<p>I've always been against the idea of leaving high school early for community, but nearing the end of my junior year, I felt that it would be easier for me. Unfortunately, I made that decision too late and missed the window to take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) which would allow me to attend the fall semester of community college and ditch my senior year. The next window to take the exam would allow me to attend community in the spring. Would it be wise to attend community in the spring or wait until I graduate and attend the next fall like normal? </p>
<p>Why do you feel it would be easier for you? Is there a problem at your high school? Have you run out of classes to take? Are your parents or you prepared to pay for full-time community college?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that passing the CHSPE is not difficult and not proof that you are college ready. It is not a high school diploma and does not carry the same weight in the community. When you are looking for work, you’ll be competing with kids with a degree and that could hurt you.</p>
<p>Leaving high school mid-semester next year would leave you with 6 or 7 unfinished classes unless your school is on a block schedule. You’d likely not meet the requirements for some of the necessary GE’s at the CC and would have to pay to re-take a high school level class you could have finished for free. </p>
<p>That said, I can understand the need for alternative education at times. My D is in a middle college program for juniors and seniors and it’s great. She takes all but two classes at the community college. This is a public school program though and so all we pay for is books. She’ll have completed 10 GE classes by the time she graduates high school in June. You might look to see if there are any such programs in your area. In many cases, even without a program, you can take CC classes while you are still in a traditional high school without giving up your high school standing.</p>
<p>I don’t see any point of leaving high school mid senior year and moving to the CC. If it’s a matter of safety on campus… you might look into independent learning programs (often online) that would get you a degree in a shorter amount of time. I’m sure there are success stories out there… I just haven’t seen it with the path you are considering. Two of my nieces went this route… never finished school. A couple friends of my kids, either dropped CC eventually or are taking longer to get to the university than if they’d just finished high school and gone to CC in a traditional manner. It’s important to understand the reasons why you don’t want to finish high school and determine whether that feeling will resurface and make it that much easier to not finish college too.</p>