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My kids ages 11,13, and 14 have been in a small charter school the last two years. It is across town and the last couple of years they have lost a big number of students( nearly all of my youngest and oldest kids classmates are not returning next year). The school faced huge budget cuts last year, and have cut down on staff and everything else this last year. Overall, we feel like it would be better for our kids to go to our local public schools next school year. The schools in our area are good and we are thinking they will have more opportunities there. Our thirteen year old is very afraid to go to the middle school here, because she doesn't know many kids and it is larger than what she is used to. So, here is my question- Is it better to keep them in the school they are used to things but is going downhill or make the switch to public school now for what seems like an improvement in education and more opportunities to meet friends locally?
I wouldn't settle for a sub-standard education under any preventable circumstances. The challenge will be to make your daughter feel comfortable with the switch. She isn't going alone, she'll have her siblings with her. She'll make new friends that will follow her to high school. Bigger schools generally have more extracurricular activities that she can join to meet people. She doesn't have to know many people her first day, one or two will suffice. Encourage her to reach out to them over the summer.
Presumably she would be attending a school that kids in your neighborhood attend? I would try to find neighborhood activities or even classes and camps where she could solidify a couple of friendships over the summer.
I agree. Not an ideal situation, but switching now is a better option than sticking it out in a school you are unhappy with, and possibly finding yourself looking for a new school along with everyone else when the school closes.
Thank you so much! We have her signed up for a summer soccer league and camp through the local school in hopes that she will meet a few kids. Yes, she w would be going to our neighborhood middle school. I have had the feeling their current school may close soon, because the last half the year most communication from the school stopped and they didn't do any of the events that they told the kids they would be doing. That is definitely part of why I wanted to move them, especially since our oldest is going into highschool next year.
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