Let's Talk About Calgary High Schools

[Northendzone]

just looking to tap the CP collective with respect to Calgary high schools.

my son is currently in grade 9 at a catholic k-9 school and he is thinking about which high school to go to.

our designated school is bishop grandin so far my son has visited both bishop carroll and bishop O'Byrne as well as central memorial. I believe he has ranked carroll #1 (due to the self directed learning), central #2 (due to hockey program) and then others schools as 3.

my son is also considering taking AP math and science as these subjects have always been easy for him.

so looking for some comments from any grads of these schools, or other members with kids who go to these schools or are in high school.

• what is the homework load in the ap courses
• do you think ap courses are worth the extra effort
• does anyone kids go to a school with a hockey program? my son has been on the bubble to make a quadrant team for each of the apst two years, so I was wondering if somehow he made it next year (highly unlikely due to the who stupidity of minor midget) would it be too much hockey between school and quad?

[jeffporfirio]

Also, have a son in grade 9 in Catholic Jr High.
His choices are:
# 1 Bishop Caroll
# St Francis

We went to the St Francis Ap info session, and were impressed at first glance.
We're doing the open houses and Bishop Caroll's AP info session in Jan.

Thanks for the thread as we don't know anyone with first hand experience at either high school.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Also, have a son in grade 9 in Catholic Jr High.
His choices are:
# 1 Bishop Caroll
# St Francis

We went to to the St Francis Ap info session, and were impressed at first glance.
We're doing the open houses and Bishop Caroll's AP info session in Jan.

Thanks for the thread as we don't know anyone with first hand experience at either high school.

Holy hell, those school are nowhere near each other.

Ah, it is the AP program that draws you to each school.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Also, have a son in grade 9 in Catholic Jr High.
His choices are:
# 1 Bishop Caroll
# St Francis

We went to to the St Francis Ap info session, and were impressed at first glance.
We're doing the open houses and Bishop Caroll's AP info session in Jan.

Thanks for the thread as we don't know anyone with first hand experience at either high school.

Does your son play football? Because if he does, its likely that he will be kidnapped and forced to play at Francis.

[troutman]

Choices? We never had any choices.

[burn_this_city]

I went to Carroll, highly recommend if he's self motivating. If he's gonna ditch class to go hang out its probably the worst place to go. Super good school, loved the format and the attitude of the faculty and students. Lots of student athletes attended Carroll and did their training full time.

[Nufy]

This is assuming you want to continue in the catholic system...

My son went k-9 in the catholic system and then transferred to the public system due to the courses he wanted to do.

He would've went to Grandin but instead now goes to Beaverbrook.

[iggy_oi]

Is your son really good at staying on top of his studies without constant direction? If so Bishop Carroll might be a good option as he could potentially get more courses done in less time. Times may have changed but back when I was in high school there was a general rule of thumb when choosing where to go: If you like getting baked, go to Bishop Carroll. If you like diplomas, go anywhere else.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Nufy

This is assuming you want to continue in the catholic system...

My son went k-9 in the catholic system and then transferred to the public system due to the courses he wanted to do.

He would've went to Grandin but instead now goes to Beaverbrook.

so your son wanted a exciting career in the Dry Cleaning industry?


I kid I kid. old rivalry joke

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

so your son wanted a exciting career in the Dry Cleaning industry?


I kid I kid. old rivalry joke

Pffft, Beaverbrook was more than just dry cleaning, there was body shop, mechanics, shop built a garage every year, hair cuts.

[skudr248]

Avoid AP classes, not worth it, stick with just pure -1 classes

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Is your son really good at staying on top of his studies without constant direction? If so Bishop Carroll might be a good option as he could potentially get more courses done in less time. Times may have changed but back when I was in high school there was a general rule of thumb when choosing where to go: If you like getting baked, go to Bishop Carroll. If you like diplomas, go anywhere else.

Thanks.
We talked to his core courses teachers over the last PT interviews, and they all recommended Bishop Caroll, due to his work ethic.
My only concern, as replied above, is distance, "Bishop Caroll" is far, and has no dedicated buses to where we live. The plus is that he won't be going every day.
He does want to continue in the Catholic system, so those two are about our only choices.
Sorry for hijacking the thread.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Avoid AP classes, not worth it, stick with just pure -1 classes

Noo why? Had my best high school memories in AP classes haha.

There's also the feeling of superiority over the Pure-only kids.

[Locke]

Bishop Carroll isnt about 'Work Ethic' its about diligence.

Some people are hard workers but still need the kick in the ass to get to work, if he needs the kick in the ass he wont get it at Carroll and thats important to know.

That being said, Grandin is okay too, I know lots of people who went through there (who doesnt?) but Grandin is pretty much a 'you get out what you put in' type of place.

But in the grand scheme of things, its High School. If hes a kickass hockey player or something, okay choose based on that I guess, but High School?

Picking a University is important for your future, your High School's job is to get you there. I dont know, I think you might be over-thinking this a bit.

If theres an ulterior motive at play (sports excellence, etc) then I can see that, but I dont think there is really a whole hell of a lot that differentiates High Schools in Calgary as one thats better than another.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Thanks.
We talked to his core courses teachers over the last PT interviews, and they all recommended Bishop Caroll, due to his work ethic.
My only concern, as replied above, is distance, "Bishop Caroll" is far, and has no dedicated buses to where we live. The plus is that he won't be going every day.
He does want to continue in the Catholic system, so those two are about our only choices.
Sorry for hijacking the thread.

It may have changed but I believe you still had to check in everyday at Caroll

[Lubicon]

What part of the city do you live in and how would he be getting to school each day? That will be a consideration as well. We're a CBE family but I have heard good things about Bishop Carrol if and only if your son is motivated enough to do the self learning thing. I know some people who have gone there and they absolutely loved it, while personally I never would have been able to do that type of program and neither could my son - we both need the structure of a more regimented program. Depending on where you live there are other sports programs (for example Global Sports Academy which runs out of Springbank school and also Okotoks I think). I know several people who go to the program at Springbank and those that do seem to be almost zealous in their love for it. Many of those had done the NSA program in junior high and would have gone on the Central Memorial had they stayed in the program (the one you are referring to) but chose to switch mainly due to living in the NW and the pain it is to get to Central each day.

[Table 5]

If you don't (or didn't) go to Churchill, you might as well give up on life.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by troutman

Choices? We never had any choices.

Agreed -- is this process of picking a HS a relatively new phenomenon? What is the purpose of these open houses? I can understand if some schools offer certain classes/programs that others don't, but at the end of the day you're walking out with a HS diploma and whatever you managed to figure out along the way.

P.S. I'm assuming the University entrance requirements haven't gotten so strict that some schools are considered better than others (i.e. public/catholic; I'm excluding private schools)?

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

What part of the city do you live in and how would he be getting to school each day? That will be a consideration as well. We're a CBE family but I have heard good things about Bishop Carrol if and only if your son is motivated enough to do the self learning thing. I know some people who have gone there and they absolutely loved it, while personally I never would have been able to do that type of program and neither could my son - we both need the structure of a more regimented program. Depending on where you live there are other sports programs (for example Global Sports Academy which runs out of Springbank school and also Okotoks I think). I know several people who go to the program at Springbank and those that do seem to be almost zealous in their love for it. Many of those had done the NSA program in junior high and would have gone on the Central Memorial had they stayed in the program (the one you are referring to) but chose to switch mainly due to living in the NW and the pain it is to get to Central each day.

Thanks.
We live in Rocky Ridge, so the commute to Bishop Caroll is long (train to Brentwood and Mount Royal bus to Bishop Caroll). That is why I'm inclined to St Francis.
As far as being motivated, he is, he does all the extra assigned work in his core courses, I personally believe he would do well as he is not lacking any motivation to study (he gets it from my wife, I personally would not have done very well in a school like that).

[burn_this_city]

I lived in Sundance and rode the bus and train to Carroll. It was a significant commute, but it was worth it for me. Was about an hour or more each direction to school everyday, but this was before the C-train extension to Bridlewood.