Dear Students,

With all of the things going on in your life right now, you may be wondering why it's so important to start making choices about high school. Perhaps the best way to look at it is to first think about why it’s important to graduate from high school. We bet you can think of a couple of reasons right away, like getting into college or getting better jobs. But there are less obvious reasons too. The amount of money you make is strongly affected by whether or not you have a high school diploma. Finally, if you are going to spend the next four years in high school, shouldn't you take the time to find a school where you will feel interested and at home, and where you can take classes and participate in activities that you enjoy?

If you like the idea of finding a school that works for you, then you're lucky to be a student in New York City, which has so many schools to choose from. Students in many parts of the country don’t have that option. So why not make the most of it? Take the time to think about what matters most to you. There are high schools in the city that offer programs in the arts, science, technology, hands-on subjects like culinary arts and mechanics, and special themes like law and justice and business. You name it, there is most likely a high school out there for you.

It’s never too early to sit down with your friends, family, and guidance counselors to talk about what you are interested in and what you plan for your future. Start thinking about where you see yourself after high school. What will you need to do in school to get to that place? You don't need to have your whole life planned out yet, but it's important to start thinking about your goals. There are an infinite number of directions your life can take; high school is just the first step.

We hope you find this website helpful! Please be sure to take the survey found on this site to get yourself thinking about what you might want in the high school you choose. You should also check out our calendar, and try to attend one of our workshops, where we provide middle school students with information about the admissions process and one-on-one counseling on school choice.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our workshops, and wish you good luck in finding a school that works for you!

Sincerely,

The ACORN High School Choice Workshop Series Staff