High school hunting

My younger son is in his last year of middle school, and very soon we must make a decision about high school. We have an excellent high school in Arlington, and my older son (16) is sophomore there. He just loves his school, teachers and classmates.

My 13 year old however never liked school. He hates homework, sitting still, listening, reading..... just everything that kids normally do at school. Therefore, we are looking now for a high school that might be more fun for him. We think, we have found it.

The Regional Vocational High school in Lexington, MA. In addition to the regular High School diploma, the school offers job training. They have programs for 26 occupations, from cosmetology to carpentry, environmental science to graphic & design. After graduation, students can right away start to work in their field or go to college, like students from regular high schools.

We are very excited about this option. Dominic was always more an "artsy' kid, very creative. The graphic & design program seems to be made specifically for him. They will even help him with his portfolio, which he will need to apply at an art college.

For newcomers to the US, the school system can be very confusing, since it's quite different to many other countries. We learned a lot by talking with other parents and by checking out the websites of our school district and of the MA state department of education.