Hey, I'm about to be a senior in high school. I go to a public school and I've been in the same school district all my life. I get average grades (3.3) and very good test scores (2200), got a good group of friends, captain of the track & cross country teams, doing OK. However, I've had some issues with drugs, and my parents are considering switching my schools before senior year. My first choice would be to remain here, but if this ends up happening, I definitely want some say in where I'm going. So I've got a few questions for totse.

1. Can anyone relate a similar experience? What happened? Was it tough to cope with the new school & the college application process at the same time? Did your grades go up or down? Was it a good/bad thing to do?

2. Are private schools an option at this point? My regular school begins in less than two weeks, and the rest will soon follow or have already started. As I look at these private school websites, I keep seeing that applications are due in January, or early in the year. Is it possible to apply this late? What's typically involved in that process?

3. To attend my school, you have to either live in the school district, have a parent working with the school district, or have attended the school through junior year according to the rules and then have undergone a change in circumstances. Are all public schools like this? Mine is the only high school in my district. Is it difficult to get into a school outside your district?

4. Can anyone recommend specific schools in the SF bay area that they've had a good experience with? I'm not looking for a super small school. I'm reading about a lot of them that are ~90 students. Let's say, minimum 500. I'm also looking for a running program, but it's not the end of the world if there isn't one.

5. What can I say to my parents to make them think this is a bad idea?

6. Is this a bad idea?

Any pertinent advice/questions/observations are appreciated. Thanks for your help.

madfastio

Good luck.

Talk to them about working through your problems. That running away isn't the answer. Do they want to teach you that when there's a problem, you should just walk away?

Excellent advice, you daemonistic SOB. They had a long talk with me last night which was mostly about how you can't shy/run away from problems. I will most certainly talk to them about it tonight.

1. Can anyone relate a similar experience? What happened? Was it tough to cope with the new school & the college application process at the same time? Did your grades go up or down? Was it a good/bad thing to do?

I went to a different school junior year. But if you're asking about senior year, then here's what I have to say.

Senior year is about getting the fuck out. Done deal. Nothing else on your mind besides that, making some money, and getting ready for college. Public colleges / city colleges don't care about your highschool. Your GPA is above 2.0, which is just fine. They want your money.

The only places that want more than your money are top 10 univeristies.

2. Are private schools an option at this point? My regular school begins in less than two weeks, and the rest will soon follow or have already started. As I look at these private school websites, I keep seeing that applications are due in January, or early in the year. Is it possible to apply this late? What's typically involved in that process?

Yeah, you could try a private school. Some are just money hungry bastards and will be all like, "Come on in" if you have the cash. Get your parents to talk to people. Or act like an adult and talk to people your damn self. Just do something in order to find out more information. Do something. Use that fucking free will of yours.

3. To attend my school, you have to either live in the school district, have a parent working with the school district, or have attended the school through junior year according to the rules and then have undergone a change in circumstances. Are all public schools like this? Mine is the only high school in my district. Is it difficult to get into a school outside your district?

Were I back in time, I wouldn't go to a school outside my district, but I've read/heard things like you describe. As i said before, talk to people. It might be difficult. If you're accepted, you'll most likely need a car. I doubt they'll send a bus to come get you.

4. Can anyone recommend specific schools in the SF bay area that they've had a good experience with? I'm not looking for a super small school. I'm reading about a lot of them that are ~90 students. Let's say, minimum 500. I'm also looking for a running program, but it's not the end of the world if there isn't one.

nope.

5. What can I say to my parents to make them think this is a bad idea?

A change of scenery is nice.

6. Is this a bad idea?

Not if it allows you to graduate. It's nice to get away from all your past demons. Some people say the past returns, but I haven't seen it return to me in the time I've been out of highschool. I haven't seen any jackasses from my past hover around me. That's because I'm a badass that has gone past expectations and succeeded where they have failed. I just think they are living as bums right now.

I'm assuming your peers and teachers know you did drugs. Otherwise, assuming your peers know you were doing drugs. If this is the case, a lot of people in high school do drugs. If you did something stupid like knock a girl up while being high, I could see you wanting to leave high school.

I mean, if you seriously think people will discriminate and judge you harshly while in highschool, then maybe you should change schools.

Any pertinent advice/questions/observations are appreciated. Thanks for your help.

SENIOR YEAR IS ABOUT GETTING THE FUCK OUT.

What? Are you acting emotional about friends and bullshit? No, man. Because when you grow up, that shit leaves you. When you get 18+, it's all about you. Unless your friends hold the communist flag up high and believe about helping each other, senior year and above is all about you. It's about growing up, getting the hell out of school, entering the job market / going to college, and figuring out where you will be in life when you hit 28.

No, no. I'll graduate no matter what. I'll do fine no matter what. My drug issues are not such that I'm in danger of failing--it's more a parental overreaction. All my peers and most of my teachers know, and I couldn't care less. I'm polite and friendly to them; they have no reason to judge me. My preference is to remain where I am, because it would be a huge hassle to switch schools this late in the game (this late in the summer) and because I like it where I am.

At this point, I don't think there's an issue. I spent a day calling all the local schools to inquire about vacancies and transfers, and all either do not accept senior transfers or do not have room.

Thanks for your reply, though. You've got a good attitude.

People will judge you for doing drugs.
I've dealt with people from all walks of life.
Personally, I don't trust people that have done cocaine.
Some drugs just fuck a person up for life, really screw with a person's head.
The person isn't the same anymore.
Also, there is a large chance they are still doing cocaine.

Anyway, you'll realize the seniors want to get the hell out, so they'll leave you alone.
The teachers will understand that you want to get the hell out, so I doubt they'll try and hold you back.
Any biased teacher would simply want you the hell out of the system because of your drug history.

You'll most likely get through the year without being hassled.

Do it, I switched schools senior year and it was fine. People were assholes to me, but there are always assholes. The year goes by fast. My grades stayed the same and the ongoing change made the transition to college easier.