My friend's 8th grade child just received their first high school acceptance yesterday. It hit me like a ton of bricks. We both have 8th graders. I was quickly reminded of how many families are navigating high school decisions right now.
It's not like the old days where there wasn't much choice. My rural community had a public high school and a Catholic high school. It was a simple choice for many. But nowadays, there are public high schools, charter schools, magnet schools, boarding schools, independent day schools, religious schools, and online schools as well. Even where I live (arguably another rural community), there are so many options when it comes to high schools that it can be overwhelming.
Here are some recommendations for families of 8th graders:
- Schedule a tour of the high school.
- Arrange a shadow day when your 8th grader can spend the day going to class with a current high school student.
- Look at the curriculum options. Honors courses, AP courses, or even the International Baccalaureate program offer students the opportunity to take an advanced-level curriculum. But that's not for everyone. Does the curriculum match up with your child's learning style?
- Ask about the school's class rank policy. Class rank will impact a student's college outcomes more than any other factor in their application.
- Check out the sports, activities, and extracurricular offerings. Will your child have things they can join and enjoy right off the bat?
- Find out what their college counseling program entails. How many college counselors do they have? Did they work in college admissions?
- Ask your child what they want and where they want to go. Yes, parents are wiser and have more experience, but our kids need to be able to express what they want too.
READ MORE: My Advice for 8th Grade Families Choosing Classes
My oldest attended a boarding school. It was not what I wanted her to do. But she wanted it, and she proved to herself and others that it was worth it. When my son was in 8th grade, we encouraged him to look at all of his options for high school. He was clear he wanted to stay at the school he attended since preschool. My youngest is a different child altogether. We're following her lead. I don't think there will be a big surprise on where she will go to high school. Yet, there are a lot of considerations we will be discussing to ensure she has the most successful experience.
In the end, we want our kids to end up at a high school where they will thrive. Like college, though, there are often multiple high schools where they will succeed. Let them explore their options. We can be a sounding board, but let them have a voice in this decision. It will give them confidence in making big decisions throughout their lives.
