Four More Years: The Search for a High School Begins

By Sean Stalling, Executive Director, DeLaSalle

Just four more years…JUST FOUR MORE YEARS.  No, this is not a political post.  This is what most parents are thinking when they ask themselves the very important question:  Where will my child go to high school?

As I write this article, I think of the questions that raced through my mind as a father of two girls:  one a recent high school graduate and one a current high school freshman.

Those questions were:

Will my child be safe?  There is so much happening in this world.  I need my child to be safe.  Safety is so important and in so many different ways.

Will my child be prepared for success in this world?  I want my child to go to the best college possible BUT my young person has to be ready to work and prepared for life too.

Will the school have high expectations for my child in school and out of school?  I want my child to be better and have more exposure than I ever had; I want more and expect more from my child’s high school.

Safety Is Important

All safety is built on positive relationships.  Adult to adult, student to student, and adult to student relationships are so important to creating a positive and safe school environment.  As adults, we must send a strong message that we are here for children.  We are listening, leading, and respecting them.  The students report feeling safe when the school sees them as a whole person.  Schools that offer viable clubs, sports, and activities for students speak to strong school culture and pride.  But just as important, schools that work on culture in the classroom while focusing on adult and student behavior are considered the safest places for student learning.  These reports are more important than neighborhood, economic status, and racial breakdowns.  It is the feeling of support and safety that students, teachers, and parents report about the school that is most telling.  People will tell you if they feel safe and secure as a person in a school.

College and Real-World Preparation

Life after high school is about preparation.  Some students will aspire to go to college and see that as their best path.  Some will see the world of work as a better option for them.  Some will want to travel the world and take some time to learn what they love.  Regardless of the path that a person chooses…high school must be the vehicle that prepares them for that next step.

High School is NOT the end of the road.  High School is just the beginning.  High Schools that work to prepare the whole student will focus all efforts on curriculum, experience, and exposure.  It is critical that students know all that is available to them.  Students should see the world by what they learn in the classroom.  Students need a true reflection of life between the books that they study and the real world.  The world is colorful, diverse, and has many different points of view.  High School must always give students experiences outside of the classroom through exposure to colleges, careers, internships, and work-based opportunities.  The world is ready for our young people.  Great schools prepare them.

Highest Expectations:  ALL students can learn

High Schools are places where every student is important.  Every student is unique and has different talents but all students must be expected to do their best and give the highest effort.  Strong school staff and leaders are so important for young people.  Schools with staff that set the bar high AND make sure students are supported are the places where all students are expected to achieve.  High expectations plus high levels of support equal strong academic performance for all students.

Make sure you listen to all the schools.  Search for the right match and fit for you and your young person.  It will make a difference.  There are great high schools in the heart of the metro of Kansas City.  Find the best spot for your child.

The City School Fair hosted by Show Me KC Schools and the Kansas City Public Library is a great place to have the chance to talk with multiple schools. The High Schools in our Kansas City school ecosystem will be there, ready and willing to talk with you. Join us on November 13, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Central Library to start your search.

So, we have four more years to go…are you ready?

Post Topics: Kansas City, Schools, Advice, High School

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