<p>My daughter will be a sophmore (high school) this Fall. She is presently enrolled in the Fine Arts Center and will be tranferring from a normal public high school to a Charter School/ Middle College this year. First, I will describe what these are below…</p>
<p>Fine Arts Center (from Wikipedia): The Fine Arts Center provides arts instruction to artistically talented students who desire an intense pre-professional program of study. Students spend a minimum of 110 minutes in either the morning or afternoon five days a week at the Fine Arts Center and spend the remainder of their time on academic work at an area high school. Around 300 students attend the Fine Arts Center each year, and more than 90% of graduates go on to higher education. The Fine Arts Center is open to students from grades 9-12 who demonstrate exceptional ability in their art forms. Interested students should fill out an application (portfolio required). The Center will notify you of the date and time of your audition/interview. Attendance at the audition/interview is required for consideration.</p>
<p>Charter School / Middle College: A charter school is a public, nonprofit corporation forming a school which operates within a public school district. Charter schools are an avenue for parents, teachers, and community members to create new and more flexible ways of educating students within the state’s public school system. Charter schools offer students different learning opportunities and teachers the flexibility to be innovative, but with the responsibility to be held accountable.</p>
<p>A middle college is an autonomous, small high school located on or near a college campus. The middle college supplements courses offerings by enrolling students in college courses for secondary and postsecondary credit, thereby graduating students with a high school diploma and some postsecondary credits, certificates, diplomas, or associate’s degree. Middle colleges are associated with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Middle College National Consortium.</p>
<p>My concern is whether to keep my daughter at the Fine Arts Center (FAC) and split the school days between there and the Middle College OR take her out of the FAC and let her attend full time at the Middle College. She will have the opportunity to get more college credits during HS at the Middle College. However, the FAC is a prestigious school that is very selective as to whom they admit. I am not sure what the best path for my daughter would be at this point. I am leaning toward letting her continue to do both but any advice would be appreciated.</p>