<p>I could transfer to a school in my city (since I'd be a racial minority). This school has an IB program, however the rest of the school is pretty bad overall (pretty bad graduation rate and test scores). Would transferring here increase my chance of scholarship opportunities or not?</p>
<p>Colleges will consider your accomplishments in the context of your school. You don’t need to worry that going to a good school will make you look bad.
If you have the opportunity to go to a good high school, you should go. It will better prepare you for college and provide you with many more opportunities than a lower-performing school. Most people don’t have a choice on where they go, so don’t take this for granted.</p>
<p>What are you talking about? The only reason I’d have a choice is due to me being a racial minority at that school (it’s like 85% black and I’m white). It’s not like I’m going to a really nice private school. It’s a pretty average school, it’s just that the other school is pretty terrible.</p>
<p>This is an absolutely ridiculous idea. A) when you apply to a college, your school sends a school profile, which shows lots of statistics about your school so colleges can get a good idea about it. That means when you apply to a college they might see a 3/634 rank (at your new school), but they will also see that most people’s GPAs are around a 2.7-3.0. If you stay at your school and apply to college you might be 23/563, but colleges will also see that your school’s average GPA is around a 3.7. B) If your school now is better that means the college resources are also better. At this new school the GCs will likely be lower quality (since not as many people from that school are college bound), the school will have fewer college resources, and also colleges will recognize this all and will think less of your school. For example, colleges aren’t going to send (as many/such high-ranking) admission reps to the new school when they might to the old one, or possibly grades, ECS and achievements from the school will be diluted. </p>
<p>tl;dr
Colleges will know the difference between a good rank at a bad school and an OK rank at a good school. Also, a bad school is going to have fewer resources for college bound students.</p>
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<p>Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter. You still have a choice between two schools, one of which is better than the other. There’s no reason to go to the worse one.</p>
<p>To answer the OP: Yes. Your class rank probably would improve.
However, the meaning of that rank, as well as of your grades, any awards or competitions you win, and any school-related ec’s will be diluted heavily. My advice is to go to the good school; typically speaking good schools are known for good teachers, who will help you improve.</p>