Anonymous wrote:OP here - DC has not been diagnosed with ADHD. As per psychiatrist and therapist, dc is learning and should adjust to connect to the emotion that leads to impulsive behavior so that it will help in controlling impulsiveness. As per them, though there will be challenges but the socialization and benefits to dc's development is critical to gain to deal with real world challenges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS is very different from college. I am not sure it's going to help that much. I would keep him at the online school.

I agree with this. Nothing about a senior year in a public high school is "preparation" for college.

In this case, the preparation here is reintegrating with peers and being able to resist bad influences. College is going to be a whole new set of opportunities to make poor choices. If OP’s son can’t manage a return to in person as a senior, I’d be really concerned about sending him to college with no supervision.

OP - has your son retained contact with the “bad influences”? What about friends from the neighborhood and in elementary and middle school? It sounds like your son went to high school as a freshman in the 2021-22 school year. That year was crazy, coming back after the virtual year where far too many kids had been unsupervised for a year. That wasn’t a school specific issue. But it’s been two years and those other kids have also changed or may no longer be there. Even if they are there, it’s unlikely that they would specifically be interested in your son as long as he isn’t specifically seeking them out.

I think you should listen to the therapist and have your son return to his original high school. This will let him reconnect with kids he had positive relationships with and demonstrate his new self to them, if he wishes. Whether or not he really makes new friends, at least it lets him have closure by going back. But most likely he will discover that everyone has changed and he will make a new group of friends.

-HS teacher

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you. I can apply for COSA. I understand all public high schools have drug issues. But, is there less in any of the other public high school?

Anonymous wrote:Could you ask for a COSA to a different school, in hopes that he develops a new peer group?

Alternately, could he dual enroll at MC and take classes there?

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you. I can apply for COSA. I understand all public high schools have drug issues. But, is there less in any of the other public high school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you. I can apply for COSA. I understand all public high schools have drug issues. But, is there less in any of the other public high school?

No, there's not really any specific school that is going to have fewer drug users than another, and I would have guessed that Churchill has less than average. Your son is going to have to remain vigilant and seek out positive influences, but at least it will be a little bit harder to find the drug users if he doesn't already know who they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS is very different from college. I am not sure it's going to help that much. I would keep him at the online school.

I agree with this. Nothing about a senior year in a public high school is "preparation" for college.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you. I can apply for COSA. I understand all public high schools have drug issues. But, is there less in any of the other public high school?

Anonymous wrote:DC was in churchill in freshman year and had substance abuse issues due to getting involved with bad influence friends group. When diagnosed, had generalized anxiety disorder and take meds and do therapy. Completed sophomore and junior years thru online school with very good grades. Was not in touch with any of the wrong group of friends. Therapist wants dc to go back to public school for senior year as a prep for the college. DC says their mindset has changed and won't want to connect with bad influence friends. Not sure if going back to the same environment will make dc relapse as dc is impulsive, is very loyal to friends and and only thinks of the consequences after the damage is done. Then, dc truly regrets it. Has churchill become better or worse in terms of strict measures for drug usage, going out of school during school hours,etc. School counselor says it is up to DC and cannot be making constant checks on DC. What checks can be done by the parent at school? Not sure if need to take a chance and send back to the same environment or continue with online school for last year of school. Cannot afford private school.