would love to attend the private high school but my parents really don't want me to. They don't see the point in paying for a high school farther away when the one down the street is free.</p>
<p><"CLIFF NOTES" VERSION> I'm not enjoying the dual enrollment program I'm in, and am not sure if it is worth it to pay the extra money for a private high school. Will it be too late to make new friends if I do switch to the private school (junior year)? Should I just stick it out at the dual enrollment program or transfer back to my old public high school?</p>
<p>Since I assume it would be your parents footing the bill, it's their decision, not yours, unless you can convince them otherwise.</p>
<p>Both my daughters are in a competitive magnet program in an inner city school. All of those things that you discussed goes on there, but their classes are very challenging and their teachers mostly great. IMO, I think you'll probably be better off with the APs than dual enrollment.</p>
<p>Audiophile's right, it has to be a joint decision with your parents.</p>
<p>For our family, it was a no-brainer, private school all the way. But not all private schools are better than all public schools. You should do some more research--first find out if you can get back into the AP classes at your high school. If not you may not want to go back. If you wind up at the comm college, tell the teachers there that you want more challenging or extensive work. Tell them you will be taking the AP tests for those subjects, and that you need to be prepared. YOU are the one who has to make certain you get the education you want--no one else is going to do it for you.</p>
<p>Might as well get used to it; it's the same way in college. You won't get any engraved invitations to learn as much as you can.</p>
<p>In your situation, I would seriously talk to your parents about the private high school. First, check out there academic offerings and make sure that you will get what you need. It sounds like a good option for you.</p>
<p>All good advice so far. It has to be a joint decision with your parents (assuming it's not too late to enroll in this private school?). In our case, it was also a no-brainer: my kids craved the challenges and the full schedule available in the private school they attend(ed), despite a good local public school system here. (The willingness of a strong math department to create new classes for 2 or 3 advanced students on-site was worth it to us rather than having my older son try to find the appropriate math course and transportation to a community college, for instance.) My husband and I decided it was worth it to us to find a way to finance this part of their education if they could continue to get something worthwhile out of it, and we feel they have. We have not ever regretted our decision. It is neither appropriate nor affordable for every family, though, so get your facts in order, make sure you know what you think will be best for you and why, and then call a family meeting to discuss it. Good luck.</p>
<p>Sounds like you may be in the wrong courses at the CC. Community colleges have a mission to serve those very people whose educations do not prepare them for 4 year colleges. However, they also have courses for those with good high school educations, but who do not have time to enroll full timein college. You may be in courses for the former, but belong in courses for the latter. Before you give up on the CC, make sure you are in the right courses. If you get in real college courses, it could be a terrific deal. Second choice is to go back to high school if there are good AP courses. Last choice is the private high school UNLESS your parents think it is worth it AND the school is really better than your other choices, AND parents will not count the cost against your college fund. My suggestion- give the community college another chance.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the advice so far. I have called my guidance counselor and scheduled a meeting with her for tomorrow to check and see if I can get back into the AP classes. </p>
<p>I also plan to talk to my parents tonight about the private high school. I am able to pay about 1/2 of the tuition of the private school from the money that I earned over the summer at my internship. I also am hoping that my parents and I might be able to come up with a compromise to meet both of our needs. I usually compete in taekwondo and travel 1-2 times a month nationally. If I were to stop competing in taekwondo, I might be able to use the money that would have been used to finance my traveling for tournaments towards my high school education instead. I really like the private high school because of the curriculm they provide (I would be able to take Hebrew:) and judaic studies classes) and there are a lot less students. In the average english class there are only 14 students!</p>
<p>I will also continue to attend the community college. Maybe I just need a little attitude adjustment, it is only the first day!</p>
<p>Do you already have a strong background in Hebrew? I imagine most of the kids there have been in Jewish schools since Kindergarten. Would you be at a disadvantage first starting in your Junior year?</p>
<p>Be sure you learn the difficulty of classes taught at Jewish day school. If its a small school, they might teach to the mean. You could be better off in AP classes. Also, the CC do offer some challenging courses if you get past the introductory ones. I'd suggest you do as much research as possible, with advisers from all 3 schools, before making a decision
good luck</p>
<p>Is there a counselor assigned specifically to high school students in the dual enrollment program at the community college? If so, I would go and express your concerns. It may be your schedule needs a little tweaking or that there are other options. While not all such programs work, my daughter does have a friend who has found her community college dual enrollment program very challenging and satisfying --- but she had to take a pro-active approach to line up the right courses and make friends on campus. </p>
<p>That said, there's nothing wrong with going back to your old school, or considering a private school. Just ask lots of questions and make sure to sit in on at least a day's worth of classes at the private school before you decide. Most private schools have no problem with prospective students doing that.</p>
<p>Good luck--as everyone has said there is quite a bit of research & communication that needs to occur for you to make the best choice for you. CCs do offer a range of courses and sometimes the 1st day of class is not necessarily indicative of the rest of the term. It's great that you're meeting with the counselor to go over your options.</p>
<p>My son took a Statistics course at a local college over the summer as a rising Junior. He found it a LOT less challenging than he had hoped, but OK for a summer course (he said it was the easiest class he had ever had).</p>
<p>Definitely a good idea to find out what your options are regarding AP courses at your HS as well & also learn more about the private school you're considering. There is a great range between private schools, as there among public schools. Only when you've done the research can you share the info with your folks to make the best decision in your circumstances.
Good luck!
HImom</p>