Alternative high schools?

[red_mct]

I'm curious if anyone here has any experience with alternative high schools. In particular I have been looking at both Brigham Young University High School and Indiana University High School. Both are accredited, offer college-prep courses, prepare for the SATs, etc. IUHS in particular seems very effective as many of its graduates have been accepted to a variety of colleges (including several in our state).

The issue we're having is, my 9th grader is really struggling in the traditional setting. Our school is very large and I think probably pretty overwhelming. Like me, he also has a hearing impairment and it is making things very difficult for him. He is having some academic issues and I think the root cause is a variety of factors.

On the other hand, this is one of the best high schools in the state and the school district is the main reason I pay a small fortune in property taxes.

My question is, has anyone gone this route successfully with a high schooler? Or has any feedback at all that might help us with this decision? I don't want him to think you can just walk away from every situation that isn't going 100% your way. But I also think education is THE most important thing and the gateway to having options later in life, so if he is not going to be learning as effectively as he might be elsewhere, it seems kind of pointless.

Anyway, looking for any thoughts or feedback.

Thanks,
Marie

 

[dorothyrd]

My brother-in -law teaches at the University of Illinois Lab High School, and my nephew goes there. At Uni-high, it is very advanced, and the students must test into it in 6th grade. They then have a sub-Freshman year that is a combined 7-8 grade, and 4 years of High School. Your test scores must be very high to get into this school.Students that graduate from Uni High can basically write their ticket to any college they want, because it is nationally recognized. There is also a school like this at the Illinois State University campus as well. I am not sure a child with academic issues can get into this type of school. Also, at these schools, if you don't enter as a sub-freshman, it is very, very hard to get in, not impossible, but unlikely.

My nephew is extremely bright, but even so, has struggled, because the school is very tough. The nice thing about this school, is socially, it is good for the academic "geeks". It is cool to be smart, get high SAT/ACT scores, this school usually has a high percentage of kids who get perfect scores.

There is no tuition at Uni-High, donations are accepted, but students must buy all books and materials, just like you would in college.

 

[rnyogamom]

We homeschool- because of our strong feelings on education, not religious exemption....our daughter, who has the attention span of a gnat, is going to finish HS early.We use Keystone National High School, and I know that kids have gone on to Notre Dame, Harvard, William and Mary - and a host of other schools...its the ability to study in a free, non stressed environment. Social? My daughter had NO social life in public school, she always was doing homework and re-learning the day's lessons because she daydreamed through them! She dances 7hours a week, student teaches 2 hours, babysits, attends art classes with other homeschooler friends, they exercise as well together (no gym anymore in hs, seen all the porkers? And being chubby is the norm now).....I also cringe at taxes I pay, but for 300 a course, its private school and its affordable....I have heard great things about Indiana's program, and we've done a course with BYU - and they are such nice people to deal with....Let us know what you do!