Ending formal education after sophomore year of high school?

[Anonymous]

I would not go the GED route since many folks think of the GED as a test for someone who has failed highschool and therefore it has negative connotations. Instead go the homeschool route and search the Well Trained MInd for how to go about giving your kid credentials such as AP and SAT subject exams or college courses in addition to your own homeschool diploma.

[Anonymous]

What about someplace like The Fairhaven School without a structured curriculum but at least the expectation of getting up and doing something every day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the upcoming sophomore year of private high school may be the last one I pay for for my free spirit DS. Then I may turn him loose to get a GRE when he feels like it. We live in DC. Will the DC bureaucrats leave me alone if I do that or will they threaten to put me in jail if I don't try to get him into a junior year?

Are you serious or are you a troll?

What was the point of paying all those years of private school tuition and cut a CHILD loose at 16?

[Anonymous]

There is no way that OP is real. No way.

[Anonymous]

Parkmont School in DC might be worth considering: they have a robust internship program that send kids out into the world every Friday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. That is what I was afraid of.

Is there any way to enroll your DC in a community college? He will still be in school, but will be able to explore more of what interests him. Art, film making , science, horticulture, healthcare....

It's also cheap.

[Anonymous]

This sounds ill-advised, sorry. set your child loose after HS if you want, but have him finish HS.

[Anonymous]

Is your "free spirit" bored with school or disengaged from school? Either way, what should happen is a change of school or program, rather than an end to formal school. Consider applying to Emerson Prep, Parkmont, or Fairhaven. Look into early college classes through your current school.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I have no idea if OP is a troll, but I most certainly am not and this topic is one I've been thinking about generally for our DS who is 12.

1. he intensely dislikes attending school (at a NWDC independent) because it is slow-paced and monotonous and confining. I can see his point

2. he is intensely curious in a broad array of subjects ranging from 19th century art to building a better 3D printer that can mimic live human tissue better than current technology allows

3. He is strange and has never found his tribe among his same-age peers, after 9 years of exposure, but he LOVES adults and they tend to like him back.

I wonder: why can't he "homeschool" at around ~ 15 y.o. with a sampling of live subject matter tutors (calc), online national classes for the "mandatory" subjects (English composition?) and ... travel? independent research internships like the kids get at Montgomery Blair? and as PP said, college classes to round out the week.

Look, DS has been asking already and if this continues into HS, I'm going to consider seriously letting him "drop out" and go alternative. He'll learn and accomplish more, not less, of this I have no doubt. The only thing that gives me pause is how top engineering departments, say, might view this alternate path when they do get his application at age 20 (vs. 18).

-- not a troll, really




4. he

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a great idea. No doubt Walmart can always use another shelf stocker.

[Anonymous]

I knew a girl who went to the best private school in Cincinnati who left after sophomore year and then finished h.s. online by teaching herself the classes. She did great and has since earned a master's degree. Maybe research online h.s.

[Anonymous]

If you could get him into SWW (DC Public), he could take classes at GW for free (starting junior year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I have no idea if OP is a troll, but I most certainly am not and this topic is one I've been thinking about generally for our DS who is 12.

1. he intensely dislikes attending school (at a NWDC independent) because it is slow-paced and monotonous and confining. I can see his point

2. he is intensely curious in a broad array of subjects ranging from 19th century art to building a better 3D printer that can mimic live human tissue better than current technology allows

3. He is strange and has never found his tribe among his same-age peers, after 9 years of exposure, but he LOVES adults and they tend to like him back.

I wonder: why can't he "homeschool" at around ~ 15 y.o. with a sampling of live subject matter tutors (calc), online national classes for the "mandatory" subjects (English composition?) and ... travel? independent research internships like the kids get at Montgomery Blair? and as PP said, college classes to round out the week.

Look, DS has been asking already and if this continues into HS, I'm going to consider seriously letting him "drop out" and go alternative. He'll learn and accomplish more, not less, of this I have no doubt. The only thing that gives me pause is how top engineering departments, say, might view this alternate path when they do get his application at age 20 (vs. 18).

-- not a troll, really




4. he

Both of my kids will probably skip the last two years of high school and start college early, either at a community college or a residential school that admits students after their sophomore year. The last two years of college are a waste of time, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I have no idea if OP is a troll, but I most certainly am not and this topic is one I've been thinking about generally for our DS who is 12.

1. he intensely dislikes attending school (at a NWDC independent) because it is slow-paced and monotonous and confining. I can see his point

2. he is intensely curious in a broad array of subjects ranging from 19th century art to building a better 3D printer that can mimic live human tissue better than current technology allows

3. He is strange and has never found his tribe among his same-age peers, after 9 years of exposure, but he LOVES adults and they tend to like him back.

I wonder: why can't he "homeschool" at around ~ 15 y.o. with a sampling of live subject matter tutors (calc), online national classes for the "mandatory" subjects (English composition?) and ... travel? independent research internships like the kids get at Montgomery Blair? and as PP said, college classes to round out the week.

Look, DS has been asking already and if this continues into HS, I'm going to consider seriously letting him "drop out" and go alternative. He'll learn and accomplish more, not less, of this I have no doubt. The only thing that gives me pause is how top engineering departments, say, might view this alternate path when they do get his application at age 20 (vs. 18).

-- not a troll, really




4. he

Both of my kids will probably skip the last two years of high school and start college early, either at a community college or a residential school that admits students after their sophomore year. The last two years of college are a waste of time, IMHO.

PP here with the 12 y.o. DS. Can you elaborate on any residential schools you know that admit high schoolers? I doubt we'd go this route -- not enough supports and I never claimed DS was preternaturally mature -- but I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I have no idea if OP is a troll, but I most certainly am not and this topic is one I've been thinking about generally for our DS who is 12.

1. he intensely dislikes attending school (at a NWDC independent) because it is slow-paced and monotonous and confining. I can see his point

2. he is intensely curious in a broad array of subjects ranging from 19th century art to building a better 3D printer that can mimic live human tissue better than current technology allows

3. He is strange and has never found his tribe among his same-age peers, after 9 years of exposure, but he LOVES adults and they tend to like him back.

I wonder: why can't he "homeschool" at around ~ 15 y.o. with a sampling of live subject matter tutors (calc), online national classes for the "mandatory" subjects (English composition?) and ... travel? independent research internships like the kids get at Montgomery Blair? and as PP said, college classes to round out the week.

Look, DS has been asking already and if this continues into HS, I'm going to consider seriously letting him "drop out" and go alternative. He'll learn and accomplish more, not less, of this I have no doubt. The only thing that gives me pause is how top engineering departments, say, might view this alternate path when they do get his application at age 20 (vs. 18).

-- not a troll, really

If moving is an option, sounds like TJ or Blair would be better options. I know lots of Blair magnet kids and they sound like your kid's tribe. Plus the magnet teachers often support kids who want to do their own thing (if they have time after all the schoolwork, that is).