[quote=AN]Although all CA public HS have to take the same exit exam, it’s the amount of AP classes available and the competition the child experience during school that help prepare to student for college. If you go to a school that doesn’t have as many student interested in a certain AP class, then that class get cancelled. The more students interested in AP classes, the higher the likelihood that all available AP class would be offered.
Also, there are data out there that shows how well the student from certain HS perform at UC. That data doesn’t lie. Students who went to Torrey Pine HS got better GPA in UC system vs many other HS in the county. I attribute their performance at a University level to their environment in HS.
I agree that at the end of the day, it comes down to the individual child. However, those who constantly have to compete with high caliber peers will be more ready to compete with even higher caliber peers at a UC level. VS those who went to a school that have less competition and they breeze through HS with little competition.[/quote]
If a smart student can “breeze” thru a HS with little competition, they will be in the top 4% to graduate and are eligible for offers to attend one or more UC campuses.
“Students also can become UC-eligible by achieving grades in the a-g courses that rank in the top 4 percent of their own high school’s class (called Eligibility in the Local Context) or by achieving very high standardized test scores (called Eligibility by Examination Alone).”
If a smart student’s GPA is neck-to-neck with hundreds of other high-performing students at Torrey Pines HS, they will be LUCKY to be in the top 25% to graduate and will be VERY LUCKY to be admitted to a UC campus. If the high-performing student can’t get admitted to prove how qualified they are for college in the first place, then what’s your point?
I say the kid who’s putting forth his very best effort in his college-prep classes in a HS in Salinas, CA (Stanislaus Co.) and coming home every day to his family’s trailer to study in his corrugated room-addition with a fan blowing on him and his slide rule in the 95 deg. heat of September, while his parents finish their lettuce-picking shifts for the day has a H@LLUVA LOT BETTER CHANCE OF BEING ADMITTED TO a UC campus than a (top 4%) senior at Torrey Pines HS in SD. This student will tackle any subject and do ANYTHING he has to to be able to leave Salinas and NOT have to pick lettuce when he grows up. That’s the way the “system” works. What say you??
Not putting down any particular schools here. Just stating that I think too much emphasis is put on schools when making a RE buying decision. More important decisions than schools should be location and condition of property and long-term carrying costs.
AN, would you mind my asking, when you bought your most recent home, did you purchase it within the Torrey Pines HS attendance area? If not, do you regret not doing so? Are you happy with your local HS and if you kids have not attended it yet, will you remain in the property so they can?
