Selecting a Secondary School / High School - Melbourne South East

Xenawarriorprincess on 10/03/2023 - 22:17
Last edited 12/03/2023 - 03:10

TLDR: How did you decide on high school for your kids, was it the right choice?

Edit: I’m in Melbourne south east if you want to recommend, or warn me about specific schools.

My head is spinning thinking about high schools for my kids. I had a really hard time transitioning from primary school to high school, because I didn’t follow the standard trajectory. I really want to make the right choice about schools (primary and high) from the start.

What’s important when selecting a high school?
How do I find out more information (I’d love to ask current students but aware I can’t just go randomly talk to school kids).
I saw the % of kids that go to uni from our zoned high school seems low - should I worry about this.

Please help!

Academics aren’t my top concern.
Wellbeing is important to us.

Toys & Kids School

Comments

  • IceCreamBandit on 10/03/2023 - 22:20
    +3
    • Go to open days with your kid(s) so you all get a feel for the school
    • Read school newsletters/annual reports
    • Check your local FB community page and search for mentions of your schools
    • See what schools offer programs that match the interests of your kids e.g. bands/sport/drama/STEM
  • MS Paint on 10/03/2023 - 22:27

    Ask your child which school they would like to attend. It's not rocket surgery.

    • askbargain on 10/03/2023 - 22:27
      +4

      child makes another post on ozb

    • iDroid on 10/03/2023 - 22:30
      +2

      Sounds like someone who doesn't have kids.

      You possibly do - not saying you don't.

      But the response you gave is naive beyond imagination.

      • askbargain on 10/03/2023 - 22:33
        +1

        ??? child would want to go same school as their friends??

      • MS Paint on 10/03/2023 - 22:35
        +4

        Two kids. Well young adults now. Both went to different high schools that they chose. One was academic (chose a private school) and just finished uni mid last year. Now working in her chosen pathway. The other had no interest in studying or uni and makes a living doing what he loves the most - cars.

        • askbargain on 10/03/2023 - 22:37
          +2

          he does cars?

        • iDroid on 10/03/2023 - 22:41
          +1

          I'm not sure if it was the same for your kids but these days you need to choose a high school when your kids are in year 5 (they start high school in year 7 now - at least in SA) and you need to enroll a good year or more before or you won't get in.

          I'm not sure most 10 - 11 year olds are going to know what high school they want to go to, it's just not that easy.

          • MS Paint on 10/03/2023 - 22:49
            +1

            @iDroid: Our situation was pretty unique to be fair. We live regional so only 3 high schools to choose from. Both kids started out in the P-12 private school. One continued on there to year 12. The other moved to a different, more trade focused school, in year 7. It was their choice and they had to justify why they wanted to move. We supported their decision.

            • iDroid on 11/03/2023 - 23:06

              @MS Paint: Too much choice is a burden :)

              All situations are different and the freedom in our choices of school has changed dramatically in the past years - you really need to have enrolled 2 years in advance (or more) to get your kids in good school - at least in my area.

          • jjjaar on 11/03/2023 - 10:23
            +1

            @iDroid:

            I'm not sure most 10 - 11 year olds are going to know what high school they want to go to, it's just not that easy.

            They may have an understanding of what schools they don’t want to go to though. Do school tours. Let them get a feel of it.

            • iDroid on 11/03/2023 - 23:01
              +1

              @jjjaar: Absolutely - my kids have toured all their schools - and we most certainly took their opinion into consideration.

      • jjjaar on 11/03/2023 - 10:22
        +1

        Sounds like someone who doesn't have kids.

        What does this have to do with it? I was going to suggest the exact same thing: as your kids. No, I have no kids. But I was one.

        I genuinely think this is the right thing to do because I wasn’t asked and almost ended up at a school I didn’t want to go to until I had to assert my opinion.

        OP cares about well-being, so including the kid in this decision is key.

    • Xenawarriorprincess on 10/03/2023 - 22:49
      -1

      My kids are 2 and 4. I’m hoping to choose the best high school now, or at least have some idea, so I can then send them to the feeder school for that high school - it won’t be set in stone, but just to ease their transition if I can.

    • bargaino on 12/03/2023 - 02:32
      +1

      If we asked our children to decide, there would be a vast surplus of firemen, astronauts and you-tubers.

  • Iwantthebestprice on 10/03/2023 - 22:32

    Make sure your kid attends the high school their friends are attending too! Nothing worst then a kid starting high school with none of their friends from primary school. Grades also matter but not as much as your kid being with their friends at high school and enjoying properly the toughest 3 years of their life

  • 7ekn00 on 10/03/2023 - 22:35
    +1

    What’s important when selecting a high school?

    None, they are all the same crap with the same indoctrination!

    The skills and interests your kids learn at home is far far far more important than school …

    Use their device time at home to focus on learning sites and games like Brilliant, Code Monster, Curiosity Stream, etc etc

    As for University, who cares? Most of the successful entrepreneurs never went or dropped out of University :/

    Not to mention, there are 1000s of trade shortages in Australia currently and tradies make a good living …

  • JimmyF on 10/03/2023 - 22:45
    +2

    TLDR: How did you decide on high school for your kids, was it the right choice?

    If its a public school, then your choices are limited by your address normally.

    https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/ will tell you your schools.

    Schools outside of your zone will 'depends' some will let take kids if their numbers are down regardless, others that are 'full' won't.

    • Xenawarriorprincess on 10/03/2023 - 22:46

      I’m happy to move - not married to the house we’re in

      • JimmyF on 10/03/2023 - 22:48
        +3

        Ok, so pick a good public school if that is what you want, then move into the zone. Look at the naplan results, programs offered, well being team etc and then pack your bags and move into the zone.

  • brendanm on 10/03/2023 - 22:55
    -1

    Make sure it's not full of ferals. If your kids have good academic results and/or good extracurricular activity results, you can get into good or great public schools that are out of catchment.

  • AngoraFish on 11/03/2023 - 00:12

    Schools offer an illusion of choice. Hardly anything you hear today will mean anything within 12 months of enrollment.

    Principals change, staff change, programs come and programs go. Some streams offered last year are discontinued immediately, others fail due to staff and student disinterest.

    Some schools are really good at selling their various programs and specialties, then it turns out that although they can talk the talk but it's all too hard, teachers are overworked, and I'm going on maternity leave anyway.

    Almost nothing you see on the website or at an open day or hear from the principal is reliable; schools are not like buying a car or a set of new earbuds.

    The only thing you can reasonably count on is that sending your kids to the school closest to where you live means that your kids can sleep in a bit longer, you're a bit more likely to be able to avoid driving them in bad weather, and they're more likely to live somewhat nearby any friends that they make.

    Sending your kids to the school closest to you and hoping that the education lottery throws your kids up some gems is about the best that anyone can hope for.

  • Vulgar on 11/03/2023 - 09:29

    Just send them to any selective school if they're doing well academically. If they're not, might as well send them to the closest one.

  • vice on 11/03/2023 - 10:02
    +2

    Good that you’re looking at this before primary school age. A few things to consider

    Academics - naplan etc results from the myschool website

    Diversity - I want mine in an environment where there is some, not dominated by any one demographic but others may feel differently

    Socioeconomic factors - the kids they grow up with are going to influence their decisions. I’m not saying rich kids are better to be around but there are unfortunately disadvantaged schools. Too rich / bubble mentality is also not great.

    Co-Ed vs single sex - personal preference

    Transition to high school - choosing a primary school that allows them to have some friends heading into high school

    Private vs public vs catholic vs selective - there are schools with good/bad culture in any of these systems, I spoke to colleagues w kids or younger colleagues who went to schools I was looking at.

    Budget - you can always rent in the catchment you want if you can’t afford to buy. I wouldn’t choose private if it’s going to be a struggle to afford there are many excellent public and catholic schools.

    It’s not too early to look at this - a lot of private schools are booked out years in advance or it could save you a lot of $ not moving house for the catchment you want.

  • Motek Benzona on 11/03/2023 - 10:35

    Im going through this. Its horrible
    Most of the schools round here are awful
    The catchment zone one is worse than awful

    My son has a disability and is a multiclass athlete who has represented qld so i am also trying to get him into a scholarship to various schools both state…and private

    I have not got a clue what i am doing tbh and really do not know where to try to send him…and its March already so for me its 2 fold worry

    On a side note we are going to try to get him into Sheldon College which would be an absolute miracle of miracles if he got accepted and under a scholarship..can only dream hey?

  • peteru on 11/03/2023 - 13:05
    +1

    Consider the travel time. A teenager that has to get up early, goes to bed late and spends quarter of their waking time on travel to and from school is not going to have a great time or a good chance at happiness.

  • GourmetFoodie on 11/03/2023 - 19:29

    If academics is not your concern then I’d just send them to whichever school has most of their friends attending and not stress too much. It’s another story if you have a kid that has learning difficulties or on the other side of the spectrum, is gifted. Schools mainly cater to those in the middle of the bell curve.

  • megadeth on 12/03/2023 - 00:02

    Get them to take selective test if you’re in nsw.

  • bargaino on 12/03/2023 - 00:58

    I saw the % of kids that go to uni from our zoned high school seems low - should I worry about this.

    If your kids are headed for uni, that will mean fewer academic peers and subject options for ATAR.
    If they are more likely to pursue a trade, that is different. There really is no point pushing them to uni if they are not academically talented.

    As a kid, I moved from a lower socio-economic school to a better one, and it made a huge difference being with kids who actually wanted to go to school and learn.

    but aware I can’t just go randomly talk to school kids.

    Of course you can. Well not quite randomly - don't hang around the school gate. But if kids happen to be on the same bus as you, for example, it can't hurt to say "hi, I see you go to St. Trinians", and ask questions. If they happen to be rude, you have your answer!

  • bargaino on 12/03/2023 - 01:01
    -1

    P.S. I see you are in Melbourne. You should say that, and how you feel about public vs private, etc.

    It really varies by state. e.g. in Sydney, if you are not in the right postcode or can get into a selective school, the public system is increasingly to be avoided.

    • Xenawarriorprincess on 12/03/2023 - 03:09

      Yes you’re right I’m in Melbourne, south east.

      I went to a public primary school in a low socio economic area. It wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t want my kids to have the experience I did (subpar teachers).

      I wouldn’t mind Catholic schooling if it was like my high school (taught about all religions, wasn’t forceful with beliefs), don’t have much knowledge about independent schools. Wouldn’t send them to a devout Christian school (I’m talking about the ones that ban Harry Potter because it’s worshipping the devil etc.)

      The primary schools around me (public, Catholic and private) seem to be pretty good options - I could argue the public primary schools are better, because they have a program I rate (MSL).

      It’s the secondary schools that seem to suck. Haven’t heard a good word about any of them from local facebook groups and other parents, but trying not to judge based on conjecture.

      • Jono05 on 17/03/2023 - 23:44

        You think subpar teachers don’t exist in non government schools? In fee paying schools, if you’re not in the top few percent all they want is your money.

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