Current feedback on Clark and Plano Senior (Jasper, West: fit in, transfer)

[BayTexan]

Seeking feedback from folks who have kids in Clark (9-10) and Plano Senior (11-12) in terms of academics, school culture, and extra curricular activities. A friend of mine has a 10th grader and they are considering buying in the Plano senior zone.

Thanks in advance!

[Soccernerd]

I don’t know anything about those high schools.

What I do know is that they’re probably not good enough to warrant your friend moving to a new school when their child is halfway through high school.

I recommend that they wait to move until after their child graduates.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Soccernerd

I don’t know anything about those high schools.

What I do know is that they’re probably not good enough to warrant your friend moving to a new school when their child is halfway through high school.

I recommend that they wait to move until after their child graduates.

Did you consider that family might be getting transferred here for work? It’s not always realistic or affordable to maintain households in two cities until kids graduate. At least the benefit in PISD is that all kids move schools to senior high in 11th grade. So half the kids don’t know the other half, good timing for newcomers.

[iloveplano]

My son went to Clark and then to Plano Sr. He did good and graduated top 7% of Plano Sr. He was part of varsity tennis all 4 years.

IMHO both schools were great.

[BayTexan]

Thank you.

Yes it's a job relocation and they don't want the high pressure Jasper experience. They have decided on Plano for various reasons.

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Did you consider that family might be getting transferred here for work? It’s not always realistic or affordable to maintain households in two cities until kids graduate. At least the benefit in PISD is that all kids move schools to senior high in 11th grade. So half the kids don’t know the other half, good timing for newcomers.

[BayTexan]

Thank you.

Any feedback on bullying and being able to fit in for a newcomer? Will DM you for further insight.

Originally Posted by iloveplano

My son went to Clark and then to Plano Sr. He did good and graduated top 7% of Plano Sr. He was part of varsity tennis all 4 years.

IMHO both schools were great.

[Soccernerd]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Did you consider that family might be getting transferred here for work? It’s not always realistic or affordable to maintain households in two cities until kids graduate. At least the benefit in PISD is that all kids move schools to senior high in 11th grade. So half the kids don’t know the other half, good timing for newcomers.

I interpreted the OP's to mean that his friend was wanting to move from another DFW area school to PISD.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by BayTexan

Thank you.

Any feedback on bullying and being able to fit in for a newcomer? Will DM you for further insight.

No direct recent experience with either but in general, kids who are outgoing, personable, and involved in sports/ ec’s / church-temple groups / etc tend to fit in easier as newcomers. It especially helps if there is some group activity they can plug right into where the current kids will befriend them (athletic team, debate team, newspaper/ yearbook, band, theatre, etc). If a kid is shy or withdrawn or has a hard tome making friends at current school that will probably follow to Plano.

[Peter5457]

Originally Posted by BayTexan

Thank you.

Yes it's a job relocation and they don't want the high pressure Jasper experience. They have decided on Plano for various reasons.

Yes, that could be a safe conclusion for a new student who will not know anyone. Jasper's top students and even their parents can be very cliquish. The great teachers at Plano Sr put PISD excellence on the map they still have the great teachers even if PISD rezoned all the Jasper students away to West.

I think Clark is a hidden gem. It's a large diverse student body so you can find all kinds of clubs and groups of students with different interests. They should stop by the school and they'll be able to tell right away if they think it will be a good fit.

[BayTexan]

Thank you Peter. Appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Peter5457

Yes, that could be a safe conclusion for a new student who will not know anyone. Jasper's top students and even their parents can be very cliquish. The great teachers at Plano Sr put PISD excellence on the map they still have the great teachers even if PISD rezoned all the Jasper students away to West.

I think Clark is a hidden gem. It's a large diverse student body so you can find all kinds of clubs and groups of students with different interests. They should stop by the school and they'll be able to tell right away if they think it will be a good fit.