Advice Needed for Going from Small Private School to Public School

My sons went to a Catholic high school and then transferred to a public high school. (1st one in his Senior yr and 2nd in his Sophomore year) Thought that the catholic school gave them a leg up on their studies, smaller class sizes, etc. But the problems still existed with drugs, and kids with too much money (driving new jaguars and hummers to school!) Glad we transferred them,but you have to know WHAT school district you are getting into. We were lucky. I would think the smaller school would better, but again, it's all academic if you are going into a school that your kids will like.

Not sure what you mean by style of schooling but my son started in Private christian School, then we home schooled and then he attended public high school for the sports. I found that he received a better foundation in the Christian School and are home schooling then he ever did at Public High School. Public high school was some what a joke at times. Yes, he got what he needed but I could have done just as good if not better at home.
Every school district is different but things I saw at our local high school could make your really think twice about sending your boys to public high school.
Another thing to think about is your boys ready for the peer pressure that comes with going to public high school. My husband and I were very luck that our son was deeply rooted in his Christian faith and went in to high school with the idea I am here to play sports, sing in the choir and get my last 4 years of school. He was not, and still is not, a guy who needs anyone approval. In other words he is not a follower of the treads, he does things his own way and if you don't like it then you don't need to talk to me. Of course being 6'2" and 200 lbs, did not hurt. He never fell to the pressure of having to date or smoke or do drugs. He just went about his own business and graduated in 2008 with lots of friends but as he looks back he will still say I only went to high school to play sports, sing in the choir and get my diploma.
So consider the facts is your sons ready for the jump from 10 or 15 in a class to 40 or 50 in a class. are they ready to go where they have never gone before. If so it is easy to transfer into district school, just go sign them up and have their transcripts sent from the private school they are at now to the district schools.

God Bless,
S.

Going from a small private scenario to a larger public environment, can be a daunting change. If they have a few close friends in your locale from their previous school I would encourage keeping up with them. It keeps a few things "familiar" and also another person their age that they can talk to! Sometimes just the act of telling their friends about their "new" school is what they need to keep things in perspective. Kids are so resilient! But, especially boys can keep things inside, until they no longer know how to manage their emotions. Be interested in their new quest, ask questions. Yes, they are teens they will think you over enthusiastic and say "Ahh,Mom" but they will also know that you care and will want to appease your questions, eventually. Best of luck to ya!

N., I don't have any experience with your situation but thought I would throw in my two cents anyway. I don't know where you live and how big the public schools are but likely this will be a big change for your kids. I think you are right to make the move now. THere isn't really a big division between semesters at these grade levels and the sooner they get adjusted the better. If they have a sport or particular interest such as music I would help them get into it because a lot of that kind of activity has already started. THis will help them make friends sooner. Make yourself known to the school! The 9th grader should probably have a counselor. Meet the staff at the school that can help you. Reach out to the kids' teachers and meet with them, befriend them and enlist their help in notifying you if things are not going well. Keep the lines of communication open with your sons so you know how things are going. Eighth grade can be a hard time to break into a new school when everyone there has already been together for so long so keep a close eye on your younger son. Good luck and BTW I think you make a good decision in terms of college prep!

N.,

We moved both are boys from the Catholic school to Chicago Public school and they where in the 7th and 5th grades. They both did fine, in fact they both went on to go to Whintey Young High School (and now one is a B1 Bomber tech and the other a PA with the Coast Guard). We found the Catholic school giving our son more work to do because he was done before the other childern and they did not know what to with him, where as the Public school placed him into the necessary classes he excelled in and kept in interested in those classes and the regular classes that he just did regular in he was kept in those classes on the regular level. You do need to "keep" up on what is happen in the school and your student, but the transition was just fine.

N., I wonder if the boys are up for this change. I had the opposite situation. My son wanted to attend public high school. He had a hard time with it and finally asked to go back to the Catholic high school in our area. He was then in the middle of his sophomore year. I would think that if the boys are up for the change, it would make the transition much easier for them and for you and your husband. When I was in high school in the 60's, I had to attend school a long way from home. Socially it was not fun and I never cared for high school. Good luck to all of you.
S.

I am not sure what your EXACT situation is, N., but I can tell you that I worry for the opposite reasons. We had to switch our children to the public schools from a private school and I worry every day that they will not be receiving the education that I KNOW they would've received had they stayed in their private school. Case in point, the counselor at the local high school told me that they never worry about kids who come from "said school" because they are always well prepared for high school and ahead of the game. I have not heard that about our local public school. I guess my advice is to make sure you are switching for the right reasons (like the quality of education) and then do it quickly. High school is tough enough and fitting in is highly important to kids. Good luck to you. : )

I work in the schools - and I will tell you that the 8th grader shouldn't be that big of an issue. But, the high schooler - you should call your school immediately and set up an appointment with a guidance counselor. Where I work, the kids are on a four block - and that means that they do two days in one, an entire year in one semester. After some time, they don't let kids start, instead they put them at the alternative school until a new semester starts. And, I know you would hate that situation. He has already missed half the quarter - at the junior high age, they will just slide him in, but the high school is a lot more complicated with credits earned.

I just switched 3 kids from a Catholic school to the public one. I am not in Chicago and it has been a VERY positive experience. In my situation, our schools are excellent and the Catholic schools were starting to fill the classrooms with 32-35 kids (no aid).

I have actually run into problems with my 9th grader missing some basic algebra skills! My advice with your ninth grader would be to call the high school office and find out who your counselor would be and meet with him/her. They will help you figure out the classes he should be in. I thought that since my son went to the Catholic school he should be in an advanced math class, but sadly we found out how badly the math lacked in the Catholic school. I was an involved parent and they made a big deal saying how they finished the book, but apparently it wasn't in a way that my child remembered!

Anytime you change will be hard. Even with my 7th grader we met with the counselor and talked about how that child would meet people, even to sit with at lunchtime. Have you boys done any sports with kids in your area? I found out that helped because then they say some familiar spaces.

I wouldn't worry too much about switching right now. They has been lots of review time and it seems like just the past 2 weeks have been heavy with the homework. I don't think it will be that hard to catch up.

You can send me a private message with any questions.

M.

N.,
Many people change school settings for different reasons: religious, relocation, preferences and so forth. However, the key to making a difference in the quality of education your child receives is you. Kids in public and private schools excel because of the support and exposure they receive in and out of school.

Personally, I don't think missing a few weeks or a month will cause your child to fall behind. Losing a few weeks to ten months is tantamount when looking at how much material is covered in one school year. Please do not be hard on yourselves, and do the best you can. I know it will work out for you all. We were going to put our children in a religious school, but we don't have the money. We thank God for public education because of it.

All the Best!

N., My kids went to a catholic school up till 8th grade and then one went on to catholic highschool and one went on to public school (the kids were allowed to choose for highschool) I can tell you that coming out of private catholic school and into the public school my kid was way ahead of where the public school was. He spent a couple weeks in a sophomore honors english class before the mistake was caught that he was a freshman. He more than kept up and we fought to keep him there but they wouldn't allow it. Coming in a couple weeks after semester starts will not be a big deal. And your life will be much easier without all that driving and cost of gas. Best of luck.
S.

Find out what the timing is when you transfer them. We knew a young man who transferred out of our highschool here and ended up in a highschool in a new neighborhood. He was not able to graduate at the same time as the semesters were on a different schedule. It might not mean that much to you, but check that out. And of course check out their anxiety levels. Sometimes changes at that age can be extrememly difficult and sometimes they are up and ready for the challenge!