Tulsa School Fair Eases Transition From Middle School To High School

Grant Sloan, News On 6

Eighth graders and their parents got to explore eleven different high schools Saturday, and there were plenty of choices.

You expect to see kids hanging out at the mall on a Saturday, but what you probably wouldn't expect is to see them learning about school while they're there.

Tulsa Public Schools held an all-district high school fair Saturday to showcase what 11 different high schools from the surrounding area had to offer.

"We are displaying all of the high schools and their special programs, and getting kids interested in their careers," said Janice Bayouth, Tulsa's director of magnet schools.

And kids have an unlimited number of programs to choose from, everything from ballet to music to mechanical engineering, and it's that variety that makes all the difference.

"It helps with graduation rates, it helps with attendance, it just keeps them interested," Bayouth said.

Brian Stone, the assistant principal at East Central echoed Bayouth's assessment and touted the programs his school offers.

"Whatever it is that you're passionate about, whatever it is that you're interested in, you can address it in our program," he said.

The fair gave both parents and students a preview of the programs offered at each school and helps them navigate the uneasy waters of high school.

"Before I started getting into stuff like this, I didn't do any of it. I didn't dance or play in the orchestra," said Treylor Dreadfulwater a student.

And it's that passion which helps encourage kids to be successful after they leave the halls of high school.

Christ Johnson, the principal at Memorial said high school has changed.

"We're not just generalized high school anymore. We have specialized programs that can be a great advantage to you and your student."

School representatives say what's really important is finding out what your child is passionate about early on so they're motivated to learn not only in high school but later on in college.

To learn more about Tulsa magnet schools, click here.