Yorktown for 9th

[Anonymous]

Can anyone share their experience, especially for boys? My kid is a little socially awkward and I’m worried the social scene might be problematic for him. On the other hand, maybe it’s a big enough school that he’ll blend in fine. Thoughts? Is there another high school that we should try to transfer to (not HB - he needs structure!)?

[Anonymous]

I mean HB is such a long shot and already passed lottery not even a thought.

Is he interested in IB or AP? Those are options for WL and WHS respectively.

I think Arlington Tech would be worth considering.

How bad is the drug problem at YHS, it seems to be in the news often?

[Anonymous]

He will be fine. The school is large enough that there’s room for all sorts of kids.

[Anonymous]

Certain stories generate more clicks. That does not mean the problem is worse at one school then any other.

[Anonymous]

Where did he go to middle school? If not HB, is the social atmosphere really that different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone share their experience, especially for boys? My kid is a little socially awkward and I’m worried the social scene might be problematic for him. On the other hand, maybe it’s a big enough school that he’ll blend in fine. Thoughts? Is there another high school that we should try to transfer to (not HB - he needs structure!)?

I'm more and more convinced each day that parents are the ones with the vast majority of anxiety on behalf of their kids, creating much of the anxiety kids (especially teens) are suffering. If it's the child who is anxious about starting high school, or changing schools, that's normal; and more often than not, they find their way and manage just fine -- if we just let them.

I share the curiosity of another poster: how has he managed so far? You don't indicate he's had severe social issues/isolation through elementary or through the worst of transitions - middle school. FWIW, just about ALL teenagers or "a little socially awkward."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone share their experience, especially for boys? My kid is a little socially awkward and I’m worried the social scene might be problematic for him. On the other hand, maybe it’s a big enough school that he’ll blend in fine. Thoughts? Is there another high school that we should try to transfer to (not HB - he needs structure!)?

I'm more and more convinced each day that parents are the ones with the vast majority of anxiety on behalf of their kids, creating much of the anxiety kids (especially teens) are suffering. If it's the child who is anxious about starting high school, or changing schools, that's normal; and more often than not, they find their way and manage just fine -- if we just let them.

I share the curiosity of another poster: how has he managed so far? You don't indicate he's had severe social issues/isolation through elementary or through the worst of transitions - middle school. FWIW, just about ALL teenagers or "a little socially awkward."

This x100!

[Anonymous]

I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

+1
Much of this is absolutely dependent upon schedules. My oldest is a junior and finally has at least one person to have lunch with on each block schedule day. Our youngest is a freshman and fortunately has someone to have lunch with, too. Still, if they don't, I would suggest seeing if there are any clubs or activities that meet during lunchtime. One of our kids chose to attend chess club in the library during lunch once in a while. That at least gives them some social interaction, whether they know any other kids or become friends with them or not.

However, some kids genuinely enjoy having some down time on their own in the middle of the day - to read, walk around, work on homework, listen to music, whatever. Just make sure that's the case for your son; otherwise, maybe encourage some extracurricular to meet more kids or see if there are any opportunities during lunch.

[Anonymous]

There seemed to be a pretty active D&D / board game club after school in the fall if that's more your kid's speed. My daughter is in 10th, participates in two sports, and is a theater kid (I might have outed her with that!) and she seems to be just fine, despite her own social awkwardness at times. She only knew a handful of kids that started with her at YHS (she was at a different middle school). Cross-country / track seem to be a very supportive group, as do theater so those are some things to think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seemed to be a pretty active D&D / board game club after school in the fall if that's more your kid's speed. My daughter is in 10th, participates in two sports, and is a theater kid (I might have outed her with that!) and she seems to be just fine, despite her own social awkwardness at times. She only knew a handful of kids that started with her at YHS (she was at a different middle school). Cross-country / track seem to be a very supportive group, as do theater so those are some things to think about.

Only throwing out CC there because even if a kid isn't into sports, they might like to run. And it is a no-cut sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

But you seem bothered by it, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

But you seem bothered by it, right?

Do I wish he had a friend to eat with everyday? Of course! Who wouldn’t want their child to have the opportunity to eat and socialize with their friends during lunch?

Am I bothered by it? Of course not!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

But you seem bothered by it, right?

I don’t know that poster from Judy and I’m bothered at the factor her kid maybe sitting alone for lunch. Are you guys this heartless in real life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grade son at YHS. He is not really into sports, and like many teens, is socially awkward. I was admittedly a bit anxious about how HS would go for him but so far, he seems to like it and hasn’t run into any problems. He is not super popular but he does have a few close friends - other kids from his middle school. I wish he had lunch with his friends every day but the way his schedule worked out, he only has lunch with friends on A days. On B days, all of his friends have a different lunch and it sounds like he mostly eats alone on those days. I wish that were not the case but he doesn’t seem bothered by it.

But you seem bothered by it, right?

I don’t know that poster from Judy and I’m bothered at the factor her kid maybe sitting alone for lunch. Are you guys this heartless in real life?

Agreed that other poster is a d*#k.