Moving High Schools between 10th and 11th grade

[Anonymous]

My DC (current 10th grader) went to a non-home high school in the DCC as they were accepted into a application program there. The program has been okay for my kid and they are doing well (straight A's) but there are some issues. The school lost the extracurricular activity that is the thing my kid loves just before kid started 9th grade. The school is on the smaller side and there are a limited number of advanced (AP or equivalent) classes available. Finally, with a few notable exceptions the cohort seems not terribly motivated/ambitious about school.

Many of DC's middle school friends went to home HS which is extremely strong and DC is thinking about switching to that school. My impression is that you can always go back to your local HS, but I'm wondering if there is a special process we should go through. Should I contact the home school's counseling office?

Also, the tradeoff is that DC would go from a school where they are likely to end up towards the top of their class to a school where they would be more of your average very good student (because there are a lot of high-flyers at the home school). DC would be more challenged by both classes and classmates which would seem to be really healthy.

Does joining a HS in junior year make it super hard to find teachers who will write letters of recommendation? Should DC just sit tight where relationships and impressions have already been made?

[Anonymous]

With the DCC, the school you choose is your home school and to go to your physical home school, you will need to file a COSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the DCC, the school you choose is your home school and to go to your physical home school, you will need to file a COSA.

I think OP is saying their home school is not in the DCC.

You should contact your current counselor to get the process of transferring back started.

[Anonymous]

Reading between the lines, I think OP's child is at Kennedy Regional IB, and the cut program was theater. I have a current 10th grader who considered Kennedy, chose our home school, but found out later that despite promises there was no school play (fall or spring) at Kennedy.

If you are in the DCC, OP, you will need to do a COSA. If you are out of the DCC, I actually think it is easier.

[Anonymous]

Talk to the counselor. The lack of ap classes is a huge issue for us too. She said we could try to cosa but not sure we want to.

[Anonymous]

OP we took our kids out of Whitman after the first semester of 10th grade and moved across country where they knew no one. They are now in 12th grade, got excellent refs from their 11th grade teachers and have offers from top choice colleges.

If the school change is possible without moving 3000 miles, do it. Your kid knows people there and the courses sound more rigorous. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

OP what does your child want and do they have friends at their current school?
Are you taking them out now or in the summer?
Whatever the case it's easy. Usually the receiving school needs a day or so to get the schedule together but otherwise the switch can be done within minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading between the lines, I think OP's child is at Kennedy Regional IB, and the cut program was theater. I have a current 10th grader who considered Kennedy, chose our home school, but found out later that despite promises there was no school play (fall or spring) at Kennedy.

If you are in the DCC, OP, you will need to do a COSA. If you are out of the DCC, I actually think it is easier.

Kennedy's college acceptances were really strong this last year. Honestly, if your kid sticks it out they can write their own ticket, and the small classes, especially in 11th and 12th, were fantastic. My kid's thriving at a competitive college, six hours away from home, and well-prepared for it.

Re: the theater program, I'll report what I saw when my kid was in it.

I saw one teacher running ragged to organize the entire thing, a lot of parents here complaining about her, not offering to help, and not attending any of of the school events.

Look, high school's ultimately what your kid and your family make of it. Kennedy's not Blair, but there's some strengths that come with that too. Your kid won't be 1 out of 3300 in a school where 400 students apply to UMD CP. Kennedy students make their own stuff, it's not handed to them. And school wise, at least for our kid, it was exactly what was needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading between the lines, I think OP's child is at Kennedy Regional IB, and the cut program was theater. I have a current 10th grader who considered Kennedy, chose our home school, but found out later that despite promises there was no school play (fall or spring) at Kennedy.

If you are in the DCC, OP, you will need to do a COSA. If you are out of the DCC, I actually think it is easier.

Kennedy's college acceptances were really strong this last year. Honestly, if your kid sticks it out they can write their own ticket, and the small classes, especially in 11th and 12th, were fantastic. My kid's thriving at a competitive college, six hours away from home, and well-prepared for it.

Re: the theater program, I'll report what I saw when my kid was in it.

I saw one teacher running ragged to organize the entire thing, a lot of parents here complaining about her, not offering to help, and not attending any of of the school events.

Look, high school's ultimately what your kid and your family make of it. Kennedy's not Blair, but there's some strengths that come with that too. Your kid won't be 1 out of 3300 in a school where 400 students apply to UMD CP. Kennedy students make their own stuff, it's not handed to them. And school wise, at least for our kid, it was exactly what was needed.

This was my big concern when applying for HS's. There are some private theater groups as another option instead of transferring.

We were considering this but already too many activities. https://www.strathmore.org/community-education/our-partners/young-artists-of-america/