TL/DR: My DS will graduate HS in 2026, but will need more time in high school before he is ready for college.
DS26 is at the youngest end of his grade, has a late-diagnosed learning difference (NVLD), and like everyone else, lost a couple of years to the pandemic. Two years ago things really melted down for him academically and I wasn’t sure he’d graduate middle school. But he switched schools to a small private day school that is much better for the way he learns, and has tutors for subjects that are especially challenging. He’s slowly closing the gap between where he is academically and grade level and is catching up enough that he will graduate on time. But I’m not excited about sending a 17 y.o. with learning challenges off to college. He could really benefit from one more year to mature and strengthen his academic skills. A post graduate year would be perfect for him, especially if he could live away from home and gain some independence in a somewhat structured environment. Unfortunately, he is not an athlete and I have heard postgraduate programs at independent schools tend to be for recruited athletes.
His current school doesn’t offer a postgraduate year. Are there any schools that offer a post graduate year for kids that would benefit from more high school socially and academically, but aren’t athletes?
Yes - likely many of the same schools that offer the post grad year for athletes. If he’s at a private or boarding school now, they should be able to help.
Thank you. I actually find it a little tricky getting information about the postgrad year. There’s not much information about the programs on schools’ websites, what kind of applicants they are looking for or how the application process conpared to that of the other grades. I’m wondering if anyone here has any experience or knowledge to share.
Forman might be a good choice. He could still do some LD remediation, learn to advocate for himself and get lots of help in the college search process. I know they are currently pushing an off-campus PG/gap year option but there are a few PG’s each year on campus as well.
Depending on what you want to accomplish in that year, you might also want to consider other strategies/options as well, from gap year programs to CC to JuCo to reclassing and repeating a year in high school at a BS.
For PG, Kents Hill (ME) has learning support. Kent (CT), Canterbury (CT), Salisbury (CT) - all boys, learning support, Holderness (NH) might be a few to start with. They all have different flavors, but that could help you figure out what you’re looking for.
Yes, there are several post secondary and transitional programs. Check places like the college living experience or college internship program to start.
I have heard very positive feedback about Brighton Academy in Maine. It is small, all boys and only has postgrad. I think there is a focus on sports but not sure how much or which ones.
I know a number of boys that have done a post grad year and it’s really a mixed bag. Most went to schools that had 9-12 and then a small pg program and it seemed a little difficult to integrate into a community of kids that has already been together 3+ years. The number of post grad students is usually very small so making connections was challenging and some of the seniors resented pg kids for ‘taking their spot’ on a team. Additionally the college counselor seemed to focus more of the kids they knew better. 3 of the schools were WMA, Deerfield and Suffield.
We strongly considered a pg year for my son and I don’t think you can go wrong with the extra year. I think we would have chosen something like Brighton that was only pg where the focus for all students was extra maturity and getting ready for college.
I took a look at Bridgton’s website and it does look like it would be a good fit. My son isn’t an athlete but he really enjoys watching his school’s teams play so the strong athletics would be appealing.
That’s a good point about integrating into a community of students that has know one another for years. He won’t be taking anyone’s spot on a team and he makes friends very easily, but it would be really important to find the right fit so it wouldn’t be a lonely year for him.