What’s the best high school for my kid (and should I move now)?
I am of the age when many of my friends have babies or toddlers, and are already looking ahead to high school since choices they make now might influence their kids’ options for high school. More urgently, those with students in middle school might be freaking out about their choices, knowing that they ideally should choose now and never look back. I revel in helping families navigate the nuances of this precipice and specialize in options in the Portland, Oregon area.
No school is "better" than another, and there is no such thing as the best school in town. Pedagogies and institutional philosophies vary greatly. One school might offer the most excellent traditional academic programming in terms of rigorous classes and homework, and tough grading. Another school might outshine in terms of community, support, experiential education, and/or cocurricular programming. Perhaps the most important factor for your student is a celebration of various learning styles. I'm a firm believer that appropriate fit and happiness beget success. Whatever you do, do NOT get caught up in guessing what the "best" school is considered to be in your area.
Define your goals. This process will be complex! Before you weigh the factors of cost, location, and offerings, decide as a family what your priorities are among the following: excellent traditional academics, progressive or holistic academics, life-skills/learning development, community standards, character and moral development, quality arts programming, quality athletic programming, robust parent involvement, high-caliber college placement, student and family diversity (ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural), differences in learning support and accommodation.
Then visit. Open Houses and other visit programs are the best. Don't be afraid to ask for more, though. Every school will be able to accommodate special meetings and visits anytime, during which you're likely to receive better attention. See me for more ideas and protocols.
Chose as individuals. Your kid is unique. So is your family. It's soooo easy to be influenced by what your neighbors are doing, but it's essential to assess your goals based on the list above, and then consider factors of cost, convenience, reputation, size, etc.
There may not be a totally ideal school. But don't get hung up on finding the perfect synthesis of all your criteria. There won't likely be a school the reportedly distance from your home, with the ideal academic programming and activities for you. Prioritize.
Assess how much support you can offer your kid. If you are able to drive to activities elsewhere in town, then perhaps a robust arts or athletic program isn't necessary. If you are willing to pay for standardize test prep, then maybe you can sacrifice traditional academics for progressive. If you have little time beyond your own work schedule and commuting, perhaps a school that offers strong community and advising will help you rest assured your student is being looked out for.
Investigate sticker price. If you're considering private schools, it will be daunting to face tuition, especially with college cost on the horizon. My general belief, based on decades of observation, is that investment in education in the earlier years yields returns on that investment down the road. It may or may not be worth it to take out loans or re- budget elsewhere in your life to ensure a quality education and community during your child's formative years. That stated, it rarely makes sense to struggle, economically, when your student could also thrive in you public school option. In general, the best choice for your family should trump minor differences in tuition. Whatever you do, investigate the real cost of attendance (COA). Is there financial aid available? Are there hidden costs in fees and community expectations? Is there a current family you can ask? What would be your opportunity cost of commuting or buying your kid a car to ultimately drive herself/himself? Again, it may or may not be worth it.
Listen to your kid. She or he may not be able to articulate why one option is more appealing than another, so gently try to determine what is behind their opinion. If it's only friends and social concerns, we adults know that factor can and will change ("nobless oblige"). If it's something deeper like community size, programming, or activities, it's worth further, patient conversation.
You won't be locked-in. Albeit ideal to remain in one school as long as possible, students are transferring high schools more than ever in the past few decades. Transferring makes no impact on college admission, and this acceptable trend should take some weight off your decision.
PDX options and corresponding strengths
Public schools Most offer very impressive and robust IB programs or AP courses. Their strengths also rest in large, dynamic, diverse, and exciting populations. If you have a choice, I advise against splitting hairs about what classes are offered and especially what college credits might be accrued. You should focus on the community vibe, guidance, cocurricular programming, and general cultural feel of the school.
ACMA Public funding with the most advanced curricula in arts and communication.
Catlin Gabel Often viewed as the most elite independent school in the NW. Outstanding writing prep, incredible advising system. and extreme experiential education.
Central Catholic A more affordable option for a larger, faith-based education with many befits of a private institution. Families have often selected CC over other for their broad academic offerings, deep athletic rosters and opportunities, and social vibe, in general.
Jesuit - A dynamic faith-based community with particularly rich programming in athletics and community service. The community at Jesuit is by far the largest and most vibrant of the major prep schools: think filled football bleachers.
Language immersion/international schools - Exceptional communities that empower global citizens and celebrate diversity in an otherwise homogenous city.
Metropolitan Learning Center - awesome. More on this one to come...
Northwest Academy - Extremely small, intimate, and tight-knit community with remarkably devoted faculty and a progressive curriculum.
Oregon Episcopal - Excellent college preparatory education with robust offerings, strong advising, and a surprisingly diverse community.
Pacific Crest - An intensively supportive, small environment with adaptive education.
Portland Waldorf - A wonderfully holistic approach to educating the whole student and drawing connections across the curriculum.
Riverdale - An exceptionally intimate and close-knit community for a public school. Parents and students have reveled in the remarkably small, intimate, and tight-knit community.
St. Mary's - The ultimate option for empowering intelligent, confident young women and ensuring limitless opportunities for their participation.
Valley Catholic - Exceptional, much smaller community with strong character education and, IMO, the best writing prep in town.
You must prep your kiddo for the necessary exams. I know they're unsavory and to expose your middle-schooler to such stress seems cruel, but you should bow to this necessary evil now and help put her or his best foot forward. You will most likely be able to DIY your own prep at home; I recommend a few hours of familiarizing, and then one timed practice exam, and then, most importantly, one hour of assessing results from the practice exam. Or get a tutor. IMHO, the absolute most effective test prep in the Portland area is Stumptown Test Prep.
At all costs, drop everything to take advantage of special visit days and open houses. In fact, you should participate in pretty much every opportunity and event for prospective students that each school offers. Even if you believe you're already familiar with a school, these events will be useful for myriad reasons, and most oilers will affect your admissibility. See me for questions.
DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY IF YOU'RE NOT ADMITTED! I can't state this concept enough. Your kid was not assessed and "rejected," rather, there was simply not enough room for her or his demographic profile. I actually suggest seizing this opportunity to talk to your kid about these dynamics. See my blog tirade (as you can see, I'm pretty passionate about this topic):
