Reply to My New Favorite Anger at APS: XXL WL

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If your kid HAD gotten into HB, we would find you on this board next year complaining that the school had been way oversold, that there were not enough course offerings and what there was wasn't diverse enough, your kid was wandering off unsupervised to 7-11 in the middle of the day, there were not enough good clubs, and the school didn't offer IB, and that busing your kid to other schools to try to make their sports teams is unreasonable and time consuming.  You don't seem like the kind of person to complain about inadequate diversity, but if you were you would complain about that, too.

WL may be a big school but it does offer a lot of things that HB doesn't have, including the larger curriculum and more chances to find your special niche.

You seem determined to view the glass as half empty though so I'm sure no one will change your mind about anything.  At least consider how your attitude may be rubbing off on your kid.  You seem delightful.[/quote]

OP sounds more delightful than you.  At least they're coming from a position of knowing their child and what they believe would be potential causes for concern and what may likely be better for their optimum success.

Nevertheless, OP, we very much wanted our now freshman to get into HB for similar reasons. We felt the small environment and the way HB is set-up would be much better for our child socially.  Having been very isolated throughout middle school and withdrawing into herself more each year, no social circle outside of the classroom including lunch, we really wanted the HB environment and community for her.  She also would have been really cool with calling teachers by their first name and the greater independence in creating her academic program.

However, she didn't get in and she is doing just fine at Wakefield. (Yes, still smaller than the expanded WL but once you get to 2000, it's still very large and can be very overwhelming for a lot of kids, especially introverted, shy, or anxious kids). Participating in marching band was key and provided the initial small, structured environment HB would have offered to get to know other kids and get familiar with the building and facilities before school even started.  She was definitely more engaged and had a very good start to high school. We'll see what next year brings when she may not have any of the same kids in her classes. But something like band really provides a "home base" and an anchor for them.  If your kid can choose something like that to start off high school with, and makes a point of talking with his teachers if he needs help or has questions, chances are he'll manage his way through just fine.  And, you may be surprised by how much he grows and his personality blossoms during these years.[/quote]

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