It is no secret that we all try to be as engaged as possible with our children. Working to support and improve our children’s learning, development, and health is an ongoing task. As engaged parents, we are often on the lookout for signs that our children are being offered the best opportunities available to succeed. We work hard to be involved, help them feel supported, and give them enough freedom to make their own choices. But when it comes to significant academic transitions like starting high school, when is the right time to start researching the best options out there?
The suggested time to start the enrollment process is early in the fall of the school year before you want to enroll, but it’s never too early to start identifying your options.⏰
Some schools offer open houses, freshman orientation day, or they can even schedule an interview with your family. Visiting the high school will allow you and your young teen to learn the way around the campus and get to meet some of the faculty members as well as fellow freshmen. It is essential to get a first-hand feel for each school, so when your student shows up on that first day of high school they already recognize familiar faces and spaces. These small actions can help alleviate some of the nerves that come with changing schools.
If you want to prepare for this important academic change, Schola helps you make this process easier and your search more complete. When looking for the right high school, start by identifying the qualities that are most important to your family. Then, you can use ScholaMatch™ to discover schools in your area that closely match the characteristics that you are looking for.
Check the school’s profiles and select your top options👀 Keep in mind that including your teen in this process can help boost their confidence and even make them feel excited about this important change. Try letting them know that they are not alone. Lots of other freshmen are feeling the same way and it is completely normal to be a little nervous about starting out in a new place.
So whether you want to start the search while they are still in elementary school or choose to wait until the year before the begin, here are some key elements to consider when selecting the right high school fit for your child:
✅ What after school activities, clubs, and sports teams are available?
✅ How does the faculty prevent and deal with behavioral issues, such as bullying?
✅ What is the student-teacher ratio?
✅ Do they offer any college and career readiness programs to prepare your student for the future?
✅ Are there resources like psychologists or mediators to support your children?
✅ What type of leadership opportunities will be available for them?
✅ What’s the school’s method of teaching and how it can serve your teen’s unique learning style?
✅ How convenient is the school’s location and schedule for your family?
In Schola.com you can easily filter your school search by school type, programs offered, enrollment period, gender preference, mile radius, and more. When you visit a school profile you’ll find the details you want to know about the school and photos of the campus. You can request more information or even schedule a tour directly from Schola. So if you are looking to stay on top of your academic options for a future transition or need help with an immediate change, Schola is here to help you every step of the way.