[quote=bearishgurl]I’ll repeat this. ALL CA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE AN EXIT EXAM AND OTHER STRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION. THEY *ALL* MUST FOLLOW THE SAME CURRICULUM TO GRADUATE SENIORS. Opportunities abound in the AP classes in every school and IB Programs, as well as math/science/tech magnets such as High Tech High in Liberty Stn. San Diego. It is actually EASIER to get accepted into the UC system in schools where there are more “lower-scoring” or ESL students because the UC system accepts a top percentage of graduates FROM EACH SCHOOL.[/quote]
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.
