What is the one thing above all others that determines how successful a student will be in high school? Study after study show that it is parental involvement. Students with supportive parents are 81 percent more likely to graduate, 44 percent more likely to attend post-secondary education, and they earn higher grades and miss fewer days of school.

The teachers and school counselors at Flex High take a holistic approach with students and their parents. Too often, parents of high schoolers don’t really know how their child is doing academically and emotionally. So, we create an individual learning plan for each student, and we include parents in decisions about their child’s education.

Read below to learn some good New Year’s resolutions for parents of teens.

  • Find out what type of learner your child is. Visual? Auditory? Do they flourish in a group setting or prefer to work alone? Some students feel lost in big classrooms and progress much faster when they receive a personalized learning plan. This model is ideal when a student is strong in one subject but may need extra help in another.
  • Get involved. Meet your student’s teachers, join the PTA and talk to your child about their classes and how they’re doing. Just knowing that you care about their schoolwork can reap positive benefits.
  • Don’t get too involved. Helicopter parents who attempt to do everything for their children stunt their educational and emotional growth. Having unrealistically high expectations can have the opposite effect and the student may feel they’ll never be good enough.
  • Teach them life skills. They may not be getting this from their school, so work with them on things like financial literacy, effective communication, time management, problem-solving and goal setting.
  • Make sure their physical needs are met – sleep, nutrition and exercise. Lead by example and create a healthy home environment.
  • Foster a love of learning. Encourage reading for fun, watching documentaries, visiting museums, discussing the history of your town and notable individuals. Explore new places as a family.

It is the teamwork of teachers, tutors, school counselors and parents to create the best possible learning environment. It’s especially important after the learning loss most students experienced during the pandemic.