What files to toss after HS graduation?

Parent Cafe
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<p>So...I have not only the usual amount of STUFF - all the flotsam and jetsam and detrius that has floated into my home over the years, in the form of papers and stuff, from her schooling, but have lots of extra stuff from all the extra EC's and just generally what other people have but probably more than the average kid because...well, busy. Actually I think most CC parents and kids are probably about like me and also above average just in papers and records generated as this is a self selected, highly motivated group and had we not gone through the college search we did we'd have needed much less CRAP. </p>

<p>Although, even the most laid back kid who knew all along he was just going to local community college for the first year and didn't have that many EC's is still going to have a lot of stuff. It's pretty universal.</p>

<p>Do we need to keep any of this? Old ACT scores, SAT scores, letters from schools we didn't choose, her report cards, certificates of this and that - her NMS papers, all those silly tests that the school does over the years and sends results back.</p>

<p>Do we need any of this? If so how long do we need to keep it?</p>

<p>And while I am on the subject - my son, who graduated high school in 2004 good heavens, had ADD so he was under an IEP and I kept all of that documentation - his testing, the yearly meeting IEP planning papers...I didn't know if he would need any of it for college. He went a couple semesters and then took a very long break :D haha but is going back now and doing pretty well - it is a false assumption that everyone outgrows ADD and I didn't know if he would but he seems to have grown into it at any rate and I doubt they would go along with modifications at this point even if he needed them, which he seems not to now.</p>

<p>So do I keep all that on him, including copies of his medical records?</p>

<p>Or should I just have a massive cleanout of ALL that stuff on them both??</p>

<p>Please help this nervous packrat who needs the space but doesn't know what to keep and what not to! Normal "how to organize" tips don't really address this specialized education related paperwork in much detail.</p>

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<p>My advice is only my 2 cents worth.</p>

<p>I am keeping all of the kids’ school standardized tests, report cards, awards, certificates, essays and papers they’ve written. All homework type papers are tossed. I’ve also kept at least a few pieces of artwork from each early year in school as well as a few writing samples for them to enjoy when they are older.</p>

<p>As for your son’s medical documentation, I would probably keep that. It tells the story of his medical/IEP history. He may never need it in the future, but he may want to look through it when he’s older - and then he can decide to pitch it or keep it.</p>

<p>You could also have your kids go through all the papers with you and see if you agree on what to keep or toss. My S always wanted to keep every piece of paper he ever touched relating to anything (school, drawing, doodling, little notes). My D would throw out every piece of paper she ever touched relating to school.</p>

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<p>I don’t think you can ever tell what you will value years down the road. Assuming it’s not more than a reasonably sized box, I would keep this type of stuff. My mom kept a huge amount of my old school stuff. When she passed away I tossed most of it. Lately, I’ve become nostalgic and wished I didn’t.</p>

<p>If there’s even a slight chance anybody would like to look at this stuff later I’d save it. If only to prove to the grandkids that mommy or daddy was a good student.</p>

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<p>I would scan the important papers and store online in case they want them later.</p>

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<p>I would never have kept my essays, though it appears my mother did. When we were cleaning out her basement when she moved, I found several English papers. It was nice to see how much my writing style has changed, and it was also wonderful to show the family how difficult my course work was at a tiny little rural school.</p>