Looking for Esquimalt High Feedback.

[maceysmumma]

Hey parents.
Im a 24 year old step mum to 2, 13 and 11 yr old kids. My 13 yr old girl is in her last year of middle school and we'll need to choose a high school soon! Being somewhat "fresh" out of h/s myself, I'v been doing a lot of thinking about placement of my daughter for next Sep. My over-protective side is telling me to drive out of the way each day to take her to Spectrum as opposed to letting her walk to Esq High.
I know every school has the pros and cons, but a huge part of me has issues of letting her go to Esq High because of the reputation and horror stories I've heard about drugs and weapons!
My daughter is somewhat of a follower, and has already been in a small amount of trouble this year for "following the bad kids" and we found ourselves at the local police station talking to a very nice officer about the trouble she got herself in. (No one was hurt just a little wreckless vandelism!)
Anyways, she is quite upset with me and my decision to put her in Spectrum, where none of her friends are going. -- To me, that seems like an okay decision to me, she can start over in a good school (at least from what I understand of it) and hopefully make the right decisions.
I just wanted to hear some oppinions and maybe some feedback about Esq High. Maybe my oppinions are wrong? Plz help parents!
To add to my personal oppinion, when I was in grade 9, I got hooked up with the wrongs kids and found mysellf suspended for a week, at that point my parents moved me from my school Kelsey in Mill Bayand drove me each day to Mt Doug in Gordon Head! (Mind you they worked close to that school) But they still made that decision, which turned out for the better, as I made all new friends and stayed out of trouble till I graduated!

Thx!!

[Meagan]

RUMOUR

My son goes there and so have many of my friends kids. Oak Bay gets locked down more for drugs and weapons then Esquimalt. It has some of the top students in many areas. I was at the awards ceremony there this year as my son won an award for top marks in three of his classes and there were a lot there.

Drugs are everywhere - Esquimalt included, but it is also strong in athletics, Social awareness, chef's program, music and a variety of others. The only thing many students have a problem with at that school and it may be at others also is the grade 10 math. I will let you know next years as he starts grade 10 in the fall. Many have had to get their child a tutor for grade 10 math - no idea if it is the teacher or the subject matter.

There is good in bad in all schools like you said but my son and many others have had a great time at Esquimalt high. It is all about your kids and how they react to the environment and pressures from others. All schools have those pressures so it is more the teen.

THere is also something to be said for having friends in your neighbourhood rather than having to travel to get to your friends. Closer to home and therefore maybe easier to keep an eye on too.

Hope this helps - we like it so far

[growad]

It's a school as in all schools there are good kids and bad kids. Weapons rumours are just those rumours. I've been a coach with several different high schools and at a local athletic association for twenty years. And the kids that did the must drugs or had drug related problems were from the so called better schools Oak Bay, SMU, and Mt Doug. I found that the kids from Esquimalt to be a little rough around the edges but generally very appreciative of your time. I guess I will sum it up by saying a bad kid will find trouble in a good school and a good kid will do well in a bad school. It's not the school as much as the child and the support from the family.

The previous poster is right Esquimalt high does offer a lot of things that any child should be able to find something to interest them.

[snaphappy]

When I went there it wasn't a great school. I have heard so much has changed! I heard they have a really good arts program now.

[maceysmumma]

thanks for the feedback parents. its nice to hear the good....

[macloud]

The only thing many students have a problem with at that school and it may be at others also is the grade 10 math. I will let you know next years as he starts grade 10 in the fall. Many have had to get their child a tutor for grade 10 math - no idea if it is the teacher or the subject matter.

Math 10 is a huge challenge for many students. It's not dependent on the school. It's a good year to invest in a tutor if there's a need. It's compounded by the larger classes now and not enough time to get through the curriculum.

[martini]

I'm not going to say one school is better than the other, but I'd choose Esquimalt if it was my decision.

If it's within walking distance, she may have more of a social circle as opposed to driving her out of her bailiwick.

Spectrum is much larger. If she's prone to 'following', I'd think there's a higher chance of getting lost in the shuffle the bigger the school is.

Both schools have great programs, and good reputations. Don't buy into the horror stories. I too think the problems are everywhere anyway, but kids with more money tend to get into more trouble.

[Guest]

I am familiar with Spectrum and it is a great school with great teachers BUT I have also heard great things about Esquimalt High too. In fact in the district it has a good reputation.

It is actually the French Immersion school my DD would attend if she stays in French Immersion even though we live near Glanford. It has also the reading program and quite a few other programs.

The thing about being a teenager is there are good kids and bad kids at every school. Going into Grade 9 is hard enough without having no friends when all the others do.

I would let her go to Esquimalt if I were in your shoes.

Cheers,
Lara