My son is wanting to drop out of school is there a test he could take now to grad. now?he is 17?

Question

my son is wanting to drop out of school i of course dont want this he has been having troubles wanting to be in school since the year started he knows he is old enoough to drop out i dont want this i want him to finish school is there any way he could take a test and grad. now? i really need help with this because i really dont see him wanting to go back to school next school year i have heard about kids taking a test now but i dont know how about do this if there is anyone one out there that has been threw this or have done this please help thanks a bunch

Answer 1

my son is gonna be 17 next year. hes already been left back once so hes in 10th should be in 11th. he wants to make up that year he lost. i dont think there is a "test" your son can take. he would have to "double up" on all his classes. being that my son is not a star student, this is not a good idea for him now. what about speaking with a guidance counselor at his school? good luck. this age is so trying. i understand what youre going through.

Answer 2

Yes, infact there is. Your son could graduate at 17 just like I graduated at 16. He could be admitted into the "lincolns Challenge Academy", and graduate in six months!

Answer 3

He is not an Idiot, like a lot of kid's he's just lazy. You have to wake him up and hold his hand to school. You have double your effort's and let him know you ain't putting up with his c**p. The school will even help you and teachers will call you with daily reports! Once he graduates then he will be lazy again! Good luck as I have one just like him. Switch schools away from his lazy group of friends helps too

Answer 4

Unless the rules have changed - you have to be over 18 and out of school for a period of time to be eligible for a GED but here are some options that might be available:

- Alternative School

- Charter School

- some states allow you to take college classes while you are still in highschool - and they pay for it - is that program in your state - call the department of ed to find out.

- Could he do work study where he went to school part time and worked the rest of the time.

- Have him do an interest inventory with someone at the school to see what his interests are

- what schooling or training does he need to do that.

- I would also consider investing in some counseling to see just what it is about school that he doesn't like.  There may be some serious issues here with depression and you would not want to ignore that.

- the way the ecconomy and our society is going - those who are not willing and able to continue to learn - will be having trouble finding jobs.   Technology and needs are changing so fast that it is unlikely that your son will be in one job forever so learning as much as he can now - will help in the long run (not that 17year olds think much in the long run)

Answer 5

If you are in California, he can take the California High School Proficiency Exam.  It is a real diploma, unlike the GED.  The only reason to take the GED, in my opinion, is to earn elective credits towards a high school diploma.  It may be that your son has enough other credits and just needs something like 50 credits to graduate.  Check with his school district on this as a possible option.  Another way to do this is to homeschool.  There is a huge amount of information out there about homeschooling, depending on where you live.  In California, we can homeschool legally in 4 ways.  You can join a private independent study program (ISP), where you pay and they help you through the diploma process.  You can join a public ISP, through your school district or county department of education, where they give your son weekly assignments until he graduates.  You can be a credentialed teacher and issue a diploma, or you can declare yourself a private school, and issue a diploma, but you have to do this through filing a form called an R-4 (I think that's what it's called).  I can't remember.  And finally, I homeschooled my son all of his life until he was 17, at which time we enrolled him in a private school called Beach High School.  I don't think you have to be in California to join this private school.  He spent a few weeks working on an essay, which he submitted and was then issued a diploma.  I have listed this school below.  Good luck, and hang in there.

Answer 6

Well, I would talk to the school counselor.  Some places do have tests that would allow him to graduate early if he passes.  He could also just get his GED but that my hurt him if he intends to go to college at a later date.  Also, if you have a community college in the area, talk to them about it as well.  I've heard through my affiliation with MENSA that there are tests that teenagers can take that would allow them to graduate early and I've even read about people in the bulletin whose children tested out of high school early and were already attending college or trade school at the age of 15 or 16.  I would find out where his passion lies and then see about testing him out of high-school early and getting him started learning in college or trade-school the occupation that would make him happy.  That's a bonus for both of you because he would not have to return to high school, he would probably be thrilled about going to school to learn something he's actually interested in, and you would have a son who is on his way in the world.  Good luck!

Answer 7

He can test out via the General Education Diploma or GED. If he passes that, he can leave but it is not considered a graduation. It would be best if he could stay in there and get the actual diploma. It is far better as he gets older than a GED. Hope this helps!!

Answer 8

simply talk to him, and ask him what his goals are in life, like what he wants to become, and then ask him if he thinks he can get there with a GED. Then if he still thinks he can, simply tell him that you want him to finish high school, because you know that he will regret it in the future.

Answer 9

--Talking to a guidance counselor or school psychologist is great advice.  The school might have support available to help him or know alternative schools that he might prefer.  Some districts have alternative schools that a child can attend at night and work during the day.  This might be an option.

--Why does he want to drop out?  If his skills are poor, he might not be able to pass the GED, which is a harder test than people realize.  The reading passages are at a beginning college level.

--You can get GED practice books which have practice exams in them to see if he is likely to be able to pass.  If his skills are good enough to pass the test, that option is available to him, but there are a lot of places that won't hire you if you have a GED, but no high school diploma.  If he is disciplined and goes on from his GED to get an AA at a community college, the GED won't hurt him that much.  But if he thinks high school is too much work, community college is even harder.  A diploma is a better path.

--The army is taking people with a GED if they don't have legal problems.  Even too many speeding tickets can get you excluded.  However, when he's finished, he'd still have to get that AA or he'd have the same employment problems described above.

--I'd give him this information, but then go in to the school and get help on your side.

Answer 10

Talk to his HS Guidance Counselor and see if the shool he attends does any type of Post Secondary or Dual Enrollment with a local college or university.  I hated HS the minute I started and so I took as many classes as I could my freshmen year and then at the start of my sophmore year I started taking classes a university that was like 30 minutes away.  I had to take an entrance test - similar to the ACT to make sure I could handle the college course load.  Once I passed I took my english, math, science and history classes at the college.  The best part was that since it was in partnership with my High School I (my parents) didn't have to pay the tuition or buy the books.  When I graduated High School with all of my friends I also was awarded my Associates Degree.  So basically I was 2 years ahead of all of my friends when they started college.  If his school doesn't offer theses programs aske him what college he wants to attend and call them about admission requirements.  Some major University's allow a student with a GED to enter as long as their SAT/ACT score are above average.  Otherwise he may have to go to a community college and get his associate's degree and transfer to a major university.

Answer 11

Well be honest to him. Tell him he is an idiot. I am 20 years old, I once felt the same way as him. I changed schools and the problem was taken care of, ask him how he feels about the school? Just about everyone that I have talked to that has dropped out feels like an idiot and wishes they wouldn't of dropped. I'm not calling your son an idiot, but explain and ask him what he plans on doing at 17 years old and dropping out, video games? Be hard on him he will appreciate it later.

Answer 12

Have him take the General Education Development or (G.E.D.)test.