Entering a K-8 school in 4th grade?

[Anonymous]

We have a child at Beauvoir and are not certain we want DC to continue on to STA/NCS. At the very least we want to look at other options, including WES and Norwood. Does anyone know if there are disadvantages to entering a K-8 school in 4th grade, in terms of social issues and acclimating at the new school? Also, will it even be possible to get admitted elsewhere--i.e. is 4th grade an admissions year anywhere besides STA?NCS? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

4th grade is an entry year at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Also entry year at Maret.

I suspect (but don't know) that there will be some openings in 3rd and 4th (because of attrition to Holton/Landon/NCS/STA) at both schools the OP mentions. If that is the case, then there will be other new families coming in at the same time.

At Norwood, there are three sections in each grade (at least in the early years) and they mix the sections up each year. I think that helps keep new kids from feeling like outsiders.

[Anonymous]

Kids come and go every year at every school.

[Anonymous]

Kids come and go, but sometimes the character of a class is set. The advantage of going in 4th is that you MIGHT be able to get honest answers about whether it is a "good," easygoing class or whether there are problems. Lots of openings might occasionally reflect a mass exodus (relatively speaking) in a particular grade.