Reply to My kid is considering dropping out of TJ and taking the GED

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Reply to "My kid is considering dropping out of TJ and taking the GED"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]At student exchange program? Would she want to go international? [/quote]

That sounds like a good option for junior year. Finish up senior year at TJ. 
[/quote]

TJ parent here -- you can't do that at TJ[/quote]

Even if you could, it doesn't sound like a good idea if the kid is burned out, hates the environment and is pleading to get out. The burn-out in this case sounds bad enough that the child doesn't even want to go back to the base school. It's actually a good thing that she is "symptomatic" and expressing how she feels, rather than bottling everything up to give the illusion of control.[/quote]

OP here with an update of sorts.

First, I want to make it clear -- I'm not pushing DD to stay at TJ. I would be elated if she went back to the base, but she's resistant and there are some complicating factors in getting her TJ coursework to map back to the traditional high school requirements. It's do-able, but it is complicated. Plus, she's basically made it clear that it's the structure of high school on top of TJ that is making her want to just get her GED and move on.

Second, I found a few online high schools. One thought we are thinking through is whether she can finish via distance education.

The third and most promising thing is the Mary Baldwin idea, but that requires another year of high school and we're back to square one.

One thing that made me furious about the whole process is how meh TJ guidance and admin have been. Our base school guidance people really stepped up and gave us a ton of information, including sketching out a path that could have DD return to the base and complete the IB program (that is getting some traction at least with her).[/quote]

OP— I have a sophomore and posted a long response upthread.  I would strongly, strongly encourage you not to give up based on a meh Admin and guidance experience.  The student services head is terrible and seems to think that his entire purpose in life is to say no.  So avoid him. But the guidance counselors have always been great about having a we all share all the kids attitude. If your kid’s guidance counselor is a dud or a bad match, you are not stuck with them on this. I would ask your daughter to pick a different guidance counselor and talk to them. And if it goes well, make an appointment with that guidance counselor and go talk to them face to face.  I know Mr. Burke is an amazing above and beyond guy, and the kids love him. My kid has Ms. Martinez, who was new last year. So, shelacks some TJ institutional knowledge. But she makes up for it in moving heaven and Earth to help my kid.  He is under a 504 and we have hit some bumps with getting teachers to honor it and implement it properly.  I now cc her on all my correspondence, and she always tracks down solutions within 48 hours.  Someone in guidance will be a good match.  And they will sort down with you and help you realistically weigh your options, even if they are not your child’s official counselor.  Another place to start might be Ms. Knopf in the college and career center. She can help look at internships, early college options, gap year options, etc.— and then hook you up with a counselor who is a better fit. [/quote]

I'm sure you mean well but I think this is terrible advice. It's clear that an environment like TJ with its share of "I did so poorly; only got a 95" and "this is TJ, not the base school" attitudes can utterly distort perspective and be emotionally devastating for some students who are more emotionally fragile or less resilient, even if they're doing very well themselves, because perfectionism can take its toll. A 504 may do the trick for your child, but it may not for another student.[/quote]

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