Best High School for At-Risk Teen? (San Antonio, Schertz: credit, home, school districts)

[niceuniquename]

Hello everyone,
I REALLY need your help! My 15 year old step-daughter is coming to live with us because her mother has withdrawn her from school rather than encouraging her to go. She feels like "school is not for everyone" and is starting to hang around the wrong crowd-- alcohol, sex, etc. etc. She should be finishing her sophomore year, but barely has 1 year worth of credits.

She is VERY intelligent and I really want to find a school she will like. She is artistic so I was thinking of a program with a tilt towards the arts (a charter school maybe?). Most importantly, she needs a school with accountability!!

We are moving to San Antonio in two weeks, so advice as to what school districts to look into would be great.

THANK YOU!
Panicked Step-Mom

[kevcrawford]

Is private an option?

[sinsativ]

My wife is a High school teacher, was one as School of Excellence, the charter school, and my opinion, stay away, nothing but more trouble there, the private schools are your best option if you can afford it, or the ones such as rural, maybe Boerne, Stinson, Somerset, Natalia, less student to teacher ratio will give you better chance of your Stepdaughters' progress, but remember, its not the schools responsibility to make a better child, the parents have to instill that. Their peers only make it easier. What they have at home will either make it an option or not. Your home life will make it or not for her. Be involved every day of her life, whether she likes it or not. Make the time. Dont put it on the teachers and the school. Start at home.

[niceuniquename]

Don't worry sinsativ, I won't forget that role modeling starts at home. But when the school lets a child withdraw from school TWICE when her mother's excuse was "we're moving" both times, it's become clear that a school with some desire to help keep that child in school is necessary.

We're not taking custody of her to dump her into another school system. We are going to work as hard as possible to turn her around; but a good school would help!

But thanks for the lecture.

[sapphire]

Both NISD and NEISD are great school districts. Those are the only 2 I have any experience with. The teachers have always been extremely "available"--via e-mail, phone, or conference. You can check your child's grades online daily--this has been a great tool in my house! You may try to find a mentor for her--sometimes they open up to someone else (anyone else) other than Mom, Dad, or Stepmom. I'm sure you know all this. I do think you're to be commended for not turning her away and letting her fail. Being a step-parent can sometimes be a thankless job.

[hadleyzoo]

I will echo sapphire's words. The NISD schools I've been involved in have been extremely available via email, phone, visits, whatever. I love the ability to check my DD's grades online because sometimes she just lets things go and I have to spark a light under her behind. Also, there are times when student mentors will be assigned...for example, my DD is in pep squad, and her "big sister" has been there for her to help her with this being her first year in High School.

[slaleman]

Hopefully the move will help straighten things out a bit. I can't speak for all districts, but Schertz has an "Enhanced Learning Center" for kids who are at risk. Most of the kids who go there would have been drop outs in a more traditional setting. However, I'm unsure as to the requirements to get in. You'd have to call the school to find out for sure.

Allison L. Steele Enhanced Learning Center

[Chaka]

I honestly think your best bet is private at this point. There are a lot of great schools, but it sounds like she's got some issues that a smaller class setting and some more intense involvement might help.

[fierce_flawless]

I vote for private if you can swing it. Some schools have scholarships available, even partial might help. My kids are in a charter school with an arts focus but the administration is pretty disorganized. I wouldn't recommend for a child needing a lot of structure. If that's what she needs. Depends really!

As a discontent, artsy, independent-thinking teen at one point myself, I fear she will be overlooked entirely in many of the so-called "good schools" in town. They are huge and the only kids who seem to get attention are those who are the "right" kind of kids; jocks, dance team, those who naturally excel academically. I was a very bright (should have been in G&T classes) kid but bored and apathetic and overall in my NEISD high school I was ignored and became another statistic. The sheer size of the schools is not a good thing IMHO.

If you want to check charter schools out, go in person for each and every possible school. I have heard "bad things" about the School for Excellence from a former teacher and other parents. Other charter schools can be a good fit for the child and a bonus is that they are often small so staff will get to know you and your child individually.

[smuboy86]

I am a product of NEISD schools. Maybe my experience was different, but I never felt like a statistic. I honestly wouldn't touch a charter school with a ten foot pole unless you want your step daughter to fall further behind. Look at NEISD options like ACE (academy of creative education) or Center School, both are there to cater to at risk students. Look at aces website The Academy of Creative Education:* About Us