What to do about school??plz help!?

Question

I need help on deciding what to do for high school! I'm a freshman this year with all A's. I've been homeschooled (its a place where you take some classes at a special school, and some you can do at home) since 6th grade, and my grades have significantly gotten better since then. I'm still getting A's (which is an accomplishment), but I kinda want to go to a public high school. The only thing is, I have a negative history with some people there, I'm definately not the most social person, kinda shy, and I'm afraid of not fitting in. My homeschooling place isnt the best place for having a social life, though the people there are pretty nice. But I still think I should have some social life during high school years. Should I go to public highschool next year, or stay where I am? I need your take on this!!! =]

BEST ANSWER POINTS ARE AT HAND!!!!

Answer 1

First of all, congratulations on the high marks in school, that's a HUGE accomplishment especially at your age. And being homeschooled, it's an even larger accomplishment as the standards are generally higher than those in public schools, so again, congratulations.

As for your question about whether or not you should attend public high school, I feel like there is a lot that you should take into consideration. Homeschooling offers many opportunities including social interaction through field trips, classes, groups, and extra curricular activities that regular public schools do not offer. In addition, homeschooling, especially during the high school years, offers real world experience that you cannot get in a public school.

Even though homeschooling offers many benefits to a high school student, there are some things that homeschooling does not offer. Things like prom, grad night, and other once in a lifetime opportunities that you might regret missing out on if you stay in homeschool for your senior year of high school especially. Other things like college prep courses, SAT prep courses, and that sort of thing are also sometimes easier to come by in public schools. So public high schools do have some benefit, especially if you are planning to go to college, all though homeschoolers can also get access to the college preperation stuff as well.

As far as fitting in, anytime you start at a new high school you are going to have trouble fitting in. The fact of the matter is that you don't have to go to high school for the social experience of it all, you need to go to high school to get the grades to get into college (which I hope that you are considering). High school isn't about how popular you are, and you shouldn't worry about that. There are those in high school who do make it out to be a popularity contest. If you attend public high school solely looking to make friends you will be surely dissappointed and your grades will suffer.

My advice, consider homeschooling benefits, verses the once in a lifetime experiences that public high school offers, in particular a senior year of public high school. Then, talk over your opinions and concerns with your parents and see what they think. Bottomline, you have to make the decision on your own. If I were you I would definately attend public high school for the senior year at least...there's just too much that you miss out on if you homeschool during your senior year.

Answer 2

You should go for either public school or a private school with a larger group of people in it.

There will always be people you don't like in the world. Learning to deal with them is part of what school is for. I have found, though moving a lot as a child, that there will always be someone in a new place who will make it worth your while. And if you get into a new school and find that you are just too unhappy to stand it, I'm sure you could go back to your homeschool. But not fitting in is a standard fear of people your age. You can handle it. You seem very smart and capable. Good luck!

Edit: locksee and Renee have very good answers here. I didn't go into the benefits of homeschool because I assume you already know them. Public schools are not all alike, unfortunately. Some - like where I went to school - are fantastic, safe, and have high quality teachers. Others aren't as lucky. I think the type of public school available to you is VERY important to this decision. Again, good luck.

Edit again: batryalo...'s answer is also very good an makes some god points, but having transferred in my Jr. year of high school, I'm not sure you would want to jump in at the last minute. Just a bit more food for thought.

Answer 3

I think that you should research the public school that you would attend first. I think that being able to get good grades is very important. All public schools are not bad, check into it. You might be happy where you at though, talk it over with your parents. I liked homeschooling and I was involved in activities such as 4-H, suggest something like that to you parents? That school you're at sounds great, I would have liked to go there for high school. Homeschooling is not for everyone, think about it. If the public school is "crappy" then forget it and stick with the A's! You will want the scholarships for college right Look around town for book clubs and activities to socalize if you decide to stay. A social life is great but in the long run the grades will be more beneficial.

Answer 4

Well, there is no right or wrong choice here. It sounds like academically, you should keep up the good thing you've got going. But, if you are sure you'll keep up the good grades in public school and your folks support your choice, you could go that direction.
The social issue is all up to you either way. Which ever you choose, home or public school, you are going to need a new social strategy. The one you have now or have had in the past was unsatisfying to you. At least that is what you seem to indicate. I feel if a smart kid like you applies himself to this problem, he can work either situation to his advantage. If you like the local homeschoolers, but they just are not active enough for your tastes; organize. Try new things together and see where that takes you. If you go back to public school and you have some people there you didn't get along with in the past, you can either avoid those folks or meet the problem head on by calling them up and asking them to show you around school. You have to be the captain of your own destiny. You are in control, not those kids. Be ready to develop a tough skin either way you choose to school. When you put yourself out there, you will be criticized. IMO, it is worth it. At the end of the day, you will put together your own group of friends and orchestrate your own social life wherever you are. This will not change as you get older. So, I guess I said all that to say this; you are going to be fine either way.

Answer 5

It sounds like your problem is a lack of a social life. Or rather, you think you *should* have a social life. Do you really want a social life or is this just something where you think you should because others do? Don't do something just because others are a certain way so you think you should, too.

It also sounds like you've decided that the solution to that is public school, but you're not sure if you want to go.

But school isn't the only solution to your problem. School isn't the only place to develop a social life. You start by meeting more people by doing more things. You could join sports, find homeschooling groups and participate in their activities, sign up for community lessons aimed at teens (different places have different things, but where I live, I've seen lessons for teens for cooking, dancing, aerobics or other fitness class, sewing and more), volunteer at a place where other teens volunteer (library, hospital, old folk's home, other...) and more. There's so much out there you could do. Just get out there and do it.

That's not to say that high school might not work for you. If it's a large enough school, then those you have a negative history with probably won't affect you much. And if you stay confident, whatever they do will affect you minimally. Pretend to be confident if you have to. It's okay if you don't really fit in--when you can accept that, half the battle is won. It's okay to be different, really! I never completely fit into high school but I was fine with it. That confidence gave me the right kinds of friends.

In the end, you have to search your heart and figure out which will work better for you. But remember: don't do something just because you think you "should". People get on the wrong path if they lead their life just based on "shoulds" because their hearts really aren't in it. "I should quit smoking, but I can't." "You should try this drug. It's really cool." [Because somebody else is saying the 'should', there's a feeling of having to really do it.] Go with what you really want.

Answer 6

I think everyone should have some social life, high school or not, but I don't necessarily believe a person needs to attend school in order to have one.

My teen has a core group of friends she hangs out with, most of whom she met either at her volunteer library position or in a creative writing group she joined a few years back (she's not in the group anymore, but still has the friends). She also is very active in our homeschool co-op, but she's the only older teen there so she mostly assists teachers and helps out the little kids. She also is active in our UU church and local Pagan group. When she was a younger teen she was in a performance troupe that rehearsed regularly and put on shows at retirement homes; she was also taking all kinds of music and acting lessons at neighborhood community centers and got to know & socialize with other kids through that. Since she is 15, she has been taking college courses at a jr. college through a dual-enrollment program.

Few of her friends are homeschooled, and she's never set foot in a public high school, but her social life is pretty active.

Basically it's up to you what you want to do, but if being socially active is the only thing you are concerned about, you might consider that there are many other after-school and weekend options for that (volunteering, classes, part-time, etc.)

Answer 7

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You are making good grades? You are learning? I'm not saying that friends are not important, but the friends you make in school are not going to be your friends after you graduate. (I'm going by an educated guess here and not actual statistics.)
The friends you make in real life will have an impact on you because you become friends out of common interests, not just because you were sitting next to each other in a classroom.
I feel sorry for people who think that the only social life people can have is in a school building. It is going to be sad for those folks after they graduate from high school and college and get a job in the real world where people are all ages and from many different backgrounds.

Answer 8

Do you feel like your missing out on something?
Personally I wouldn't want my kids in a public school given the environment in general. Some of the things you are missing at home may seem important to you now but will they be 10 years after graduation?
Are there other places you can go to get more friends? A home-school group? Youth Group? A community sports team? Those are built around socialization. This is a choice you need to make for yourself. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

I suggest joining groups that revolve around your interests. My daughter (junior high age) loves music and art so I put her into lots of classes.
Personally we found that the local jewish youth group not at all friendly (to put it nicely). We have steered clear but we go to the J.C.C. to work out and swim.
You could start a homeschooling teen group if there is not one already. Night time bowling, pizza and movie nights at various homes are catching on in lots of places. If you live on the east coast, there is a homeschooling prom (you can take a girlfriend if you want).
Remember. Even if 2 people show up for an event, it is two more than before the event happened. Those two could wind up being just the ticket to a good education AND social life.

Good luck
Gail

Answer 10

I was home schooled from sixth grade through high school. It was great for the first few years, but around the beginning of high school I started questioning the idea. If I could do it again I think I would try public high for awhile.
However, If your grade suffer or you feel out of place there's nothing wrong with stick with what's working (homeschooling/ special school).
Whatever you do the final decision is yours and I wish you luck with your path.