I just need to find the perfect school. It's not that hard.

[deird1]

I tried to discuss this with my best friend, but a performing arts background is not among her many virtues, so she doesn't really get it.

Hence, venting to those of you who care:

I am currently checking out secondary schools in my local area, because my son will need to go to one in 2027. We're looking at state and private schools (assuming those private schools are at least vaguely affordable), and going to as many school tours as we can.

This morning, I went to one that would be perfect at handling my autistic, socially-awkward, kind-of-a-flailing-mess kid. They have great support, great strategies in place for neurodivergent students, and a really nice school culture.

Their academic program is nothing to write home about, but is fine.

…and their performing arts program is nonexistent. No bands, no concerts, no drama classes. They can learn music as an elective subject, but that's it.

Guys. I don't think I can send my kidlets to a school that doesn't do lots of performing arts. I just… no. NO.

I want them to be able to play music with their friends, and do the school musical, and join a band. And apparently this is important enough to me that every other positive aspect of the school fades into the background.

I swear I'm not trying to be ridiculously shallow. But being a musical person was such a huge part of my life – and still is – and is pretty important to my kids, too. They're both musicians, and both trying to get better at their instruments, and the idea of sending them to a school that doesn't value that part of them just… hurts my soul.

Comments

[deird1]

Being able to take theater, art, and perform in plays, also speech contests during high school - saved my sanity.

Exactly! Me too.

Yes, I’m in Australia. Our secondary schools go from year 7 to year 12. We have “school zones” - and I’m allowed to apply anywhere I want, but they don’t have to take me unless I’m in their zone. (The school we’re zoned for is terrible. Hence I’m looking EVERYWHERE.)

[shadowkat]

Makes sense. And that's similar to the US, except it is divided into or by "districts" and unless you move out of your district, or go to private school, or get a voucher for another school, you're kind of stuck with that school. People often base their housing choices in the US on school districts. My brother put his kid in private school, co-workers have chosen housing based on district, as did my parents.

[out_there]

That depends on which state of Australia you're in. When I grew up in the ACT, the school districts/zones are enforced -- ie. if you're in the catchment for that public school, you can only go there unless you pay for private school. It was a pain when we were living in new suburbs as a kid because when a new school opened and the districts were divided, you had to change schools to go to the new one.

In Victoria, where I live now, you can go to a school in a different district but they don't *have* to take you. So there are still some suburbs with great schools that people will move into (to be guaranteed their kid will be accepted there) but there's a lot more choice.