High School Q&A

Tips on deciding which high school will best suit your teen

By Natalie Locke Milne

We spoke to Lorna McPherson, program coordinator of guidance for the Toronto District School Board, to give us the lowdown on choosing the right high school for your teen.

What is the difference between Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program offers students a rigorous academic program which requires students to study English, a second language, mathematics, science, social science, the arts and theory of knowledge. As well, students enrolled in the program commit to 150 hours of activity divided among volunteer service, sports and the arts.

Advanced Placement (AP) on the other hand is a specialized enrichment program with a focus on a specific course and they write the exam and get recognition. AP allows students to earn a grade 12 university prep credit and their high school credit simultaneously through a partnership with the college boards.

How should you decide if AP or IB is a good choice for your child?

Any kid can go to any post secondary destination if they get the prerequisites required. So you’re really looking for something more when you’re deciding on IB or AP. Many parents choose this route if their child is really bright and they don’t want them to be bored. However, a really bright kid doesn’t need to be bored in high school. They can get involved in leadership, extracurricular activities, music, dance, drama, etc. and have a really rich experience. Sometimes those advanced programs can be highly competitive and that’s not necessarily healthy, even if the child is very smart. They can be really great for the right kid, you just have to know your teen and they have to want it as well. 

When it comes to what school they will attend, how much of the final decision should be given to your child?

Kids are going to want to be with their friends. You have to examine if their friends are positive peer influences and ask yourself is you child choosing a particular school because their friends are going there? Or is it because it’s their interest or passion? If you’re having those conversations all the way along, you’ll be able to make the right decision together.  Ultimately you have to decide where your teen is going to be happiest and excel the best. If they are not good in school and are struggling, then the best thing you can do is support them in whatever the choice they make. It’s that balance of having open discussions with kids and allowing them to pursue their interests and not letting them slack off. 

How do we find out what a school's strengths are?  Are there test scores available?  

Every province is different. In Ontario we have EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office). We test our kids in grades three, six and nine. Plus they must write a literacy requirement to get a diploma. Those scores are useful, but they don’t tell the whole story of a school. I would suggest go to the information night and even visit the school during the day and talk to kids who go there.

How much interaction will we have with our child's teachers? 

As much interaction as the parent wants. It’s a fallacy that it all stops when kids go into high school. You can call the school anytime and ask about attendance (as long as the child is under 18). Go to curriculum nights and find out when the report cards come out. Don’t get disengaged, the kids don’t want you at everything, but they want you engaged. In my experience the kids who are supported at home are the ones that have the best time in high school.

When we attend the area school open house nights, what should we look for and what kinds of questions should we ask?

I would want to know what all the extracurricular activities are because that is as equally important as academics. Also ask the percentage of kids that enter in grade nine who go off to college and university, because that’s going to tell you a lot about a school. If 200 kids come in grade nine and 150 graduate, what are they doing for those 50 who struggle? If they’re helping those kids, to me that’s the mark of a good school.

Click here for more information on the International Baccalaureate program.