Jefferson: Home-schooled students face fewer options in classes

PORT TOWNSEND — Ninth-grader David Kunz already knows what classes he wants take at Port Townsend High School next year — computer applications and industrial technology.

He found out Monday that he probably won’t get into either of them.

“It will be very disappointing to him if he doesn’t get in,” said David’s mother, Cindi Kunz. “He should have the option to take the classes.”

David, 15, is home schooled, one of 84 students on file with the Port Townsend School District who are educated outside the auspices of the public school system.

That means he is not working toward a public high school diploma.

It also means he is last in line to register if he wants to take classes on campus, and is out of luck if the classes are full.

That’s what David and his mother were told when they met with a counselor at Port Townsend High School this week.

“We first try to schedule students that have six classes,” explained Jennifer Stankus, the ninth- and 10th-grade counselor.

“Incoming freshmen will register this spring. Seniors, juniors and then sophomores will register next fall.”

New students — the category David falls into even though he is enrolled in one class this year — take whatever is left.

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The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

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