<p>My kids’ high school is in year 1 of 3 year transition to small learning communities. This is a big (3,000) urban-suburban high school, with a non-graduation rate of about 30% from freshman to senior year. Racially and economically diverse. The biggest justification for the SLC’s is to facilitate “clustering,” so kids can recognize some peers from class to class and year to year, in the hope that they’ll care enough to stay in school. Then, of course, it is hoped that the SLC “academies” will provide some career guidance.</p>
<p>For the college prep path, it just complicates things. The school has to avoid tracking, so there are very few AP or honors offerings.</p>
<p>The SLC academies for next year are: Arts, Medicine, Business, Construction (they call it Engineering, but there’s nothing but votech construction).</p>
<p>Any suggestions for how to navigate this nightmare? My oldest may be able to graduate without declaring a SLC, but my youngest will be required to do so next week, for her sophomore year.</p>