New to Maryland/MCPS and Wanting to Repeat Grade 7

[Anonymous]

We are US citizens who have been overseas for all of our 12 year-old's education. We are coming from an international school environment where age cutoffs were different, and our child has never been in a US school. We're looking for a house in MoCo and would like our child to repeat the current grade -- Grade 7 -- in MCPS next year. Going by MCPS age cut-offs, our child should be in Grade 6 this year anyway, but the international school transcript shows Grade 7. Any advice for convincing MCPS middle schools to let us enroll for Grade 7 for next year? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It might be a tough sell. MCPS likes to say they meet children at whatever level they are at. Officially they only look at birthday for placement in kindergarten and 1st grade. Is there a counselor type person at his current school that is familiar with the US curriculum that could support your request. There is some type of International Students office though they are going to give you MCPS policy which almost never has kids repeat.

[Anonymous]

Lobby for placement in grade 6 now, based on the birthday. That will guarantee grade 7 placement in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Once you find your home and settle in, register your child as homeschooled/independently schooled. They will place the child in 6th based on the birthday. Or go private for the remainder of the year requesting placement in sixth. You'll be fine, welcome back!

[Anonymous]

Explain that seventh graders in this other country are the age of sixth graders in mcps. Explain that the grades are named differently and that mcps sixth is the equivalent to country x grade seven

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are US citizens who have been overseas for all of our 12 year-old's education. We are coming from an international school environment where age cutoffs were different, and our child has never been in a US school. We're looking for a house in MoCo and would like our child to repeat the current grade -- Grade 7 -- in MCPS next year. Going by MCPS age cut-offs, our child should be in Grade 6 this year anyway, but the international school transcript shows Grade 7. Any advice for convincing MCPS middle schools to let us enroll for Grade 7 for next year? Thanks.

My nephew did this. He actually attended a top 3 DMV private. He was getting all As but was getting bullied a lot so his parents decided to just enroll him in their zoned public school which was a 10/10 on GS for what it’s worth. He has a summer birthday and was also immature and they used those factors to argue that he should repeat. I think you should try it. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you find your home and settle in, register your child as homeschooled/independently schooled. They will place the child in 6th based on the birthday. Or go private for the remainder of the year requesting placement in sixth. You'll be fine, welcome back!

While providing records from an actual school? (not OP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are US citizens who have been overseas for all of our 12 year-old's education. We are coming from an international school environment where age cutoffs were different, and our child has never been in a US school. We're looking for a house in MoCo and would like our child to repeat the current grade -- Grade 7 -- in MCPS next year. Going by MCPS age cut-offs, our child should be in Grade 6 this year anyway, but the international school transcript shows Grade 7. Any advice for convincing MCPS middle schools to let us enroll for Grade 7 for next year? Thanks.

My nephew did this. He actually attended a top 3 DMV private. He was getting all As but was getting bullied a lot so his parents decided to just enroll him in their zoned public school which was a 10/10 on GS for what it’s worth. He has a summer birthday and was also immature and they used those factors to argue that he should repeat. I think you should try it. Good luck.

Which top 3 DMV private?

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for this very helpful advice! We really appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Just don’t submit any records and list that your child is currently in grade 6.

[Anonymous]

This will be up to principal discretion. I know someone who was able to do this in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Are we allowed to register without submitting any records from the past school?

[Anonymous]

I don't think you'll have any trouble with this honestly, it is much harder to push forward a grade than hang back for one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we allowed to register without submitting any records from the past school?

My post will probably be removed, but it's not required only if the parents can't speak English and from certain countries.

But since you are US citizens, they will want the records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we allowed to register without submitting any records from the past school?

Just say you haven't been able to get them from the school, or claim you are currently homeschooling and child is in grade 6.