Poll: Good School or Good Friends?

[TheLefty]

So my family is moving (by force, we were renting but the land lord didn't pay the mortgage so the bank foreclosed and is evicting us even though we pay our rent) and it would be a lot easier for us to find a house in our price range if we didn't have to be in our price range if we could move into a different school district...which would involve me moving quite a ways away from my friends.

But on the other side the school we may move into is far better than the one I'm in currently, higher test scores, more funds, and the like, while the houses being (generally) less money for similar condition.

However, the school I'm at now isn't bad, it's actually the one of the top schools in the area, but the school I may move into is even higher on the list, while also having huge funding. It's almost like a private school in a public school skin, (it's even called an academy, not sure what that means though now-a-days).

And it's not like I can't make friends, I'm fairly charming (If I do say so myself) and I make friend easily...it's just going from nothing all over again sounds a bit overwhelming.

So in my never ending indecisiveness, and the quickly shrinking amounts of time I have to decide I've turned to the only source of non-biased advisors I could think of.

Pros of Staying schools
Friends
Ease of transfer (changing mailing location is easier than transferring schools)
Our current favorite house (so far) is in my current school district
Cons of Staying
Not much really...
Slightly lesser schooling.

Pros of Moving Schools
There's only a short distance to get back to my friends.
Better school, with more funds.

Cons of Moving
Losing friends I've had since 5th grade.
We would need to look around more.

EDIT: The schools aren't a huge difference academically (I think our academic decathlon or whatever it's called team beat the other school's last year) but there's a huge difference in funds. It's not a huge difference for me, but if the school isn't scrounging for paper I feel like we could do a lot better.

 

[Marter]

I would say that the school would be more important. Your education can really dictate how your life will go after school, and having a good education will help you in the future.

Friends often come and go, and satisfy the wants of now, but aren't as beneficial for the future.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Well personally I think I'd stay with my friends.

It doesn't matter how good the school is, doesn't mean I'm going to work.

Still if you care about your tests and your school and everything then I suppose that's the option for you.

 

[Blue_vision]

I say don't care about the quality of the school. If you're good friends with people there, that'll give you the best experience imo, especially if you're switching at an awkward time (even just going into high school from elementary where you don't know anyone is a kick in the balls.)
If you don't feel like your education's the best, then I say work on it yourself. Have fun with your friends at school, and some of your time challenging yourself, working on complex problems or learning new things via wikipedia/other internets and extracurricular academics.

EDIT: But my opinion's coloured. I had to switch school districts going into high school, was excited for it, and it turned out that not only did it suck not knowing anyone, but the school was shite as well. I switched to yet another school the year after and have some pretty good friends, but I still regret leaving my other ones. Feels bad man

 

[Trivun]

Normally, I'd say go for the better school. That's because these friends won't be around for much longer, when you graduate, regardless of you staying near them now. That's just how it goes, and so your own future is better (look out for number one, not everyone else!).

However, I voted in the poll for you to stay with your friends. But I stress that the only reason I answered that way is because you say your school is pretty good anyway and you seem to get good marks and whatnot anyway. You say your school is one of the top schools in the area, so why move, really? The only benefit I can see to moving is the fact that houses will be slightly cheaper, which will benefit you and your family. But as far as schools go, always go for the best option, your education is much more important than your friends at this point in your life, yet if you're already somewhere decent and not much will change by moving, then there's little point in the move.

 

[Space Spoons]

Unless you're really lucky, you're probably never gonna see any of your friends again once you all get out of school, or at least not until the big high school reunion. It's better for you in the long run to go with the better school.

 

[SnipErlite]

Personally I think I'd go for the friends, I hate being on my own in school.

But a big factor is how much more the better school will help you later in life...Hmm. *shrug*?

 

[thedeathscythe]

I was in your scenario and I chose my friends. I personally didn't think I needed a good school for whatever I may do with my life (and continue to hold that belief), but I'm really tight with my friends so I couldn't see myself leaving at all. You can always make new friends, but I just didn't want to not see my old ones every day XD

Some people here are saying that you won't see your friends after highschool, and that's bullshit. Unless they're the social outcast types that never get out. I see my friends every few days, we play online and every few days we'll go paintball, see a movie or just hang out at someones place. Sure, I never see those acquaintances but whatever.

 

[wrecker77]

I was forced with this exact same delema about 3 months ago. If its grades your parents want, would you rather be in the top 3 of your school, or top 50 in a really good school?

Stay with your friends.

 

[Lexodus]

STICK WITH YOUR FRIENDS. I know it isn't such a big jump, but starting again enough times will fuck you up. I am a wreck of a person because we never stayed in the same place for long, which leads to PROBLEMS.

 

[Jack_Uzi]

I will opt for good friends. A good school is very important. But hey, school is a thing that can't last for ever. F*ck maths because I still don't need to know the root of PI multiplied by the times that F equaled my marginal rate on it to go trough every day life.
The only thing you get of it is a certificate of me being the well trained monkey they want me to be and judged by it because that thing also showes how 'intelligent' I am.
Friends don't judge these things, they see a person, not the grades.

 

[Vhite]

I voted for school but in your case there doesnt seems to be that great difference between those 2 scools so I would stick with them.

 

[Devil's Due]

Friends are good things to have, but in the end the better school gives you more knowledge and a higher chance a job will pick you. I mean after all, if you have someone who goes to a regular college or a guy who went to Harvard, I'm pretty sure the job will pick the Harvard guy because it's a better school (if they were even in everything else).

I know it sucks to lose your friends, but you can always stay in touch with them, and you'll probably not see them anyways once you grow older or they move themselves. Sides, you'll get new friends at the new school.