Ahhh, high school. Four years of grueling classes, endless homework, ever-changing friend groups, and even potential romance. It can be unbelievably stressful for most teenagers, especially Black teens who are trying to fit in with the right crowd while also paving their way for future success. For a parent, trying to pick the right high school to send your child to is one of the most important decisions that you’ll end up making, as it can completely alter the path they’ll end up taking in life.
If you’re in that group, then this article is for you. We’ll go over some of the key factors to keep in mind when picking a high school to send your child to, and include great resources that you can use to make the best decision.
What Should I Look For?
To start, you should check to see if a prospective high school has dual enrollment programs, as well as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs, per U.S. News. These special college-level programs are carefully crafted and meant to help your child expand their knowledge and understanding of various topics even more than normal classes. Those that are looking to get accepted into prestigious college programs are likely keen on taking many Advanced Placement classes.
U.S. News also suggests that you ask about after-school activities and extracurriculars for your child to participate in, so that they can make friends, build skills, and enjoy themselves after a long day of school. These activities are also a big factor that many colleges pay attention to when it comes to undergraduate applications, so it’s wise to look for schools with many extracurriculars.
Indeed, U.S. News states, “If an activity isn’t offered at a school, students should inquire if the school would allow them to create their own club. This demonstrates leadership, which can be a differentiating factor for students in college admissions”.
It’s also important to pay attention to student-to teacher ratio and class size. According to IvyScholars, “The larger a class is, the less individual attention each student gets from their teachers, and the more difficult it is to stand out”.
If your child needs (or wants) more personalized and effective instruction from their teachers, then it may be wise to focus your search on high schools with smaller class sizes, preferably 15 students or less.
You should do lots of research and compare the average standardized test scores of the prospective schools for your child. Even though they “do not measure intelligence, they are meant to measure how well a school has prepared students for college”, per IvyScholars.
Of course, there are other more specific factors to consider, including school reputation, cleanliness, safety, financial aid, location, and amenities. If you have a certain high school in mind, whether it be a public, private, or charter school, then don’t hesitate to call them and ask for a tour. Most of them will almost certainly say yes, as they would probably love to have a new student around!
Handy Tools and Resources
Now that you know what to look for, you may be thinking: Where exactly can I search and compare this data? We’ve got you covered there too.
Niche, TheBestSchools, the National Center for Education Statistics, and Greatschools.com are all excellent places to start. They compile all of the key data you need to quickly compare schools in your area and make a confident, informed decision.
Greatschools in particular is immensely helpful since each listed public school has a rating that serves as a summary of several different measures of school quality, such as College Readiness, Test Scores, Advanced Courses, and Equity
We also recommend that you visit U.S. News’s National Rankings List for the best high schools. They’ve compiled data for nearly 18,000 schools and ranked them on just 6 factors, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance (including Black children), college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate. This makes it one of the most valuable resources for picking the best high school for your Black child.
It can seem impossible to find the right four-year home for your fast-growing teen. However, just remember that you’re not alone, and that thousands of Black parents face this struggle on a yearly basis. Hopefully, the information and resources above were helpful in guiding you to making the smartest choice for your child, and placing them on the right path to a lifetime of success and happiness.
