Alternative HS: Fusion v Templeton v Nora

[Anonymous]

DC has suffered from deep anxiety and depression, been through hospitalizations and residential treatment. Cannot tolerate the bullying at DC high school. DC seems to be in a better place right now as DC is about to return home for senior year. We are just starting process of looking for alternative high schools. We did not know whether DC would be ready; they have had a lot of toxic relationships and have had serious challenges with friends in the area. We have started to look at some of the alternative high schools, and Fusion, Templeton, and Nora come up frequently. (Fair Haven and Commonwealth are possible, but they are far away from us.) We have read some of the very good threads on these schools. We are thinking also of working with an educational consultant to help guide us through the process. We would appreciate any of your thoughts on comparing the programs at these schools.

[Anonymous]

I only have experience with Nora, but have been super impressed.

[Anonymous]

We know someone with anxiety who left a large public HS for Templeton and they are very happy.

[Anonymous]

Have you spoken with the admissions people at Templeton and Nora? I found them very helpful in guiding whether or not their schools would be a good fit for our similarly complex situation. If your DC is home before the end of the school year, you can do a shadow day which my DC found very helpful. I don’t have experience with Fusion, although if we could have afforded it, I might have gone in that direction just to get the diploma and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you spoken with the admissions people at Templeton and Nora? I found them very helpful in guiding whether or not their schools would be a good fit for our similarly complex situation. If your DC is home before the end of the school year, you can do a shadow day which my DC found very helpful. I don’t have experience with Fusion, although if we could have afforded it, I might have gone in that direction just to get the diploma and move on.

Agree with speaking to admissions and Templeton and Nora. They do a really good job of being both realistic and positive and kind in discussing the specifics of a child’s situation and whether they’d be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you spoken with the admissions people at Templeton and Nora? I found them very helpful in guiding whether or not their schools would be a good fit for our similarly complex situation. If your DC is home before the end of the school year, you can do a shadow day which my DC found very helpful. I don’t have experience with Fusion, although if we could have afforded it, I might have gone in that direction just to get the diploma and move on.

We are trying to get appointments with admission. Why would have you gone with Fusion if you could have afforded it. Some of the threads on Fusion have been critical of their approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you spoken with the admissions people at Templeton and Nora? I found them very helpful in guiding whether or not their schools would be a good fit for our similarly complex situation. If your DC is home before the end of the school year, you can do a shadow day which my DC found very helpful. I don’t have experience with Fusion, although if we could have afforded it, I might have gone in that direction just to get the diploma and move on.

We are trying to get appointments with admission. Why would have you gone with Fusion if you could have afforded it. Some of the threads on Fusion have been critical of their approach.

My DC had several mental health admissions in the years we were at one of those two schools. I won’t say which to keep anonymity. They were very supportive but my DC missed so much school (that you continue to pay for, like any private school) that DC was going to have to repeat a year. We had not budgeted for 5 or more years of tuition for high school. Also a part time schedule ultimately worked better for DC’s mental health so the Fusion model would have fit that need. It’s just so expensive per class. We went the homeschool route and used online classes, homeschool co-ops and community college courses to finish.

[Anonymous]

Would McLean or Burke perhaps be a fit.
You could also try to do community college classes at least for the last two years of high school. Best of luck

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth is really accepting and supportive. I know you said the commute was bad but if in any realm of doing might be north reaching out.

[Anonymous]

I know a couple of families that have been very happy with Fusion. I'm not familiar with the other two. Best wishes to your DC.

[Anonymous]

My child is very happy at Nora. The teachers are excellent at building relationships with students and understanding the balance of pushing and accommodating students with disabilities. If you leave a dummy email address, I'd be happy to talk more details off line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would McLean or Burke perhaps be a fit.
You could also try to do community college classes at least for the last two years of high school. Best of luck [/quote

Burke would absolutely not take a child with that profile. They are very blunt about not having the capacity to deal with mental health issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would McLean or Burke perhaps be a fit.
You could also try to do community college classes at least for the last two years of high school. Best of luck [/quote

Burke would absolutely not take a child with that profile. They are very blunt about not having the capacity to deal with mental health issues.

OP. That is helpful as Burke was also on our list as is Lab, but we are thinking that an alternative hs may be a better fit. What we are trying to figure out is the differences between these schools, because they are all alternative high schools, but appear to have different profiles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is very happy at Nora. The teachers are excellent at building relationships with students and understanding the balance of pushing and accommodating students with disabilities. If you leave a dummy email address, I'd be happy to talk more details off line.

I am not sure why but Nora seems to be a good fit. I am thinking that taking a tour of the school with my child would be a good move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is very happy at Nora. The teachers are excellent at building relationships with students and understanding the balance of pushing and accommodating students with disabilities. If you leave a dummy email address, I'd be happy to talk more details off line.

I am not sure why but Nora seems to be a good fit. I am thinking that taking a tour of the school with my child would be a good move.

Nora is a lovely community for this type of kid. Definitely do a tour.