Catholic High School or a Math and Science Academy at a Public School?

A friend was faced with the exact same choice... Despite reallly excellent essays (I read them) and very good grades, the daughter didn't get into the academy. I know how you feel wanting to plan. I'm in the same situation but we don't have academies as a choice. But try to not stress and see what happens. Apply to the academies. If she gets in, then you have a choice to make. If she doesn't, then all the worry will have been for nothing... I know it was super competitive where my friend lives. I think even her straight A, chess club captain etc etc neighbor first only got wait listed.

How do you know the curriculum isn't challenging? There are things you can look at that might tell a more complete story than what other parents say - I have friends who complain about the curriculum everywhere but they just like to make it sound like their "brilliant" children need more of a challenge when really, the kids are in schools that are just fine and the parents wouldn't be satisfied anywhere.

Look at the graduation statistics for each school - what % go on to 4 year colleges, 2 year college, military, vocational/technical school or the work force? Of those who go to 4 year schools, to where are they getting accepted? How many National Merit qualifiers do they have? What's the average SAT/ACT score? How many AP classes do they have, and what's the average AP score for kids who take the exams (meaning some public schools push AP classes and exams but the kids are scoring less than 3, meaning that they're not really prepared for the coursework).

Is your daughter interested in and qualified for the Math/Science academy? What happens if she gets into the program but decides she's not interested in it or doesn't maintain the grades necessary to stay in the program? Can she then stay in the same school but in a general program or would she have to go to your local school?

How about student life? I went to Catholic school through high school and for my parents, it was about faith and not academics. I went to a school that was excellent for academics, but for my parents, the opportunity to study religion every day and have the principles of our faith incorporated into every facet of our lives every day was what was important to them. It was much more about knowing that we prayed daily, openly talked about God and wrestled with religious issues, could pray openly and sincerely before something important (a game, a performance, a big test), could talk freely about our minds and talents being God's gifts, participated in Mass and campus ministry, went on (and later lead) retreats, and took community service as a genuine call to serve and not just something that was required. Are those the kinds of things that are important to you and your daughter? Does she take her faith seriously and want to be in an environment where faith is central to everything done in school?

Finally, fit is important. When the time comes, she should take the opportunity to spend the day on campus at both schools. One might just feel more right than the other, and that can be as important as what the school looks like on paper. There are "good" kids and "bad" kids at all schools, and there are drugs and drinking everywhere (including this Catholic school you're considering, no matter what people say - it might be well hidden, but it's there).

Those are the kinds of things I would consider, and keep in mind that no decision that she makes is one that can't be changed. For my older sister and me, the all-girl, academically-challenging school that we chose to attend was a great fit and we have no regrets. Our younger sister gave it a try but it wasn't as good a fit for her, so she did public school for 10th grade and then went to a co-ed Catholic school for 11th & 12th, which is where she felt most at home. One of my brothers did 2 years at a co-ed Catholic high school before switching to public and my other brother had learning disabilities that were best served in public school so that's where he went.

Good luck with this process - keep an open mind and remember that you have plenty of time to consider your options!

I faced the exact situation that you did, except that the "great" public school is a charter school. It emphasizes AP course (all students take 5 AP no matter what). I do not agree with this philosophy--I am a college professor, so I am basing this on my professional experience with students who take a ton of AP classes and charter schools that use the exams as the measure of how excellent their schools are.

We ultimately decided to send our son to a small Catholic high school because we wanted him to have the chance to do more than simply focus on academics, which he excels at. So far he is happy there. He is on sports teams, works with the service learning group, and does other things. He does want more academic rigor, and so he is co-enrolling at our local college in addition to taking some online courses through the high school. These online classes are a great way for small schools to enhance their course offerings. So, for our family, a hybrid solution is what has worked best.
I will say as an educator, that if your child is high-risk and impulsive, then find the school environment that will help you keep her safe at all costs. Investigate the two schools as much as possible. It isn't so much the trouble-makers that I would worry about. Worry about how much individual attention can be given to your daughter by the teachers and counselors.

I have seen kids succeed in either, and I have seen kids turn to drugs and problems in either.

I think your home life is most important.

I do know one of my nieces hated the small catholic school because socially it was miserable. So small everybody knew everybody, and the teasing and taunting that goes on everywhere seemed magnified. There was the wrong crowd there, too! A lot of the kids that got in trouble in the public school got sent to the catholic school by their parents, hoping for a better outcome. Didn't really work that way.

Good luck whatever you decide!

School decisions are tough... you point out the pros and cons of both. Although you daughter may not know now, but I would also weigh in where she wants to go... it will have an impact on how she likes it and how well she does - socially and academically. Sorry to add to the list of considerations!

I would match the correct school to the child.

Is she interested in Math and Science? Is she a child that tends to hang out with the wrong people?

What is the commute like? Where do the football games, dances, competitions take place?

What extra curricular activities are available?

Remember colleges like a student that is involved in their school, her community and can handle all types of people and situations.

But most importantly, she is the one that has to be there all of the time. Make sure that is your priority. She will be a success, where ever she is, if she is happy there.

I went to a small Catholic school growing up. Our school had a policy of letting a kid take more challenging classes if they could find a free period and a teacher for it. I ended up taking 6 different AP courses in high school (in the nineties) because someone asked for the courses.

Alternatively, some of my classmates took courses concurrently with the local university. They started off the day in US history or Biology in college and were back in school by 3rd period.

I don't know what's best for your daughter, only you can determine that, but there are other options if you choose to keep her where she is.

The Catholic School will provided the better learning environment. And the teachers are definitely more dedicated! For all of elementary school, and my first two years of high school, I had a Catholic education. But my dad died when I turned sixteen, and Mamma was broke, so I transferred into the local (not too bad at that time) public high school. My first week there, the Teacher's Union went on strike. Later, someone stole my new winter coat and gloves (a gift) from my "locked" locker, and I hated it! I skated on my previous education. I didn't need to study much, it certainly wasn't challenging, and I still did well in AP Physics & AP German, and all of the rest of my classes. I didn't make any friends, as I had in the Catholic High School, and my fellow classmates, at the Public School, shocked me with their casual drug use on the school grounds (I never experienced that in the Catholic School!). Had I finished in the Catholic High School, I'm sure I would have had a much better approach toward College.

I hate to tell you but there are drugs and bad influences in both schools. Now putting that aside, since one is a public and one is a catholic why can't you apply to both and see which one she gets into - and if she gets accepted into both THEN you decide. She will succeed in either as long as she applies herself and you are there for support and encourgement. I have two of my own so I know how it is. Good luck!