gcvmom
Here we go again!
difficult child 2 starts middle school in the Fall. Problem I'm stuck on is where to send him. He has the choice of staying at our neighborhood school (where difficult child 1 has been) or transferring to the GATE magnet school.
I wanted him to go to the GATE magnet because it would give him a fresh start with students who have no knowledge of him and therefore no bias or prejudice. His behavior history at his current school has made him a social outcast. Kids don't understand him, they think he's weird AND his impulse control has gotten him into trouble many times.
HOWEVER, because we still don't have his attention and focus under control he is struggling in a couple of academic areas. And apparently all the classes he would have to be in at the magnet school are honors classes. So there's risk that he could fail miserably in some areas.
At the neighborhood school, he'd be in classes with many of the same kids, although there would be a lot of new kids too who don't know him (lots of elementary schools feed into this middle school). But he wouldn't have to be in all honors classes. He could be in some general ed classes and some honors, depending on how he's doing.
My concern is that WHAT IF we actually get his medications right between now and September and he is able to focus, stay on task, etc.? I don't want to give up the opportunity for him to go to the more advanced school.
Should I reserve the spot for him at the more academically challenging and socially new school, and then assess things over the summer for a final decision late August? Or should I automatically take the easier academic route, but potentially harder social environment?
I wanted him to go to the GATE magnet because it would give him a fresh start with students who have no knowledge of him and therefore no bias or prejudice. His behavior history at his current school has made him a social outcast. Kids don't understand him, they think he's weird AND his impulse control has gotten him into trouble many times.
HOWEVER, because we still don't have his attention and focus under control he is struggling in a couple of academic areas. And apparently all the classes he would have to be in at the magnet school are honors classes. So there's risk that he could fail miserably in some areas.
At the neighborhood school, he'd be in classes with many of the same kids, although there would be a lot of new kids too who don't know him (lots of elementary schools feed into this middle school). But he wouldn't have to be in all honors classes. He could be in some general ed classes and some honors, depending on how he's doing.
My concern is that WHAT IF we actually get his medications right between now and September and he is able to focus, stay on task, etc.? I don't want to give up the opportunity for him to go to the more advanced school.
Should I reserve the spot for him at the more academically challenging and socially new school, and then assess things over the summer for a final decision late August? Or should I automatically take the easier academic route, but potentially harder social environment?