Dear Judy

My 16 year old 10th grade daughter received a safety transfer from her very dangerous high school. How do I go about finding a new high school for her?

Confused and anxious

Dear Confused and Anxious.

Transfers are hard to get so your daughter’s experience in an unsafe school must have been harsh. Take the time to find a school that is known for a warm and nurturing atmosphere and which puts emphasis on respectful interactions among student and faculty.

Your first step toward finding a school is research: look up high schools in your borough (or elsewhere in the city that your daughter can travel to safely) and make a list of those that seem a good fit. By reading the profiles on Insideschools, you’ll get a sense of how safe and orderly the schools are and that will also help you make a list of those you would reject under all circumstances.

Next step: You and your daughter take the lists to the nearest enrollment office which should work with you to find a place. Try to emphasize your top choices and definitely refuse those on your reject list. There is a downside – some schools do not like to take kids in 11th grade and many will be overcrowded, with no hope of accommodating another student.

There are other options: transfer schools and charter schools. You apply to these directly. No need to go through the enrollment office.

Transfer schools are for kids who have not been successful in their original high school or are looking for a less traditional environment. Usually you have to be at least 16 years old, as your daughter is, and behind in credit accumulation. Even if she is up-to-date on credits, her experience in an unsafe environment, and her desire for alternative setting, will be taken into account. Most transfer schools accept students all year long and like to interview students and parents before accepting them, to make sure it's a good fit. Charter schools choose their students by lottery, but if they have empty seats, they can take a student directly. Some charter high schools are aimed at older students, including several new ones opening next fall.

You can search for transfer schools on the Insideschools high school page; also check out Additional Ways to Graduate: High School Diploma & GED Programs, a directory of schools and programs for which she may qualify. Like all public schools, not every school is right for every child. Make sure you choose one where she will be challenged academically as well as safe.

Good luck to your daughter in her new placement!

Judy