Blue Oak School provides support to our graduating Middle School families with a 10-month high school matriculation program beginning in the spring of seventh grade year and culminating with acceptanct to independent/parochial schools in March or registration to public schools in May.
P arents are invited to meet with the Head of Middle School in late April for an introduction into the high school planning process. This meeting revolves around three criteria:
- Public, parochial, independent and/or boarding school options
- Timelines/calendar considerations for each of the school options
- Admission testing preparation for schools (except public)
Parents are provided with a greater San Francisco Bay area directory of all possible school options to peruse, along with a questionnaire to complete which outlines school choices. This meeting concludes with another invitation to schedule a formal meeting for high school counseling with the Head of Middle School either over the summer months or at the beginning of the next academic year in August or September.
The next phase of matriculation involves monitoring students and continuing to counsel parents who are applying to public schools and nonpublic schools. Specific calendar dates for admission tours/shadowing days, admission testing and interviews are communicated to parents for their calendars. Teacher recommendation forms are gathered and distributed to the language arts teacher, mathematics teacher, Head of School and Head of Middle School. Admission entrance exams for parochial schools are given usually in December, while entrance exams for independent and boarding schools are available to take on a monthly basis. Independent schools have application deadlines around January 15 while parochial schools have application deadlines around December 15. Public schools, as previously mentioned, will visit the Middle School campus to register the students and a freshman orientation meeting in May introduces those parents and students to the public school of their choice.
Blue Oak School also provides opportunities for instruction in test taking skills and specifically admissions test taking through outside contractors.
The process culminates with acceptances or registrations during the March-May time period and final preparations to send end-of-year transcripts.
If you would like more information on the School's high school matriculation program, please contact Hal Hensler, Interim Head of School.