High school is an important transition in a teen's life. Not only will there be many changes a teenager goes through in these years, but it's also when preparations for adult life should be started. As a home school teacher, I have researched many sources on this topic. So, why is school choice important in high school, and what does it have to do with transitions?
College Preparation
Not all high schools offer the same classes and programs. Making the wrong school choice could limit the potential for college preparation and for earning some college credits early. High school is meant to be a place where students prepare for transitioning into college and eventually into a career. Without the classes and programs geared toward your teen's college, life, and career aspirations, it will severely be lacking in that department. Whether you go with public school, private school, an online high school, a home school tutor, homeschooling yourself, local community college courses, or any other choices, you need to keep college prep in mind during high school.
Career Preparation
Not only should high school be a building block to college prep, but it also should be a great career prep resource. This is the time where students need to decide which career choices they are interested in. That is plural for the simple fact that not all career choices will work out or hold a person's interest. Students should take their high school classes geared toward all their possible career choices. The issue with doing this is that not all schools will have everything a student may need. This is where school choice comes into play.
Social Life
Consider whether your teen's friends go to the same school or one nearby when making a school choice. Having friends within easy access can be beneficial toward a teen's positive attitude about school. The same holds true whether your teenager will attend public, private or home school. Friends should not be too far away, if at all possible.
Transportation
School choice also involves transportation at times. You may need to avoid schools that would require a questionable transportation plan. If you cannot figure out how your teen will get to school each day, chances are the school is too difficult to maintain a regular schedule with all year. Pick the school most suited to your child's needs and one that allows for a reliable and readily-accessible transportation plan.
Learning Styles
Not everyone learns in the same way. In a perfect world, all schools would accommodate for these different styles and teach accordingly. However, that is not how things work. This is yet another reason why school choice is so important. If you know that a school or teacher uses certain teaching methods that your teenager would benefit from, that school should be on your list of candidates.
College Preparation
Not all high schools offer the same classes and programs. Making the wrong school choice could limit the potential for college preparation and for earning some college credits early. High school is meant to be a place where students prepare for transitioning into college and eventually into a career. Without the classes and programs geared toward your teen's college, life, and career aspirations, it will severely be lacking in that department. Whether you go with public school, private school, an online high school, a home school tutor, homeschooling yourself, local community college courses, or any other choices, you need to keep college prep in mind during high school.
Career Preparation
Not only should high school be a building block to college prep, but it also should be a great career prep resource. This is the time where students need to decide which career choices they are interested in. That is plural for the simple fact that not all career choices will work out or hold a person's interest. Students should take their high school classes geared toward all their possible career choices. The issue with doing this is that not all schools will have everything a student may need. This is where school choice comes into play.
Social Life
Consider whether your teen's friends go to the same school or one nearby when making a school choice. Having friends within easy access can be beneficial toward a teen's positive attitude about school. The same holds true whether your teenager will attend public, private or home school. Friends should not be too far away, if at all possible.
Transportation
School choice also involves transportation at times. You may need to avoid schools that would require a questionable transportation plan. If you cannot figure out how your teen will get to school each day, chances are the school is too difficult to maintain a regular schedule with all year. Pick the school most suited to your child's needs and one that allows for a reliable and readily-accessible transportation plan.
Learning Styles
Not everyone learns in the same way. In a perfect world, all schools would accommodate for these different styles and teach accordingly. However, that is not how things work. This is yet another reason why school choice is so important. If you know that a school or teacher uses certain teaching methods that your teenager would benefit from, that school should be on your list of candidates.
*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
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