Written by Erica Kenney and Angie Weidinger
Photos by Erica Kenney

Ah yes. The inevitable St. Louis question. You won’t meet a native St. Louisan who hasn’t asked it. You won’t meet a transplant who hasn’t been asked it. Whether or not you want to admit it, when you tell a person where you went to high school, you are telling them more about you than where you physically went to high school. Many have investigated the heritage and reasons for the “Where did you go to high school?” phenomenon and they can claim it to be an ice breaker or a means of identifying mutual friends. But, many feel your answer holds a yearbook full of stereotypes.

Behind the Minds student panel:
Front row (left to right):
Lacee Dupart – Crossroads College Preparatory, Paige Smith – Parkway West, Seth Huntington – Ritenour
Back row (left to right):
Austin Smith – Saint Louis University High, Sami Hunkler – Visitation Academy, Laura Pichler – Oakville

That’s thanks to generalizations of St. Louis’ geographic areas, as well as the city’s wide selection of private schools. The next episode of Behind the Minds explores the topic of public vs. private education in St. Louis. I recently attended a taping for the show in which students from both public and private St. Louis schools participated in a panel discussion about their high school experiences. Topics of the discussion included how they chose the school they attend, how their school has prepared them for their college transition, and advice for middle school students who are trying to decide which high school to attend. 

Behind the Minds producer Angie Weidinger visits with the student panel

Behind the Minds hosts Gina Kurre and Jerry Bryan interview the student panel.

Are the stereotypes true? How much does the type of high school education you receive affect your future? This upcoming program explores these questions.  And, this panel, will leave middle school students and their parents with some priceless advice. 

Behind the Minds premieres February 13, exclusively on HEC-TV