Hunting for a high school
It’s September, and my daughter is starting Grade 5.
I’m leafing through a messy folder that’s overflowing with high school open house pamphlets. It’s official: the hunt for the perfect high school is on!
One of my childhood friends—an open house veteran—told me she would miss this fall ritual now that her youngest is going to a private high school.
There are so many programs and extracurricular activities out there! One high school has an incredible pool, another has a gorgeous library . . . Every time I walk into an open house, I wish it were me starting high school all over again!
Get a head start
My daughter doesn’t share my friend’s enthusiasm.
For some the hunt is exciting, but others find it stressful.
In my daughter’s case, it means worrying about the transition to high school two years early.
She’s already anxious about not getting into the best schools.
Plus, she knows that she won’t be going to private school with her friend, because her parents prefer sending her to a public school.
Visiting high schools can be an anxiety-provoking experience. So, what’s the benefit of starting your search so early? This time next year, our children will be writing entrance exams for private schools and public schools with specialized curriculums. You may need to make some preliminary decisions to ensure that your kids are registered on time and prepared for any necessary exams.
Make a choice, whether it’s private or public
A few years ago, not all parents had the luxury of picking their child’s high school. Today, it’s a much more level playing field. Public schools now offer specialized curriculums, such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Sport-Études programs and others that focus on intensive musical training, alternative education, or global health.
Even “normal” schools have joined in, offering different educational profiles and personal development options like hockey, outdoor education, science and technology, dance, arts, and music.
While these aren’t official programs, they do encourage young people to stay in school by offering new takes on traditional courses and extracurricular activities.
Tune out other parents
Choosing a high school is stressful for parents, too.
Everybody wants to put in their two cents! From experience, I suggest that you follow these guidelines:
- Ignore the opinions of other parents
- Stick to your budget
- Consider your child’s personality
The high school we chose for our eldest daughter was a perfect fit, but it might not be the best choice for our youngest. Some children learn better within the structured environment of a private school, whereas others thrive in public school.
If we had allowed our eldest to choose her high school, she might have opted for the one with the most modern facilities—or the one that held draws for an iPod Touch at their open houses!
Instead, we sat down with her and discussed her interests, personality, and ideal level of academic support, as well as our family values. We also went over the programs and extracurricular activities available.
Her input helped guide our decision, but as her parents, we still had the final say.