October 14, 2021
While it seems unbelievable that our 8th grade class will be leaving us at the end of this year, our 8th graders are already thinking seriously about the next chapter: high school! At this point, our 8th graders are surveying the many excellent local options, navigating the admissions process, and preparing for interviews.
Each year, we do a number of things to help guide our 8th graders through this process, often with the help of our wonderful alumni. Last night, TDS alumni from Jordan High School, Cary Academy, the Riverside High School engineering program, Eno River Academy, Research Triangle High School, and Durham Academy joined our 8th grade families for a virtual panel about the application process and the different high schools.
We started with each of the alums briefly describing their schools and giving advice for what to look for in a school. There were some common themes in their advice, chief among them a focus on looking for a school that fits you best as an individual, rather than worrying about which school is more “prestigious” or which school your friends are going to.
The 8th graders also submitted questions in advance for the alums, ranging from how much homework they have to what the teachers are like to what extracurricular activities they do. After running through these questions, we had a general Q and A, where parents and 8th graders could ask questions of the group or about individual schools.
Overall, there was some great insight and advice shared, and it was wonderful to see these alumni again and hear about their experiences!
