Step Up to High School

The transition to high school is as much a cultural milestone as it is a next step in your child's academic development. While middle school students are generally still viewed as "kids," high school students are more likely to be seen as "young adults." As they become more self-sufficient, high school students might seem to need you less and and less. In some ways this is true. But studies consistently show that high school students whose parents remain engaged in their lives and connected to their school have fewer problems and greater success. Many of the strategies for supporting middle school students apply to high school students as well: attend school functions, volunteer, provide resources to promote academic achievement, keep lines of communication open, etc. But your high school student will need some different kinds of support as they move through their final four years of compulsory education.