Q:  My son has a choice of high schools to attend.  Doesn't the reputation of a high school -- whether it's well known or not -- have an effect on college admissions?

A:  True, some high schools have a stronger reputation than others, and there is indeed a certain amount of "name recognition" in admissions offices.  But does this mean that students from Famous High School are all going to be admitted to top colleges, while applicants from Neighborhood High have no chance?  Of course not!  Nationwide, there are dozens of well-known secondary schools, but thousands of schools much less famous.  Students from both categories are admitted to outstanding colleges and universities.

First of all, the name itself is not everything.  At any school there is a range of accomplishment.  Students taking challenging courses and achieving high grades are going to get attention, no matter what school name is on the transcript.  What teachers and counselors write about the student is significant as well.  Individual records, scores, activities, essays, and recommendations all count.

Every application to college is accompanied by a document from the high school called the "profile." This tells about the size of the school, the credentials of the faculty, the student:teacher ratio, the types of courses offered, the grading scale, test scores achieved, the extra-curricular activities, and where students are admitted to college.  This provides a portrait of the school and places the applicant in context.  Admissions officers read these and assess the applicants from those schools in the context of the educational environment from which they come.

You, also, have to look at the whole picture of the schools your son might attend.  How far will he have to travel?  When you visited, were the students and teachers friendly? Did you sit in on any classes to see what they are like?  Famous High School might be right for some, while Neighborhood High is perfect for others. It's not only about college admissions -- what is day-to-day life like in each school?  Your son will be there for four years.  Where does he think he will be happier? I'd go with that one.