Best schools to escape the drug and alcohol culture

[Anonymous]

What private high schools in this area offer the best environment for parents who want to give their DC a chance to avoid the drug and alcohol culture that some say is so pervasive in this area?

[Anonymous]

If your child wants to use drugs and drink, they will find a way. If they don't want to, they hopeful have the tools needed to deflect peer pressure. Don't kid yourself that a school environment has any effect.

[Anonymous]

you don't think? There must be some schools where less of the social activities revolve around drugs/alcohol. For someone determined to see it out, of course you can get it, but there's not a culture where a kid doesn't feel like the outsider if they would rather not drink or use drugs?

[Anonymous]

You'd think religious schools would be better, but that is not true at "progressive" religious schools, which describes most of the top religious schools in this area.

FWIW none of the elite schools seem to be drug and alcohol free, but I'd say that STA has less of problem than GDS (drugs) or Landon (alcohol).

[Anonymous]

Homeschooling

[Anonymous]

Literally no school and anyone who tells you differently is lying to you. Even if you find a school that seems to have less of a rep, your DC could find the crowd -- and there is a crowd -- that partakes. I know of kids who have used and drank at pretty much any private you can think of.

You are better off coming up with a plan rather than trying to shut this aspect of the world out. I should say, I was totally freaked out when DS "experimented" a little and was told by several professionals that its best for them to do so under your roof, so they can learn their limits before college. I now see the wisdom in it as DS decided pretty early on that it wasn't for him, it has no allure, and I have no fears about what he will do in college because he already knows what he doesn't like.

Read Lessons of a B- by Wendy Mogel.

[Anonymous]

By under your own roof I meant while living at home, not that you should be allowing this at your home.

[Anonymous]

Um...maybe a HS without teenagers?
Trouble is everywhere, private, public, charter, parochial. It's the parent's job to teach kids to avoid the trouble as best as possible.
OP, go in with your eyes open, focus on your kid, not everyone around him/her.

[Anonymous]

But some schools are worse than others. Landon parents seem proud that their sons put on a wild party that would shock STA parents.

STA parents wouldn't accept the drug use that is readily accepted among GDS students.

[Anonymous]

Washington International School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington International School.

+1 binge drinking as a rite of passage isn't a global tradition

[Anonymous]

Kids showed up drunk at a recent WIS dance and if you folks really think St. Albans boys aren't drinking you need to have your head examined. It is everywhere people. Some crowds at every school will drink less than others but all schools have it.

[Anonymous]

Look at schools with a strong sense of community - lots of family involvement. It exists everywhere, but when families are tied in, it lessens the amount and the severity of what there is at that school.

[Anonymous]

OP - there are drugs and alcohol at ALL schools. Do not allow anyone to tell you differently. It is more important for you to have an honest and open relationship with your DC than it is to attempt to shield them from any exposure. It's simply not realistic and may lead to your child lying to you about what happens. Talk to your child about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but also be sure to let them know that you will always be there for them. The worst thing a parent can do is make a child feel that they cannot talk to them about something in their life. Those types of environments can lead to some very sad and scary situations.

However, also remember that not all kids will partake in the partying. It's a strong kid who forgoes the pressure, but it can happen. It's better to work on your kids' self-esteem as a form of protection rather than hiding everything from them.

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school ncs had way less drugs than maret or gds. not sure if that is still the case. I didnt see or smell pot till high school. I'd say very few people did drugs ninth and tenth grade and junior and senior year it was maybe fifteen percent of the class. No on in my clique of ten girls did drugs. We didnt even drink on prom night.