Alternative High Schools
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Step It Up
Fame's the name of the game for a lot of high school students who see their future relating more to 'American Idol' than to, say, a desk job. But lucky for the talented & ambitious in performing arts, 'AI' isn't their only option. Across the U.S. and overseas, thousands of students attend places like New York's elite Julliard School that specialize in dance, theater, singing and acting. OK, so the boys and girls may not always be as RED-hot as Channing Tatum or Jenna Dewan -- but one can dream, right?
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Winter Fever
For snowboarding and skiing fanatics, 'never summer' can be more than a snowboard brand. Mountain towns like Stratton, VT and Truckee, CA are home to specialized skiing and snowboarding academies where students spend their mornings training, afternoons in class, and weekends in competition. While the schools often produce pros (Lindsey Jacobellis and Ross Powers were Stratton Mountain School attendees), not everyone's there to go pro. For some students, mixing academic courses with race courses is just more fun.
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Innovate
Think your classes would be more effective under a tree instead of at desks? Wish you could create an art piece on WWII instead of a term paper? Innovative and progressive high schools may be the way to go. The Cambridge School of Weston, for example, bucks the traditional semester and encourages a wide range of classes to cover those credits.
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Think Outside the School
Like the ski & snowboard-specific academies, some schools place a premium on outdoor pursuits and career interests. Some of the high schools out there mix outdoor activities with journaling and written projects, while others focus on conservation and earth sciences alongside the physical activities. But in each case, being outdoors is the pillar of the program.
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Rock Out
So we already know that some successful musicians dropped out of high school. But we also know how some of those people turned out (we're talking to YOU, Lindsay Lohan). For high schoolers who are seriously into making and producing music, specialized conservatories and music academies could be the way to go.
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Paging the Future Dr. Grey
Think those medical brainiac hotties in 'Grey's Anatomy' could get through their day without a strong science background? Think again (OK, we know they're not REAL doctors.). For the science and medical-minded, however, there are public magnet schools in a lot of cities. Still other schools offer specialized science programs. So Dr. Greys of the future, check out your options.
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Go Indie
In recent years, cities have developed independent charter schools as alternatives to public schools. While some charter schools have specific academic emphases or progressive missions, all of them hope to offer a quality alternative to other public school options. Charter schools are sometimes subject to controversy, but they can be solid choices alongside public school systems.
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Get A Grip
If working with your hands is more thrilling than, say, working with your laptop, a technical-vocational high school might be avenue of choice. The bonus of a tech-voc experience is that they can create a solid career path that demand such relevant experience and a specific skill set.
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Marching Madness
If become a career military officer is your dream, a military academy may be the place for you. While the academies have become synonymous with discipline in TV & movies, they're also serious training for the seriously ambitious with an interest in defense and governmental affairs. We can promise it's not all fun and games, but then -- what high school is?
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