Allen (Spring, Howe: theater, middle school, university)

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by carroll4628

Short answer is NO. There are no "Intra-District Transfers" in North Texas (that I'm aware of).

The long answer is Yes. You can rent a studio apartment in the Plano ISD, and go in to the school with your lease agreement and latest utility bill and register your child in the PISD. You don't have to move, just incur the extra expenses. (Kinda like sending junior to private school.) I'm sure there are also illegal ways to do this. The other legal option I know, would be for Grandma (and/or Grandpa) to move to the Plano ISD area and complete the "guardianship" paperwork - basically it's a form stating the older relatives are taking care of junior after school so the parents can work. This second method is done frequently in my school district. It's difficult to enforce because on any given day, a ISD staff could go to the home and if junior isn't there that day, he could be "at the doctor, at practice, mom had the day off and picked him up early, etc." The only folks I know that do this are at the elementary level, so I'm not sure if students "age out" of this. (Texas Law TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION, SUBTITLE E. STUDENTS AND PARENTS, CHAPTER 25. ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND ATTENDANCE, SUBCHAPTER A. Part 9). I often wonder if this happens much in HP and Southlake.

I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I'm almost sure that what you are suggesting is still illegal...I don't think you can just go rent a studio apartment in the city and use that to get your kids into school...most districts have investigators who would put together what the person was trying to do fairly quickly...but I could be wrong...

Regarding Allen, the one massive high school has been a bone of contention for many people that I know...it looks especially big when you see Frisco next door going with the extra small school model...yet, as big as Allen High School is, its academics don't blow anyone else away...probably neck and neck with the Frisco schools and a step or two below the Plano schools. Personally I don't know that it really matters as far as the academic performance, but perception is everything...and I think Allen ISD is losing that image battle to Frisco ISD.

[FruitSalad]

If it is just a matter of school size then why Highland Park, South lake, Plano and Coppell are most desirable schools in DFW?

[DFWDove]

I'll give you one example, seniors in these schools are usually busy with 6-9 rigorous courses while Allen sends their seniors home around noon because they have 4600 students in that building and not enough resources to offer full load of classes. Who do you expect to do better in college?

[CREW747]

Originally Posted by DFWDove

I'll give you one example, seniors in these schools are usually busy with 6-9 rigorous courses while Allen sends their seniors home around noon because they have 4600 students in that building and not enough resources to offer full load of classes. Who do you expect to do better in college?

Woah....I had no idea that students attending Allen HS leave before the end of the scshool day on a regular basis? Around noon? How is that allowed? Are seniors in other high schools that large allowed to do that as well?

[DFWDove]

I couldn't believe it when some Asian friends told me what a waste of time high school was beyond 9th grade. It becomes an increasingly lax vacation time. It seemed with every semester an hour gets reduced. By senior year students come to school only for few hours. Some come late, other leave early.

I see why my asian collegues move their gifted kids to TAMS, Dallas Magnets, Charters or privates by the time they hit 9th grade.

I know it would be difficult to have all 4500 kids at AHS arrive and leave at the same time, but I still think there is need for students to spend more time is classes instead of wasting it away. Turning senior year into half day kindergarten makes no sense while students in other districts are working hard on college prep.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by DFWDove

I couldn't believe it when some Asian friends told me what a waste of time high school was beyond 9th grade. It becomes an increasingly lax vacation time. It seemed with every semester an hour gets reduced. By senior year students come to school only for few hours. Some come late, other leave early.

I see why my asian collegues move their gifted kids to TAMS, Dallas Magnets, Charters or privates by the time they hit 9th grade.

I know it would be difficult to have all 4500 kids at AHS arrive and leave at the same time, but I still think there is need for students to spend more time is classes instead of wasting it away. Turning senior year into half day kindergarten makes no sense while students in other districts are working hard on college prep.

I know you were simply making a point but under normal circumstances, as in 99%+ of the time, freshmen and sophomores cannot attend TAMS.

[keribeth818]

Originally Posted by DFWDove

I'll give you one example, seniors in these schools are usually busy with 6-9 rigorous courses while Allen sends their seniors home around noon because they have 4600 students in that building and not enough resources to offer full load of classes. Who do you expect to do better in college?

This is ridiculous. Do you have a student at Allen HS? The minimum requirement is 4 hours/day for seniors. If you front load your first three years, or you just don't wish to take more classes than you have to, then yes, I suppose you can be dismissed early if your individual schedule allows it. But suggesting that the school sends all their students home at noon instead of providing access to rigorous classes is absurd.

[DFWDove]

You think Allen is the only district where kids finish up state requirements by 11th grade and other districts don't? Everyone does but then they take advance elective courses because aim isn't to meet requirements but to exceed them and be ready to deal with rigor of good colleges.

Ask some kid from AHS about how many seniors are taking all periods.

[CMC_TX]

Originally Posted by keribeth818

This is ridiculous. Do you have a student at Allen HS? The minimum requirement is 4 hours/day for seniors. If you front load your first three years, or you just don't wish to take more classes than you have to, then yes, I suppose you can be dismissed early if your individual schedule allows it. But suggesting that the school sends all their students home at noon instead of providing access to rigorous classes is absurd.

I agree with you 100%! The OP is flat out lying. My aunt is a teacher at AHS and they offer a fully array of AP and IB courses for students who want to take them. I know this from hearing her comment on them. Additionally, the Quad C location within AISD allows students to take college courses from the HS campus.

To imply no one at AHS is taking "rigorous" courses in 12th grade or that they don't have the capacity to offer them is both untrue and ridiculous.

[DFWDove]

I'm sure a small percentage manages to do it right but they are self motivated minority. Here you go, look at what Allen people are saying themselves.

Where is the Rigor?? - Allen School Talk - Allen Talk