I Need a Coach for Dealing with High School System

Hi A.,
I have 2 teenagers in public school, and I have also lived in Germany, so I know that the European schools are structured quite differently than the American schools. This answer may get a bit lengthy, but I hope it is helpful.

One of the main differences between most European systems and the American system is that children of all abilities are lumped into the high school in their neighborhood, but that does not mean that they are always in the same classes. I do not know much about Oak Grove, but if your child is a good student, and is working toward college, then look for what honors and AP ( Advanced Placement ) classes are offered at the high school that they plan to attend, and what the school requires of a student to enter the honors track. Make sure that the school offers advanced classes in your child's areas of interest.
Honors classes are usually taught at the same level as regular High School classes, but with more demand for quality work from the students, and usually more reading. In our district, freshmen must be recommended into these classes by their 8th grade teachers, but older students my opt to take them if they want a greater challenge. Different school districts have different policies. In math, students who pass algebra in 8th grade with high enough scores, start in Geometry in High School, while students who struggle with algebra in 8th grade start High School with Algebra 1. If they start with Geometry, then they are on track to take Calculus in high school - recommended for students who want to become engineers or scientists.
AP classes are college/university level classes offered at high school for students who are ready for that level of work. The majority of students in AP classes are Juniors or Seniors (16-17 year olds) but younger students sometimes take them as well. They are very rigorous. Teachers must receive special certification to teach them. If the students in these classes pass their AP test with a high enough score, some colleges/universities (but not all) will accept the credits for these classes.
Everything that I have heard about the baccelaureate program is that it is extremely difficult, and should only be recommended for highly motivated, very advanced students who are not interested in social activities. I have been visiting several colleges/universities with my daughter this year and although many western schools are now giving credit for the baccelaureate program (it is more common on the east coast), they are not necessarily encouraging it for high school students. It can create what we call 'burn out'. Be sure to talk to guidance counselors before entering this program.

For the college bound student, parents also need to prepare for the standardized tests that are required by most of the colleges and universities in the US. These include the SAT, the SAT II subject tests, the ACT, and also the PSAT. The PSAT is usually taken in the fall of the Junior year. If your child is a US citizen and scores well on the PSAT then there may be a scholarship available. It is not required for college admission. The SAT or the ACT are the enterance exams. They are typically taken in the Spring of the Junior year, but can be repeated. A student can take either, or both, and can take them more than once if they think they can improve their scores. They both evaluate reading, writing and math skills. The SAT II subject tests are given for various subject areas (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, French, History, Math, etc...). They should be taken in whatever year your student completes a course in that subject so that the material is fresh in mind. Only two are required by most universities, but if you take more than two, the admissions department will only look at the top two scores. So, have your child take the tests in the subjects that they excell in. (Note that if you have a student who wants to go into engineering or science it is recommended that they take the Math 2 subject test after they have trigonometry and both algebra 1 and 2, and that a science subject test is also recommended.) Have the high school guidance counselor guide you through the process.

Most High Schools offer open house days when you can visit, and meet the administration. I encourage you to attend these for any school that you may be considering. In addition, you can have your student (once they are in 8th grade) 'shadow' a high school student. In shadowing, they attend the high school for a day, going to classes with the host student, and seeing what high school is like. Not all schools offer this.

As for foreign languages, sadly, there is not a great deal of emphasis on this in American schools. The UC Univerisities recommend 3 years of the same language. They do not require fluency. So although I personally would encourage you to have your student study a foreign language at an earlier age, most California students do not. If your family speaks French, then definitely get him/her into a French program, but I would also recommend that you consider Spanish, given the environment here in California. Best advice is to find out about the language teachers at the high school (talk to other parents, or upper class students), and find out which ones are good, since it is a 3+ year course of study. (Find out also if the school offers AP French or Spanish).

I noticed that many responders recommended the music program at Oak Grove. In general, your student will feel more comfortable in any High School, public or private, if they have an activity which they love to participate with other students. Whether it is music (both my children are in band) or sports (my son plays baseball), or debating team, or drama club, or Key club (a service oriented club), most teens benefit socially from belonging to a group. Find what your student loves, and encourge them to join. Be aware that American colleges/universities look at this as well as grades when admitting students. They want to see well rounded students who have a passion for whatever it is that interests them.

I hope this helps. I know it is a lot to digest. For more information, see your Middle School Principal, or the High School Guidance department, and get to know some of the other parents in your neighborhood. Volunteering at the school is a great way to get to know the people who care, and who can help you guide your student through the system.

Good luck,
B.

A.,
There is a charter school which recently opened. It is a University Preparatory Academy for grades 7-12. You can check out their website at www.upasv.org for more information. Wish you the best.

My son has been in private school all of his life
(now 15 and attending VCHS). I understand your apprehension
about transitioning into public school. I would like to inform you about a public charter school called U.P.A. (University Prep Academy) that is on the church grounds of Cathedral of Faith. C.O.F. is a non-denominational church that successfully started up this charter school last year. Because it is public, it is secular, but of course,
Christian values is the atmosphere, so you don't have to worry about questionable environments your children may not be used to. It is designed to be a Prep Academy to prepare the kids for the best universities and the best part is the school is free because it is a San Jose public charter school. The phone number for C.O.F is
###-###-####. Good Luck. PS, I have had one son graduate from Oak Grove High school about 9 years ago. It was pretty good then.

I have a son who is going to a collage this fall.
Private collages, UC schools are all pretty expensive. It would be nice to send your child to private from an elementary school all the way up to a collage, if you could. But if you think how expensive collages have gotten, you may want to save it up for the collage sake instead of spending a lot now unless there is a significant benefit from private to your children now.
I think teaching the value and expectation to your children at home is very important rather than expecting a school to do. If you try to maintain a good relationship with your children, they won't want to do crazy stuff. Private schools have same problem as public schools. Private may have fewer. Public schools are not that bad. I have two younger ones besides 18 years old, they all went and go to public schools. They have witnessed tabacco, drug, fights in their schools. But they are busy with sports and music program they are involved in, and they are not interested to any of crazy stuff.

Oak Grove has strong music program and they also offer good after school sports prograrm as well as other schools. There are many clubs, drama, leadership group, etc,, So I think your children will be fine in public schools. Good Luck!

Hi A.,

While I don't have experience with the SJ schools, don't dismiss the option of the public schools. I have a Freshman in HS and I was very scared for her before she started last year. Do either of your children play an instrument or would like to? I ask because my daughter joined her schools marching band last summer which was the summer between middle school and high school. It was an enormous help in the transition. Her schools marching band is 200 kids so she had seen 200 faces and had been on campus numerous times before the school year ever started. One of the closest friends she has made is a girl who went to a private catholic school until high school. Her family swears that the transition was so easy for her because of her marching band experience. These kids are taught discipline and respect for their peers and adults through our program. Some of the kids who join had never played before, as long as there is a desire they are allowed to join.

In any HS (or life in general) there are options. I feel my job as a parent is to try to steer my kids into trying to make the right choices now and that it will carry them through into adulthood. Not everyone has the options I have, but I try to make sure I am an involved somehow in the activities they choose to be in. I also make efforts to make my house accessible and desirable to them so they will want to hang out here at least some of the time. It allows me to keep in touch with what they are doing, thinking and who they are interacting with but I try to give them their space.

My one comment about the private school option. Some of the kids I know who have taken that route have also been bullied and they find drugs if they want to. The drugs at a private school are only more expensive. If you are not wealthy some kids will harass yours for not being able to afford all the things that are expected. Sometimes it is just as smart to save the money you would spend on private high school for college.

Hope this helps. Good luck in making your decision, go into knowing you are doing your best to do what is right for your kids. Listen to your instincts.

T.

A bit about me: I have been married for 16 years with 2 children ages 13 and 15. While it has it's challenges I love being a mom!

Hi A.,

I went through the East Side High School district. If you have a choice, go with Oak Grove. Andrew Hill does not have the best reputation on any levels, though I can't speak about the International Bacalaureat program because I don't have any experience with it. Switching schools is tough no matter where you go. Please make sure that you are involved with your son and his teachers. He needs to know that you support him and the teachers need to know that you will support them as well.

Good luck

Hi A.,
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only mom that thinks about these things early. I really think it gives us time to really research the options and not be rushed into hasty decisions.
For my part, I've had my kids in Charter Schools since kindergarten and am just now transitioning my oldest into regular district high school. We are very fortunate to have a good high school less than a mile away here in Soquel. I'm not sure about the schools in San Jose as it has been 25 years since I attended those, but I would encourage you to explore the option of Charter Schools. They are tuition-free public schools, but they run outside the restrictions/politics etc. of local school districts. In return for these extra freedoms, charter schools are held to a higher standard of accountability. They also have an amazing level of parent participation, which is such a benefit to the overall climate at the school. Kids are very aware that parents are around, watching and know who your mama is! :o)
www.myschool.org is the main site for the California Charter School Association. They will be able to find you all the charter high schools and middle schools in your county. Since charter schools are not connected to districts, they are also not restricted by district boundries. I live in one district, but my kids attend in a district over 10 miles away. No problem!
Luckily in this state we are beginning to have some options within the public school system for our kids. What a blessing for those without the resources to afford private education.
Good luck!

My first piece of advice is to do your research!!! I would see if you could attend any middle school and highschool meetings, and that may help answer many questions. Then you will see the types of teachers, classes, and students that will possibly enter your world. What I would do FIRST of all is investigate the possible private schools that you may consider and many schools have scholarships available. The 2 highschools that you are considering I do know a lot about. I can tell you that the are VERY different from any private schools - and I think that you shall see how different they truly are when you investigate things. I would investigate your choices very carefully, and maybe you can qualify for a few scholarships or maybe work part time at the school to get a employee's discount. There are many ways to make things work, but you just have to look around and think creatively. I personally, would do whatever I could NOT to have my children attend those public schools since I feel that they are pretty rough. I should check the crime statistics (gang violence, drugs, assults, thefts, etc.)for the schools and see how "challenging" things can be. Many schools in this area don't have enough money for books, overcrowded, etc. and that adds additional layers to consider. I would question what the quality of education, I would check the statistics for each school, and compare them with the possible private school scores. Check the graduation rates and percentages of students that pass the exit exam, etc. Check the statistics for where their graduating seniors attend college and ask yourself is this what I want for my children. If you answer no, and I would start problem solving as to what you can do to change the situation. I am a teacher of over 10 years, work with troubled children, and am an Educational Therapist; and I hope and pray each day that I will be able to prevent my children from being exposed to such challenging enviroments/situations. I moved to a better location so that my children will attend better public schools, and I do work part time to help with finances. I know that you are in a very diffiuclt situation. I know many children that attend the public schools in those areas and they are faced with so many extra challenges - middle school and highschool are rough enough on their own, but you may be adding so many extra things. I would ask myself am I ready for my children/family to be exposed to such things and are WE ready to deal with them? I hope that this helps.