I wouldn't worry about high school at this point. A lot is going to change in your life in the next 8 years, LW. My parents moved to a town for a school system I never ended up attending.
But if your kid is possibly gender nonconforming in some fashion, then I suggest -- even if covid means you can't visit anyone in person -- get a sense of how both the rural school and your current school handle gender nc kids. Does either school already have out gender nc kids? Do they have an explicit bathroom policy? What's the sports team policy? Do they let kids choose pronouns? Do they let kids who are assigned male at birth wear dresses? What's the anti-bullying policy? Find the existing PFLAG or parents' group in both school systems, and ask what their biggest frustrations are. And the rural community may be better than your current school system -- don't assume!
Your kid will probably be intellectually fine. But if they're forced to closet, they have high odds of dying. Priorities.
no subject
But if your kid is possibly gender nonconforming in some fashion, then I suggest -- even if covid means you can't visit anyone in person -- get a sense of how both the rural school and your current school handle gender nc kids. Does either school already have out gender nc kids? Do they have an explicit bathroom policy? What's the sports team policy? Do they let kids choose pronouns? Do they let kids who are assigned male at birth wear dresses? What's the anti-bullying policy? Find the existing PFLAG or parents' group in both school systems, and ask what their biggest frustrations are. And the rural community may be better than your current school system -- don't assume!
Your kid will probably be intellectually fine. But if they're forced to closet, they have high odds of dying. Priorities.