High School Guide: Admissions, reviews, and advice

Jason Morgan said:It’s my firm belief that children aren't actually buckling under academic pressure; rather, they're being crushed by the distorted societal values being shoved down their throats via social media. It's quite a struggle for them. In our current American culture, a solid education doesn't seem to hold the same weight it once did—though I suppose there are still those rare, exceptional parents who prioritize it. However, this push for all-day schooling isn't going to solve either issue. It won't improve the quality of learning, nor will it do any favors for a child's mental well-being.

I don't entirely agree—there is definitely pressure coming from school, too. But yeah, modern society is pretty toxic, and those of us born in the 70s and 80s can see that clearly enough.

I personally know a guy who makes an absolute fortune online—and I mean literally making twice my annual salary in a single month. And here’s the kicker: he is miserable.

I remember when I was a kid, people actually looked happy going to work, and they were happy coming home. If someone was building a house out in the suburbs back then (which is basically part of the city now), twenty neighbors would show up, we'd grill some burgers, hang out, and just enjoy each other's company.

Everyone had way, way less material stuff than we do now, but I don't recall there being this much widespread depression and general dissatisfaction.

And most importantly—kids were actually allowed to be kids.

Honestly, there’s zero pressure coming from school itself. It’s basically the same as it’s always been—actually, the curriculum feels even lighter these days—and the teachers are all just walking on eggshells, trying to stay out of trouble... The real weight is coming from parents demanding nothing less than straight A's. Then you've got the peer pressure, too—everyone feeling like they need the latest iPhone or those specific designer sneakers just to fit in. School isn't the one driving that cycle.

You totally misread me—I was using "school" as a collective term here. And look, obviously teachers today are way more chill than they were back in our day; times have changed, obviously.

It starts with the parents, and honestly, it’s just how society works now. But at the end of the day, the school system is the common denominator.

Jason Morgan said:It’s my firm belief that children aren't actually buckling under academic pressure; rather, they're being crushed by the distorted societal values being shoved down their throats via social media. It's quite a struggle for them. In our current American culture, a solid education doesn't seem to hold the same weight it once did—though I suppose there are still those rare, exceptional parents who prioritize it. However, this push for all-day schooling isn't going to solve either issue. It won't improve the quality of learning, nor will it do any favors for a child's mental well-being.

I'm no expert, but this clinical psychologist argues that the American school system is actually dangerous for kids' well-being, sometimes even life-threatening. Check the 37:50 mark.

Look, I’m saying it again—it isn't actually the school system itself that's doing the damage to kids' health, it's more about what parents end up doing to their children because of the pressure from school. You really think it's the teachers telling a kid that a 4.8 GPA is somehow "bad," or is it actually the parents who refuse to let them breathe unless they can post those straight-A report cards all over Facebook to show off?

Sarah Hall53 said:Look, I’m saying it again—it isn't actually the school system itself that's doing the damage to kids' health, it's more about what parents end up doing to their children because of the pressure from school. You really think it's the teachers telling a kid that a 4.8 GPA is somehow "bad," or is it actually the parents who refuse to let them breathe unless they can post those straight-A report cards all over Facebook to show off?

No, I think we should bring back entrance exams for high schools to take some of that grade obsession off the kids' shoulders.
And honestly, the reforms should have leaned more on clinical psychologists instead of just piling on more subjects and acting like one person can fix everything overnight. 🙂

The American Psychological Association actually made some great points during their online consultations, all backed by solid research.

jadetinker85 said:No, I think we should bring back entrance exams for high schools to take some of that grade obsession off the kids' shoulders.
And honestly, the reforms should have leaned more on clinical psychologists instead of just piling on more subjects and acting like one person can fix everything overnight. 🙂

The American Psychological Association actually made some great points during their online consultations, all backed by solid research.

But let’s be real, all that stress is basically just limited to New York City.

I highly doubt anyone is feeling that kind of heat in Princeton, Des Moines, or San Francisco...

jadetinker85 said:I'm no expert, but this clinical psychologist argues that the American school system is actually dangerous for kids' well-being, sometimes even life-threatening. Check the 37:50 mark.

Please, spare me the reminder; my blood pressure is already quite high enough without you adding to the stress.

I don't consider myself old—certainly not middle-aged yet—so, from my perspective, the school system today is at least three times more accommodating, flexible, and diverse than it was back when I was navigating middle and high school.
Furthermore, if children are feeling crushed by their responsibilities, we have to ask: are they just spoiled brats, or is this pressure being manufactured by parents obsessed with perfectionism and maintaining a flawless 4.0 GPA?
The actual structure of the system, the sheer volume of the curriculum, and the teachers themselves aren't really the primary culprits here.

A profound silence regarding the treatment of children. (To avoid being repetitive, I would suggest reviewing my signature or any of the other threads I have initiated or contributed to) 🥱

Honestly, I think modern society is a bit much sometimes—it’s almost an insult how they don't just let people stay blissfully ignorant or uneducated if that's what they want. Imagine how peaceful the world would be if everyone who preferred staying clueless was actually allowed to... well, stay that way. ☕
not.

Sarah Hall53 said:Honestly, I think modern society is a bit much sometimes—it’s almost an insult how they don't just let people stay blissfully ignorant or uneducated if that's what they want. Imagine how peaceful the world would be if everyone who preferred staying clueless was actually allowed to... well, stay that way. ☕
not.

I would suggest you familiarize yourself with my previous threads before offering your critique; making such superficial and naive observations serves only to reflect upon your own character. ☕

What relevance does literacy have to other trivial matters if one fails to acquire any useful knowledge? What bearing does child abuse have on the situation when everyone seems preoccupied with academic credentials? It appears an adult cannot even be touched without scrutiny.
Being unintelligent is also entirely independent of one's education, which, quite indicatively, speaks volumes about you. ☕

Who exactly are you to be lecturing anyone? What kind of authority do you think you have, anyway? Honestly, who cares about the topics you’ve even posted? Either contribute something meaningful to the discussion or just move along. I certainly don't have the time or interest to go hunting through the forum just to read some narcissist's ego trip.

shadowtiger0 said:I don't entirely agree—there is definitely pressure coming from school, too. But yeah, modern society is pretty toxic, and those of us born in the 70s and 80s can see that clearly enough.

I personally know a guy who makes an absolute fortune online—and I mean literally making twice my annual salary in a single month. And here’s the kicker: he is miserable.

I remember when I was a kid, people actually looked happy going to work, and they were happy coming home. If someone was building a house out in the suburbs back then (which is basically part of the city now), twenty neighbors would show up, we'd grill some burgers, hang out, and just enjoy each other's company.

Everyone had way, way less material stuff than we do now, but I don't recall there being this much widespread depression and general dissatisfaction.

And most importantly—kids were actually allowed to be kids.

You're spot on. All those major longitudinal studies about what actually makes us happy seem to point toward the same thing: it isn't your level of education, your social standing, or how much money you pull in—it's having good, meaningful relationships with other people.

Sarah Hall53 said:Look, I’m saying it again—it isn't actually the school system itself that's doing the damage to kids' health, it's more about what parents end up doing to their children because of the pressure from school. You really think it's the teachers telling a kid that a 4.8 GPA is somehow "bad," or is it actually the parents who refuse to let them breathe unless they can post those straight-A report cards all over Facebook to show off?

Grubićka isn't talking about teachers; she's talking about the system. A system that spent years churning out straight-A students, until finally the dam broke, and now we have these massive national exams and entrance tests to separate the wheat from the chaff. The current state is unsustainable. It's exhausting for the professors, the kids, and the parents alike.
Of course, there's this cult of perfectionism. You have one type of parent who thinks their child is some kind of genius—they're doing elite sports, music, foreign languages, everything... and then suddenly, it turns out they aren't. Their body starts rebelling; symptoms start showing up. Psychosomatic, I guess. Because if you aren't a genius, what are you? Nothing.
Then there are the others who realize that if their kid only gets 70 points, they won't get into any decent school. So they squeeze the kids, they squeeze the schools, they pay for endless tutors and SAT prep, and heaven forbid you want to hang out with friends because you need to study. They're just doing what they feel they have to do. You can socialize once you get into high school, right?
And then there's that small group of third types—the ones who just let things happen. They'll enroll in something, and at least they'll be healthy and happy.
Anyway, my daughter just got back from Central Park—she's been out since 1:00 PM playing ping pong and rolling around, and she's starving.

Jason Morgan said:Who exactly are you to be lecturing anyone? What kind of authority do you think you have, anyway? Honestly, who cares about the topics you’ve even posted? Either contribute something meaningful to the discussion or just move along. I certainly don't have the time or interest to go hunting through the forum just to read some narcissist's ego trip.

And who, precisely, are you to adopt such an arrogant tone? There is no requirement to read everything if one simply maintains a sense of normalcy and views things clearly. The fact that civilization has lost its mind and you are choosing to support violence says quite a lot about your own character.

Sarah Hall53 said:Look, I’m saying it again—it isn't actually the school system itself that's doing the damage to kids' health, it's more about what parents end up doing to their children because of the pressure from school. You really think it's the teachers telling a kid that a 4.8 GPA is somehow "bad," or is it actually the parents who refuse to let them breathe unless they can post those straight-A report cards all over Facebook to show off?

I mean, there are definitely parents who pull their kid aside to lecture them about keeping their GPA up, especially if they've dropped down to a 4.67 and still have two more semesters left.☕

The idea that certain GPA scores are required for high school admission isn't actually part of the American school system; honestly, it just seems like parental delusion to me.☕

The whole ordeal of chasing points just to get into a decent high school is pretty much a big-city headache—mostly concentrated in places like NYC or Chicago—but honestly, kids all over the US struggle with the pressure to maintain a perfect GPA.
And let's be real, everyone is obsessively hunting for those top grades and honor roll spots even back in elementary school, even though they aren't actually applying to any specific schools until much later.

Basically, if you look at the entry threshold, it’s sitting around 76—which, by the way, means having four top grades puts you out of the running entirely, even though realistically you should only be allowed one "essential" item across both the seventh and eighth grades combined. Then you see someone with a score like 78.83 for just some run-of-the-mill, nothing special public high school, and suddenly everyone starts spinning this narrative that it's all about overbearing parents putting undue pressure on their kids rather than acknowledging the flaws in the actual school system ☕

I seem to have misplaced my previous thoughts on this matter, though I suppose that is quite characteristic of me. It appears we are starting anew. Please, proceed with whatever topic you wish to discuss; I shall endeavor to keep my ramblings to a minimum, though I make no absolute promises. kaže:
The points required for high school admissions—well, let’s be honest, they aren't actually an official part of the academic system, are they? It seems more like a collective parental delusion. ☕

I have a slightly different perspective on this matter. If a prep school sets a 4.0 GPA requirement for admission, then those are simply the standards one must meet to gain entry. It’s quite straightforward, really. If an individual finds themselves struggling immensely to maintain a 4.0 during middle school, perhaps they aren't actually suited for the rigors of a high-level preparatory academy. Not everyone is destined for that specific academic path. Shocking, I know.

Michelle Nelson4 said:Basically, if you look at the entry threshold, it’s sitting around 76—which, by the way, means having four top grades puts you out of the running entirely, even though realistically you should only be allowed one "essential" item across both the seventh and eighth grades combined. Then you see someone with a score like 78.83 for just some run-of-the-mill, nothing special public high school, and suddenly everyone starts spinning this narrative that it's all about overbearing parents putting undue pressure on their kids rather than acknowledging the flaws in the actual school system ☕

Is it the school system forcing kids into high school, or is it the parents?
Does every single whim a child has need to be catered to? Are we expected to believe they'll always succeed at everything, land every job they apply for, or pass their driver's test on the very first try? Should the world just constantly bend over backward to accommodate them, everywhere and every time?