Today’s teenagers have been stereotyped as adventurous and harebrained individuals.  They are generally fond of experimenting with things until they get in touch with drugs, sex, guns, alcohol among others. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, 16,000 young adults die each year from unintentional injuries and accidents.  The most common justification for teenagers’ care-free attitude is that their brains just aren’t developed enough to know better. However, recent research shows that in some cases the fact is just the opposite, the brain matures not too slowly but perhaps, too quickly.

According to a psychiatrist, an adolescent who engages in more dangerous activities have white-matter pathways that seem to be more mature than those of risk-averse youths.  White-matter is the brain’s wiring, the neutral pathways that connect the various gray-matter regions of the cerebrum that are independent of one another.  Having a mature white-matter is necessary because it allows faster brain processing speed.  Nerve impulses also travel faster in mature white-matter. Experiments also reveal that the more mature the look of the brain, the more adventurous the teenager tended to be.
Another possible explanation is that some teenagers whose brains develop more rapidly than others become uncomfortable and a little confused owing to the gap between their biological capabilities and the social norms they must follow as kids. Precocious development of these neural tracts may make some adolescents more susceptible to engage in behaviors that society considers too adult in nature for their chronological age. It is also a common notion that teens make dumb decisions because their brains are immature. In other words, having a more mature brain may actually motivate some teens to try out new and potentially harmful experiences.
For now, these theories are mere speculation, and the researchers concede that the interaction of white and gray matter is so complex that hard conclusions remain elusive. The results of the study are relatively bare and by no means conclusive. The human brain is so intricate in nature, and one has to consider the fact that there are other factors that come into play such as the environment and certain genetic predispositions that are equally complex to study.

A recent research discovered distressing signs that demographic factors such as gender, race, and parental education play significant roles in ascertaining a student’s fate, no matter how studious or hardworking the particular student may be. Those from families with below-average earnings or whose parents didn’t finish college, are the ones failing college at disproportionate rates, even when distinguished from students with similar grades and test scores. Well to do undergrads earn 11 percent more degrees from flagship universities than comparable students from the poorest income quartile. White men are six percent more likely to graduate than black men with similar grades and scores. Women earn degrees at much higher rates than men. The findings about the actions that parents, students, and politicians should and shouldn’t take to fix the problems are already creating controversy.
High school grades are among the best indicators of how well a student will do in college. They typically manifest qualities of motivation and perseverance, good study habits and time management skills that tell us about their chances of completing a college program.  Students who attend wealthier high schools do seem to enjoy a slight edge in enrolling in college and elite high schools appear to help the very best students succeed at the most selective public universities.
Students shouldn’t settle for less in a college. They have a better chance of graduating if they go to school with other students as talented as they are. High school grades are extremely important as indicators of success in college. It will not do for high school students to believe that ‘just getting through’ is enough, students have to work, they have to achieve. If they do, they have a better chance of succeeding in college and later in life.
Research has shown the influence of inspired and determined peers, who are not always present in community college classrooms. Many community college students also have expressed concerns over the years about the inability of their schools to direct them to classes that will count as transfer credits. In addition, many students are certainly put off by complexities in transfer processes.
Cash is another factor, it absolutely helps but is not a cure-all. More generous scholarships, or lower net tuition fees, can raise graduation rates by 5 to 10 percent. In addition, putting together enough aid with extra support services for students and parents does even more to guide and assist students through to graduation.
There is some hope though. The graduation rate success of students involved in experiments shows that graduation rates can be increased substantially if enough resources and creativity are put to work.

Every year, many parents scout for the most suitable high school where their teens can enroll. Amongst the many educational programs offered nowadays, what comprises a good curriculum? How would you know what academy stands out from the crowd? Does Royal Gorge Academy in Colorado pass these many criteria?

First off, a good academy should offer a full course curriculum in all academic core subjects. It is much better if they have a number of electives as well. Why? Not only will you get value of the tuition fee you pay for your child, the academy will also be able to render students with a well rounded education. Such is the case with Royal Gorge’s program of studies. In fact, their curriculum is aligned with the Colorado Model Content Standards, as mandated by the “No Child Left Behind” federal legislation of 2001. So how’s that for a start?

Royal Gorge Academy also offers advanced placement classes that allow students to obtain dual college credit for selected coursework while obtaining their high school diploma. The Switched On Schoolhouse computer program is the defined programs of study for Royal Gorge Academy . The Switched On Schoolhouse program for instruction and assessment supports and aligns with the desired results for student learning required by the State of Colorado.

If school facilities are one of your major concerns, then you will be more than happy to know that their students enjoy a gorgeous campus that houses up-to-date, modern facilities, including comfortable dormitories, a spacious dining area, fully-equipped classrooms, a full gymnasium with weight and exercise rooms, an indoor heated swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer field, and a performing arts auditorium.

Of course, last but definitely not the least, if you believe that students should thrive in a structured environment where emphasis on academic excellence, personal responsibility, exemplary moral values such as respect for self and others, then there’s no doubt that Royal Gorge Academy is the school of your choice. Armed with their effective Character Development Program known as Positive Peer Culture, you can expect your child to be development their full potential.

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Tradition is good. Many have been to quick to exchange it with something new and temporary. But they are forgetting the details. The idea of educating newer generations with learnings that have stood the test of time is not only admirable, but also precious. And that is exactly what the pride of Carolina Springs Academy (CSA) is all about. They teach respect, honor, integrity in the traditions of the Old South.

Be careful not to misconstrue tradition with backwards. Carolina Springs Academy has an extremely progressive academic program. The academic program is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities. Their curriculum is one which is individualized and competency based. The result allows the students to work at his or her own pace and maximize the learning process.

CSA strives to provide a proper balance of recreation, exercise, learning, personal development and social opportunities. Most activities are held on or around the campus and additional off campus activities are available to all students. They offer students and their families the opportunity to participate in significant professional seminars. And to further show their commitment in working with the entire family, CSA has cooperated with Premier Educational Services in developing a series of highly effective seminars for both the parents and the child.

So if you are looking for an academy which more than surpasses modern education, CSA may just be the answer your are waiting for. Let your teen experience positive change and personal growth with the values, integrity, honor and respect for authority that CSA will instilled in them.

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If you are looking for a boarding school which will unite your family through education, growth and change, then Academy at Ivy Ridge will agree with you.

Ivy Ridge prides itself to be a boarding school for the future. They are progressive and at the same time, it connotes their commitment to give your children a better future by way of scholastic, social and moral teachings. Ivy Ridge wishes to challenge and motivate students by developing their leadership skills, necessary to become responsible and productive members of society.

Academy at Ivy Ridge sits on 237 acres of land overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the majority of which are heavily forested. The forested area provides plenty of outdoor recreational space and nature trail where occasionally we spot flocks of wild turkeys and herds of deer.

The facility has over 200,000 square feet of building space which houses classrooms, dorms, recreational areas, computer centers, science labs, food services, and offices. Recently, their campus now includes an additional gymnasium/locker room complex, additional classrooms and covered walkway to connect the main buildings.

Educating teens involves imparting of wisdom they might be using for the rest of their lives. By experiencing an individualized and self-paced educational program at Ivy Ridge, students will foster a self motivation quality that they will treasure for the rest of their adulthood.

Click here for their blog and here for the official website.