Priviate High School ?

[Disneycrazymom]

DS is in 7th grade and we just returned from our 1st High School Night. I don't really know when this child got this old but there we were so......

How did you actually choose a school?

We are very lucky to live in an area where there are MANY really good choices. Ofcourse they all have these great presentations that make school seem fun! If DS chooses he will either go where his friends go or pick the one with the best hockey team. Not that those are bad reasons to choose a school but maybe not the only reason.

I guess what I'm asking is how did you know the school would be a good fit for your child?

Thanks!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Go to the school while it's in session. Get a feel of what goes on in the halls. Talk to a variety of families who attend there. It's the best way I know to get a school.

We looked at all the printed information ranking the schools and did all the typical stuff...but it wasn't until we visited with families who attended there that we made our decision. And we were really happy with it.

Good luck!

 

[golfgal]

Go to the school while it's in session. Get a feel of what goes on in the halls. Talk to a variety of families who attend there. It's the best way I know to get a school.

We looked at all the printed information ranking the schools and did all the typical stuff...but it wasn't until we visited with families who attended there that we made our decision. And we were really happy with it.

Good luck!

This is good advice. I would also look into their test scores, graduation rates, how many kids go on to a 4 year college and more importantly WHICH colleges. That will give you a good idea of how strong the academics are. If he likes to play hockey, then yes, you want a school with a good team. Keep in mind that everyone else that loves to play hockey is looking at that school too so the competition for playing spots is going to be tough.

Personally, I would put a lot of weight on a school visit, how the kids behave, how involved are the parents, etc. It just makes for a better atmosphere.

 

[chrissyk]

I just knew which one I wanted to go to, and it turned out to be an excellent fit. I don't recall my parents influencing me tremendously on my decision...I interviewed at 2 private high schools, got admitted to both, and the choice was a no-brainer for me. I liked the size (it was the larger of the 2 schools student body-wise), the class offerings (more students=more AP course offerings), the diversity of the student body, etc.

If my future kids go to private high school, I'd help them narrow the choices based up on course selection and AP offerings, and then I'd let them make the final choice. Unfortunately, they won't likely be going to my high school, as the most recent headmaster has made some changes for the worse IMHO (she has reduced enrollment by 1/4, for one thing).

 

[froglady]

Both of my children attend(ed) private HS, and they both chose the same one. (There is enough age difference that the youngest could have gone to a different one.)

Both children chose the same school because it is church sponsored, offers NO athletic scholarships, (their other choice has produced Olympic swimmers- students come from all over the world to attend, and is much more competetive in all sports) and the students appear a bit more "snooty" at their other choice.

Both schools have 100% college attendance, and seem to produce the same % of National Merit Scholars, Ivy and first tier school attendees, and offer similar curricula. They are about the same price, although the other also has a boarding school, which would, of course, cost more.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

You are lucky to have alot of choices, we had 4 and I didnt even let ds pick out the school. I mostly listened to other parents. The top one on our list was unfortunately just too expensive. Its a boarding school but they do take day students. Since I am also on the school council of their previous school I had a pretty good idea of what the other high schools were like too so that helped alot. Good luck. Ask lots of questions. Even if you think its trivial etc.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pick the one with the best hockey team! (Make friends from there!).

Funny, my DS9.5 is a hockey player and goes to private school. Since he was three, and saw a Fairfield Prep/Notre Dame Hockey High School Team, he was hooked!

He knows to keep his academics up so he can get into one of these schools. His passion is to go to Fairfield Prep. They have a great academic history, as well as, a great hockey team.

Unfortuantely, a lot of his friends now may not be at the end of high school or in his later years.... go for the academics and good sportsmanship games, friends at this age, come easy.