My Daughter wanted to go to a guy friends house from high school. when I asked her who he was and where he lived and how old he was she replied “He’s twenty years old.” HUH? “Twenty” I asked. She is fifteen and I said NO, of course. But what I can’t believe is that a twenty year old is still in high school, public high school no less!
What is the age limit on students in high school? I couldn’t find anything on the U.S. Department of Education on this subject. Does anyone know?
I can see if someone is slow or mentally retarded there might be an exception. If the student has had discipline problems when he or she turns eighteen is it time to go? I had no idea that if you don’t graduate by eighteen or nineteen in some cases you just keep going. When is it that someone is to old for high school, Twenty, Twenty-five?
If you have a comment or any info on this subject let me know.
Wolfbernz
School Education Current affairs News Weblog Diary Teacher Social Life Thursday thirteen
Hi
I don’t really agree that Hispanics are the new Jews and that the government of the USA can be compared to the Germans.
If you had all “A’s” and you were president of your class why would your parents leave and put you in such a situation?
Also if you are a smart one, why in the world would you start selling drugs knowing it’s wrong?
We all have choices in life and we create our own destiny with those choices. In my life I had all the opportunity to take an attitude toward everything and use it as an excuse to do the wrong thing quit high school and just give up but I didn’t I worked, I ate crow shit, I took jobs nobody wanted. I started with a surfboard and a toolbox and went on my own knocking on doors working for almost nothing. I went days without food hard to beleive it’s true we all get a start it’s what you do with it that makes the man. We all have an equal opportunity. A young hispanic walked into my large shop years later no english but good skills had kids no money and of course I hired him and at more money then he deserved he was that good at what he did. Today 20 years later he is still my friend… He successfully owns a couple houses has grand kids and the American dream of self employment. So do I disagree with you, yes. We all get freedome of speach but I don’t have to agree.
All the best
Wolf
My parents enrolled in high school at the beginning of this year age 18 and i was accepted even though i have turned 19 since.
We are looking at enrolling at another high school for next, which i will be 19 turning 20 but we are ringing next week to find out more.
My reason is just that i dropped out age 16 because i was depressed but didn’t know it at the time, and after a 3 year gap i decided i really wanted to finish.
Saying “I can see if someone is slow or mentally retarded there might be an exception. ” is really quite insulting to a lot of people at an older age at high school.
If you don’t want your daughter seeing an older guy then fine, say no, but don’t insult and offend innocent people who are only concerned about finishing their education. highly doubt his only reason for being there is to prey on young girls.. High school isn’t THAT much fun so anyone there is obviously only there to learn. And isn’t the 18-20 year gap a hell of a lot smaller than the 12-18 year gap…?
Honestly 18+ aged kids in high school sounds like a far better idea than 18+ year old dropouts with no education.
me* not my parents.
My parents enrolled me in high school at the beginning of this year age 18 and i was accepted even though i have turned 19 since.
We are looking at enrolling at another high school for next, which i will be 19 turning 20 but we are ringing next week to find out more.
My reason is just that i dropped out age 16 because i was depressed but didn’t know it at the time, and after a 3 year gap i decided i really wanted to finish.
Saying “I can see if someone is slow or mentally retarded there might be an exception. ” is really quite insulting to a lot of people at an older age at high school.
If you don’t want your daughter seeing an older guy then fine, say no, but don’t insult and offend innocent people who are only concerned about finishing their education. I highly doubt his only reason for being there is to prey on young girls.. High school isn’t THAT much fun so anyone there is obviously only there to learn. And isn’t the 18-20 year gap a hell of a lot smaller than the 12-18 year gap…?
Honestly 18+ aged kids in high school sounds like a far better idea than 18+ year old dropouts with no education.
Of course a relationship with a 15 year old is wrong for a 20 year old. However it is not wrong for a school to accept a 20 year old in high school, even if at the very least an alternative program. The reason I say this, is because I am a 19 year old girl who did not get to graduate. I had a rough time at home during high school, and ended up not making my credits in time. Now that those issues are under control, I would like to go back and try to get my diploma. Even perfectly normal people who attend every single day of school during high school sometimes end up not graduating… I’m living proof, my attendance was perfect, however I was put into about 3 different alternative programs that messed with my credits and by the end of my senior year, I was 6 credits (4 elective 2 English) away. When I talked to my counselor about finishing the next year, he said I’d have 10 more core credits added on to my 6 credits because I didn’t finish on time… So basically, I gave up. It’s not fair to say you MUST finish in this amount of time. Quite honestly so many people aren’t graduating in time I think they should make an upper level age program so you can still get your diploma, instead of just settling for a GED. I went to every single class, I never skipped school and yet I still did not graduate, I am planning on trying to re-enroll myself so I can get my diploma… How is it “right” just because someone is older than 18, to settle for less and get a GED? Even if you don’t graduate because you were busy goofing off or dropped out, when you turn 18 life tends to smack you in the face and you realize how important it is, people over 18 usually apply themselves way more than someone who is in mainstream high school… I do understand your point, and I do believe that if you are going to be over 18 and attending a high school class you should remember your age difference compared to the majority, not just for safety of the kids, but your own safety as well. I’m not sure what the maximum age is for high school, but I am pretty sure it varies from state to state… I would ask the school board what the max age is..
This is a really interesting blog; thanks for keeping it going! I stumbled upon you because I’m writing a fictional story about a young woman in her early 20s who ends up back in high school, and I wanted to research this situation and find out if it’s even possible, and how often does it happen, and what the social dynamics would be like.
In reading the many postings here, I’ve been moved by the many earnest souls who want to make up for mistakes or maltreatment of the past.
I would just say this: the very fact that you are reading here and posting your accounts proves that you are on the right track. I’m not going to be holier than thou and lecture anyone, but I’m going to point out that here in the U.S., there is more education opportunity than anywhere else in the world. In many other industrial countries, if you drop out of school at any point, you are DONE. But here, you can always go back, even if you’re 80 years old there’s a way to complete your education.
When you are past 18, you have certain advantages over your past self. You are no longer flooded with adolescent hormones and you are more mature and powerful than ever. You now have the ability to take charge of your life and make it right, if you think it’s wrong.
It’s not a shameful thing to leave high school or junior high. It has happened to thousands of people, perhaps millions of people, and it happened because it needed to happen at the time. Many of those people later regretted leaving, and that’s understandable, but regret is a waste of energy. Focus on the now. Where are you now, what are your goals in life, and what steps can you take to accomplish those goals?
There are many GED classes around the country. There are also junior colleges and community colleges which offer simultaneous GED and college degree programs. Visit http://www.communitycollegereview.com/ for a bunch of articles on this subject.
High school, for many us, is not a supportive environment. We are surrounded by very insecure kids who puff themselves up by putting down others. It can be physically abusive, emotionally traumatic, and completely demoralizing–all at a time when those pesky hormones are wreaking havoc with our brains and bodies.
Listen to Wolf’s advice, and especially follow your heart. You know best what you want to do with your life. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes or missteps of the past–we all make them. Some of us are luckier than others. Today is the right day to decide what to do with your life, and put that plan into action. Just remember–you are in charge. Even if you have to work 3 jobs, as someone mentioned–eventually you will find your path, and you will find something in you that the world values, and you’ll find your place.
Hi
Thanks for stopping by and adding your input 🙂
All the best
Wolfbernz
I’m not sure if your question has been answered or not, but… The age limit is 21, when you are 21 years old you are no longer legally allowed to attend a public highschool. The reason for this is, once you turn 21 you’re more likely to legally buy and bring alcohol to the school and I’m sure you can see why this is prohibited. There is a cut off, don’t worry.
A previous commenter mentioned that once you turn 18, if you haven’t graduated from high school, life tends to smack you in the face. That is definitely the case for me. I was not a rebel or anything of the sort; simply extremely emotionally traumatized and I could not keep up in my classes or deal with my responsibilities. Now that I’ve been ”rehabilitated”, I want to go return to high school because for me and my life aspirations, a GED doesn’t cut it.
I’m glad you are concerned for your daughter and curious about the “cut-off” age. Hope this helps.
In the public school they let you stay until you are 21 but that only if you are a good behaved student , i.am 20 going to 21 and I am in 12th grade(class of 2011),I started the 9 grade when I was 17 because i had just came back to live in the U.S. But that is mostly how it works and i am not the only one.
I am 23 years old and currently attending High school, I don’t think it’s fair that people will judge us simply for being a little older. We all love the vagina of young 16 to 18 year old girls, they are the dumb ones who do anything to my nuts for acceptance into the realm of the slightly older individuals. You can say what ever you want, but we all know that you older men( all you old fukers), would love to make love to a teenage girl. lol
Dude you really need some help. It’s no wonder you are still in school your not thinking right.
School is for the education not all about sex.
I’m 22, I agree with you that you think 20 is too old for high school, especially if the child hasn’t had any reason not to graduate. However, I am 22 and still haven’t received my high school diploma. I could have graduated with 48 credits at 16. I moved to missouri and they told me that the number of credits needed to graduate was 22, so that double what I needed to graduate according to that state. I chose to stay in high school and take as many dual-credit courses as possible (college classes) and to this day I wish I would have graduated early. I moved back to Iowa to finish and they told that I wasn’t able to graduate becuase I needed two Physical Education credits. I had gotten really sick and was hospitalized and the doctors waived those classes but my principal wouldn’t let me graduate. I’ve been through hell and back trying to get my diploma even though I’ve already “technically” graduated. The story goes on and on wit
Well you are not alone, this seems to be the story in this thread!
I wish there was more that could be done. Everyone’s circumstances are a little different but all have the same outcome.
Wish you well and all the best
Wolfbernz
I’m 20 and I’m a sophomore. Which means i will graduate from high school as soon as I’m 22. I know it sucks but i didnt have no choice because i had to be in that grade just cause i came back from Africa. I’m determined though so i know i will pass and graduate with no trouble.
When I was in high school there was a 22 year old in 12th grade. I do know hr was slightly slow but it was also the last year they where letting him attend.
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act requires States to provide special education and related services to students with disabilities through age 21 (meaning until age 22), unless the State lowers age eligibility for public education generally to somewhere between 18 and 21. Hawaii recently lowered the age limit for admission to public schools to 20 in order to avoid the expense of providing special education after that age, but it offers GED classes and two other alternative high school diplomas (competency-based and credit) in adult education classes without any age limit. The federal court has been asked to decide whether the adult education program is “public education” within the meaning of IDEA, in which case special education would continue to age 22.
As for regular high schools, educators and legislators are concerned about having students over 20 in the same classes as teenagers. As a result, state law and practice offer the high school equivalency diplomas to students over 20 who need a few more credits to graduate or who dropped out of school for some reason and now wish to complete their high school education. Older students probably should use community schools for adults rather than enroll in classes with teenagers, unless individual circumstances warrant an exception (immigrants with limited English proficiency; just a few more credits needed; etc.). The GED may not get you as far as a regular diploma, but it will get you into many colleges, where you can make up for the loss of a regular diploma and possibly transfer to a good 4-year college. Also, remember that Bill Gates dropped out of college to start Microsoft!
I’m 20 years old with 13 credits and was wondering if any of the job corps across the country will let me get my high school diploma there, does any one know?
I asked this question to a High School teacher and the answer I got was that Hispanics can stay till age 25.
hey im 17 and a senior in high school..would i still qualify to do another year next school year because i will still be 17 wen enrollment starts and will remain that age until the beggining of 2nd semestor…plus i would still be a minor because of my age and wouldnt it be wrong if i were denied even though i am not 18 yet?
A friend of mine is 21. She has been through several life issues in the last 3 years, including marriage, her husband going to the Gulf War, and the birth of her daughter. She has struggled to get all the credits she needs to graduate and has, except for her math credit. She wants to enroll back into the Alternative School where she has attended prior, complete her math credit, and be ready to graduate with this class in May, 2015 – even though she will only be required to attend from August to Christmas break to complete her math credit. She has been told she will need to get her GED. This doesn’t seem fair at all, especially when I read that Hispanics are given until age 25. Can you recommend a KY cite that will give specifics on age requirements? From what I read here, it looks like it is up to the individual schools pretty much. I am trying to help her get her diploma, as she has overcome her obstacles. She is pregnant again and due the end of December. Please help me get her some ammunition she can use when she meets again with the School Board.