Anonymous wrote:The problems are going to be more social/peer group than academic. Is the area low income? What sorts of jobs do the other parents have? Are they involved in the community/school? Are there good extra curriculars?

Agree and disagree. Yes to the social problems. But if you have an average child or slightly above average child, they will not receive adequate education. Low income “bad” schools have too many kids below grade level or in many cases, far below grade level. Sometimes, the district will have opportunities in place for the highly accelerated/gifted kids, but the average kids are the ones that suffer and get nothing out of school

The problems are going to be more social/peer group than academic. Is the area low income? What sorts of jobs do the other parents have? Are they involved in the community/school? Are there good extra curriculars?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who think that a “decent college” is the only path for some students are very mistaken

Anyone who puts down a trade school is going to be eating their words the minute they need their car repaired or toilet fixed.

Welders? They make so much money without the mountain of debt.

Until they are physically injured and cannot work. But yeah, definitely default to jobs that require you to toil with your hands as opposed to using your brain.

Ah another DCUM harpie who puts down working with your hands and assumes those who do have no brains.

Seems to me the ones without brains are the ones who leave school with massive amounts of debt.

Most trades are incredibly hard on a person physically. Have you ever met a plumber over 40? Their backs and knees are shot. Mechanics, framers, masonry...all of them beat a person up. Electricians might be the exception or welders if they protect their lungs. The pay might be great in the trades, but only for a very limited amount of time. Then there are years with no income, plus medical bills.

Anonymous wrote:Totally depends on the person. More sensitive and sweet - better school more important. One kid I have needs a really nice environment on the social front and top teachers academically to support him. My other kid could go to a ghetto school and come out shiny and new. She's just self motivated smart and tough. Truly, not every personality is going to need the same environment. Also, cream rises to the top as my old boss used to say. You are who you are and no matter what, you'll find a way that works for you regardless of environment when you get to a certain age.

+100. If a child needs so much parental shielding to artificially drive them away from bad influences and force them down a studious path, then you'll be in for quite a surprise the day they set out on their own after HS and discover the real world.

Have heard quite a few experiences of kids who got into their reach college due to incessant tutoring and test prep during HS, then they fail out during freshman year.

Anonymous wrote:It’s the peer group that matters the most as they have the most influence during middle school and high school…Who do you want their peer group to be? If they hang out with kids who aren’t interested in college, and go to community college instead, are you okay with that? Or do you feel you have a strong enough influence on them that you can keep them on a path to a decent college?

and most any HS school has a sufficiently large high-performing cohort so little to no impact at that level

Keep your kids away from the "the element," especially if you're kids are black (too)!!!