Thing I wished I probed at HS Open House ....

[Anonymous]

My 12th grader is at a private Catholic School in the area.
I made a bunch of assumptions of the experience based on my older child's HS experience - but times have changed.

I am not happy with the current leadership of the school - so some may say this is sour grapes. But I feel like there are elements that are not aligned with standards around other similar schools and want to support other parents as they work through their decision making.

Ask -
if a child has a free period (1st or last) what are the expectations? school policy changed and my child now has more than 2 hours after their last academic class but can not leave school. students are supposed to be at school every day when the school day starts regardless of if they have a 1st period class
Ask explicitly - what is available for students during their free period associated with block scheduling. When they say meet with teachers ask - are teachers teaching at that time?
Monitoring dress code through security cameras - it is one thing if a teacher/admin "catches" you - but to enforce dress code violations through security footage is ridiculous.
Are all students provided the same access and support of the school for college? Do all students get 2 teacher recommendations or only select students unless you petition for an exception?
What % of students have a class they are waitlisted for each year? How does the school pivot when there is more demand for a core science class than space?

[Anonymous]

Some of these questions would get you red flagged at an open house...

"Do you monitor security footage to look for dress code violations?"

"Do you let seniors leave at noon if they decide they want to take an extremely light load of academic coursework?"

WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of these questions would get you red flagged at an open house...

"Do you monitor security footage to look for dress code violations?"

"Do you let seniors leave at noon if they decide they want to take an extremely light load of academic coursework?"

WTF?

NP, but if this is really happening, I would be alarmed as an applicant. That's truly insane.

[Anonymous]

I have to assume the senior privilege to leave school early or arrive late if you have a study hall for first or last period was being abused in some way if it used to exist and has now been removed.

I also can’t imagine making that a factor in deciding what school to attend.

[Anonymous]

What kind of dress code violations are flagrant enough to be seen on security cameras footage?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like SJC or GC

[Anonymous]

I often ask the student tour guides about whether they've ever been waitlisted for a class or couldn't get into a class they wanted. That seems an important consideration. From what we've heard it seems to be more of an issue at the catholic high schools than the independent ones we've visited. I also ask about whether every class in their catalog is offered every year or if some alternate or are only if there is sufficient demand.

OP's other comments about dress code and senior free periods are not something I would ask about because they're not something that would impact what school we choose. I accept that no school is perfect and I'm sure we will complain about something where my kid ends up. I welcome a school that actually enforces their dress code. We enforce it in our house but kids complain that other families don't and the school doesn't seem to care.

[Anonymous]

Just name the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of dress code violations are flagrant enough to be seen on security cameras footage?

I can think of a few but it sounds like if this is how they are catching kids, that is a red flag. It doesn't sound like OP is asking for this surveillance and after the fact punishment.

[Anonymous]

These aren't the kinds of things I'd expect would affect my choice of school.

[Anonymous]

OP what school is differentiating between whether a student is entitled to two letters of recommendation vs one? How do they make this decision? Only school I can think of is SJC which has a separate college counseling team for their scholars program. Either way, doesn't seem like a good policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP what school is differentiating between whether a student is entitled to two letters of recommendation vs one? How do they make this decision? Only school I can think of is SJC which has a separate college counseling team for their scholars program. Either way, doesn't seem like a good policy.

I've never heard of a parent complain about this at SJC. Had kids go through scholars and non-scholars. None of them had issues getting into college.

[Anonymous]

This isn't something for open house, but, when you are looking at private schools you need to map out your kid's 4-year plan based on the school's requirements. Just because they offer fun electives and tons of APs doesn't mean your kid will have room in their schedule to take them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP what school is differentiating between whether a student is entitled to two letters of recommendation vs one? How do they make this decision? Only school I can think of is SJC which has a separate college counseling team for their scholars program. Either way, doesn't seem like a good policy.

I've never heard of a parent complain about this at SJC. Had kids go through scholars and non-scholars. None of them had issues getting into college.

Did your non-scholars kid get two letters of recommendation? Asking because I have a kid interested in SJC and I don't think they will be eligible for scholars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just name the school.

Yes. Name the school, please.