THE BASIC FUND giving parents a choice giving children a chance HIGH SCHOOL The First Step Towards College!! 2 <> Para español, consulte la página 10 <> A message from the The BASIC Fund Executive Director …. Dear BASIC Fund Family: We are so pleased that BASIC Fund has been a part of your K through 8 educational experience in some small way. We want to make sure you capitalize on your educational foundation in selecting the high school that poses the best fit for you. This booklet will be a useful tool for you as you embark on that important next phase—high school. We wish you all the best. Sincerely, Rachel Elginsmith “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. 3 The transition from private elementary school to high school—either public or private—is a significant but exciting change. Like all transitions, it includes a combination of preparation, excitement and even a little apprehension. The foundation has been laid and the seeds planted. Your high school years will be ones of building on that foundation and blossoming into the young adult who begins to think about the right next steps in terms of college and a career. Remember: Organization + Responsibility = Success! Table of Contents Page The Application Process 5 What to Look for in a High School 6 Paying for Private High School 8 What to Expect in the Next Four Years 9 Alameda County Private High Schools 19 Santa Clara County Private High Schools 20 San Francisco County Private High Schools 21 San Mateo and Solano County Private High Schools 22 Sonoma and Napa County Private High Schools 23 Contra Costa and Marin County Private High Schools 24 High School and General Information & Websites 25 Notes 26 4 The Application Process 1. Research Call schools and visit their websites to learn about their policies and procedures, faculty and staff, and events and deadlines you should be aware of. A list of high schools in the Bay Area is included at the end of this booklet. 2. Visit Schools Attend open houses or schedule individual visits so you can see the school while classes are in session. This will give you the opportunity to meet the students that attend and learn first hand about the school. While you’re there, you’ll also have the chance to meet the Principal, admission officers, and faculty. 3. Take the entrance examination Most private high schools require an entrance examination, in addition to a sufficient grade level in 7th or 8th grade. Some schools also require a letter of recommendation from your current teacher or principal. Be sure to review the school’s admission criteria or speak with an admissions counselor at the school. 4. Follow up After you apply, you may have to wait some time to find out if you have been accepted. If you don’t hear back from the school, follow up with a call. Also, make sure that the schools in which you are interested in are aware of your family’s financial situation and that you have completed all the necessary steps in applying for financial aid. 5. Enroll in High School Once you have been accepted to the school(s) you have applied to, you must choose a high school and enroll. Enrollment usually involves signing paperwork and paying a registration fee and/or a down-payment on tuition or fees. If you don’t pay your registration fee, or fail to complete the final registration process, the school will usually not hold your seat. Also, make sure that the schools you are interested in are aware of your family’s financial situation and that you have completed all the necessary steps in applying for financial aid. 5 What to Look For In a High School Before you start making phone calls, collecting application packets, or visiting schools, it is important to sit down and decide what is most important to you when choosing a school. Discuss this with your family and with people you trust. Then decide what your priorities are, and look for a school that meets them. Five important factors to consider when choosing a school are: Academics, Values, Discipline, Location, and Special Features. We offer the following list of questions to consider as you evaluate different high schools. Remember, only you and your family can decide the right answer to these questions, and determine which questions are most important. Academics · How advanced are the classes? Will I be challenged? How much “catching up” will I have to do (if any)? Are different levels available for certain subjects within the same grade? · How much homework do the teachers assign? How do the teachers keep the students accountable for completing their homework? · What teaching methods are emphasized at this school? Do students spend a lot of time doing hands-on activities? Does the school stress basic skills? Is there more emphasis on group learning or individual achievement? Are the teaching methods age-appropriate? · How do the classrooms feel? Are the teachers friendly and interesting? Are the teachers qualified to teach their subject matter? Do students seem eager to learn? Do they seem to enjoy their classes and like their teachers? Does the classroom seem to be a pleasant place for your child to spend several hours a day? · How important are grades? How difficult is the grading system? Does the school use letter grades? Is effort factored into grades, assessed separately, or not accounted for on report cards? Values · Is this school associated with a church, denomination, or religion? Is the religious aspect emphasized, or is it more of a historical association? · What will the teachers teach about what is right or wrong? Does this agree with our family values? · Does the school teach sex education? What is the content of those courses? 6 Discipline · What are the rules for behavior at this school? Are there rules about teasing and verbal abuse? Rules about completing homework? Tardiness and absenteeism? Dress code? Using foul language? Pushing, hitting, or other physical violence or rough-housing? Use or possession of controlled substances? · What happens when a student breaks the rules or causes a problem in the classroom? Does the teacher assign extra work? Take away privileges? Assign detentions during recess, or before or after school? Give in-school or out-of-school suspensions? · Do the parents and teachers communicate regularly about the child’s progress and/or problems? Do the teachers respect parents’ opinions and insights? Will they consider parents’ suggestions? · Does the teacher seem to be in control of the classroom and very aware of what the students are doing? Are discipline problems rare? Location · How long will it take to travel from home to the school? From work? · Does the school provide transportation? · Will classmates and friends live in the same neighborhood, or far away? Special Features · Will the school give extra help to students behind in class? Will it be one-on-one tutoring, or extra classes? Before, after, or during school hours? Taught by teachers, adult volunteers, or advanced students? Will it cost extra? · What kinds of extra-curricular activities are available? What sports teams are available? What musical or theatrical groups? Other clubs? Do they cost extra? When do they meet, and how often? 7 Paying for Private High School Many high schools recognize that not all families can afford to pay full tuition for their children. Private high schools throughout the Bay Area offer a variety of financial aid options to students. Some schools offer generous scholarship packages based on the student’s score on a test. Some require interviews, while others have financial aid programs that are entirely needs-based. Most do not widely publicize their aid programs, but instead let parents take the initiative in applying for aid. You must contact individual schools you are considering to find out what financial aid they offer. There is a great deal of competition for limited scholarship dollars among high school students, so you will need to act quickly and make sure that you meet all deadlines. Most high schools do not consider applicants for financial aid who miss a deadline by even a single day. Some more tuition-related questions to consider when evaluating high schools are the following: · How much is tuition? On what schedule does the school expect this tuition to be paid? · Does the school offer its own financial aid? How much? What is the deadline to apply for financial aid? If it is too late to apply for this year, could I get aid next year? · What fees are not covered by tuition? · How much is the registration and/or application fee? (Be sure to distinguish between refundable deposits and nonrefundable fees.) · How much will books cost? Uniforms (if required)? Other extra fees for activities, lunches, sports, etc.? · Is there a finance charge for monthly payments? What are the penalties for late payments? · Does the school require or strongly encourage parental participation in fundraising activities (e.g. selling chocolates, helping with bake sales, etc.)? 8 What to Expect in the Next Four Years The next four years will be exciting because you will meet new people, be introduced to new classes, and participate in different activities. You can expect to be challenged; however, by keeping a positive perspective you will meet those challenges and continue achieving your goals. High School is composed of four years with four different grade levels: · Freshman Year (9th grade): This is the first year of high school. Classes may be larger, more advanced, rules may be enforced differently than in your previous school, and the workload will have increased.