So basically, I'm in 8th grade and I have to choose a high school to go to next year but I'm completely stuck between two.
There's option 1 (let's call it CHS), which is a normal school. Pros: I'd know a lot of people there and I hear there's a population of alternative kids like me, it's a historical monument in my state Cons: I probably wouldn't be able to go there for 10th grade since my city's building another school closer to me that opens in 2025 and I hear there's tons of fights.
Then there's option two (let's call it PHS), which is a magnet school. Pros: It has lots of opportunities for me as a theatre/art kid, I'd know some people, I would be able to stay for 9-12. Cons: The auditions to get in seem really hard, I would only know a few people, and I'd have to interact with my peers at the audition.
I don't know which to choose! CHS seems like a good choice for my social life, but PHS seems like a good choice for my academic life. It's really hard and I'm scared, this is all so new to me.
#1
I would work out what the most important thing you want to get out of high school. I think social life is just as important as academic in high school. I was given the opportunity to choose between a few schools. One had lots of programs that interested me, but it was a very large school and I wouldn't know anyone there and I am shy. Another was really small, but so small it looked like it would close before I finished (which it did). The third was small, but still approx 350 students, and although I didn't have friends going, there were a few kids from my primary school going. I went to the third one and it was a great fit for me socially and it had most of the electives I wanted (would have loved photography though). Academically it wasn't the highest performing school, but I was able to get good marks and get into the uni course I wanted. So, I would lean towards CHS, knowing now what helped me get through school, but obviously it is an individual choice and you can't be 100% sure what is best. I'm not sure this helps you, but hope it does give some insight.
1point
#2
It depends on what you want. I almost had to make a similar choice (I didn't get into the academic school though, it was a lottery), but if I had the choice, I would've chosen the normal school. Social skills are valuable to learn, and you can do great in a "normal" school if you take advantage of the right opportunities. If you're worried about academics, the magnet school would be a good choice though.
1point