For those whose kids missed the K cutoff/repeated pre-k

[Anonymous]

My son turned 4 in late September and attends a preschool with a late cutoff. As such, he is in pre-k this year, but will need to either repeat pre-k or do a Kindergarten bridge program next year (when he turns 5) before starting private Kindergarten the following year, when he turns 6.

For anyone who’s been in this situation, or who is an educator, do you have a recommendation between the two? My sons preschool is very play based which has been wonderful for the early years, but I feel he could use something more academic at 5 years old. On the other hand, DS loves his preschool (which is also very conveniently located to our home), and every year, a few summer and fall birthday kids in this situation repeat. What would you do- a K bridge program in another private preschool which would ease DS into the structure and academics for K, or repeat pre-k at current very play based school?

[Anonymous]

Why aren’t you applying for K next year?

[Anonymous]

Consider applying for K/PK at private schools. This way, even if he's still in PK, he'll be starting his new environment.

[Anonymous]

Could he have a different teacher next year at the current school? Is there a different preK teacher? Because if he repeats with the same teacher he may get bored of the routines/projects that they'll likely repeat

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? My dd was in the exact position. She was going to repeat pre-k again at her preschool but once applications were in I met with the director and it turned out my dd was going to be months older than everyone else. She’s the youngest child in our family so acts older, too. I decided to switch and put her in K at a small preschool-k that had a 9/30 cutoff and was all day. She ate it up and thrived. Then she redid K at one of the top independent schools the following year. She was not at all bored but was really able to be challenged as she already knew how to read, etc. Shes in upper elementary now and in hindsite it was a great decision.

[Anonymous]

I actually thought this would be the case with my child with a Nov bday, but I found out that their preschool has a separate PreK class geared towards the older 5yos. Before I realized that, we were going to send them to a Pre K class in whichever school we hoped to send them to K. I would consider that as a potential option, although applications are due soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son turned 4 in late September and attends a preschool with a late cutoff. As such, he is in pre-k this year, but will need to either repeat pre-k or do a Kindergarten bridge program next year (when he turns 5) before starting private Kindergarten the following year, when he turns 6.

For anyone who’s been in this situation, or who is an educator, do you have a recommendation between the two? My sons preschool is very play based which has been wonderful for the early years, but I feel he could use something more academic at 5 years old. On the other hand, DS loves his preschool (which is also very conveniently located to our home), and every year, a few summer and fall birthday kids in this situation repeat. What would you do- a K bridge program in another private preschool which would ease DS into the structure and academics for K, or repeat pre-k at current very play based school?

PreK isn't a grade, so you can't repeat it. Preschool is an experience that happens over multiple years for many children. You continue to go to preschool until you are old enough for Kindergarten.

I'd have him stay put. Play based is great for kids, and no need to change schools twice.

[Anonymous]

Same situation, we are applying for prek so that is the first year in private and the year that kiddo repeats. Does the private not start until K? If private at the K+ isn't an option, I would keep where he is, no need to do another transition, that's hard on a kid, especially since you'll start there and then need teacher recommendations from a place that's brand new to your kiddo.

[Anonymous]

Repeat K. So many options after that. I’m a teacher and a parent who had to make that choice twice! Don’t regret it for either child.

[Anonymous]

We found a private that would take them for K. Have a high school student and no regrets. They have been clear they would not have been happy about being held back.

[Anonymous]

My son has a mid-Sept birthday and was in the same situation. He is now in 6th grade. He went to preschool in a county with a 9/30 cut-off for K and we live in a county with a 9/1 cut-off. We sent him to a more academic pre-K program at a Catholic grade school for the year between preschool and kindergarten - he got the benefit of another year of social growth (which was needed) in a slightly more academic environment that felt a bit more like kindergarten. The next year we moved him to kindergarten at our parish school, where he remains. Our parish school gave us the options of doing two years of kindergarten there, but I felt that he would feel like he was being "held back," so we opted for the different environment for the pre-K year. No regrets with our decision. I think he was academically ready for K right after he finished preschool but definitely benefitted from the year of social growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has a mid-Sept birthday and was in the same situation. He is now in 6th grade. He went to preschool in a county with a 9/30 cut-off for K and we live in a county with a 9/1 cut-off. We sent him to a more academic pre-K program at a Catholic grade school for the year between preschool and kindergarten - he got the benefit of another year of social growth (which was needed) in a slightly more academic environment that felt a bit more like kindergarten. The next year we moved him to kindergarten at our parish school, where he remains. Our parish school gave us the options of doing two years of kindergarten there, but I felt that he would feel like he was being "held back," so we opted for the different environment for the pre-K year. No regrets with our decision. I think he was academically ready for K right after he finished preschool but definitely benefitted from the year of social growth.

Thanks so much for this perspective (and to others who shared their experience.) was it hard having him in three different schools in three years? I also think my son could benefit from a more academic curriculum next year, but he loves his current school and I’m worried about changing his school two years in a row. The school were interested in for kindergarten is k-12 so no pre-k option there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We found a private that would take them for K. Have a high school student and no regrets. They have been clear they would not have been happy about being held back.

Bot or girl? I would do that for a girl but not a boy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a mid-Sept birthday and was in the same situation. He is now in 6th grade. He went to preschool in a county with a 9/30 cut-off for K and we live in a county with a 9/1 cut-off. We sent him to a more academic pre-K program at a Catholic grade school for the year between preschool and kindergarten - he got the benefit of another year of social growth (which was needed) in a slightly more academic environment that felt a bit more like kindergarten. The next year we moved him to kindergarten at our parish school, where he remains. Our parish school gave us the options of doing two years of kindergarten there, but I felt that he would feel like he was being "held back," so we opted for the different environment for the pre-K year. No regrets with our decision. I think he was academically ready for K right after he finished preschool but definitely benefitted from the year of social growth.

Thanks so much for this perspective (and to others who shared their experience.) was it hard having him in three different schools in three years? I also think my son could benefit from a more academic curriculum next year, but he loves his current school and I’m worried about changing his school two years in a row. The school were interested in for kindergarten is k-12 so no pre-k option there.

Are you not in the DMV? Rearranging your life for the chance to be denied from your one k-12 option seems much harder than applying to summer schools with prek option now and then trying for your hoped for school later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a mid-Sept birthday and was in the same situation. He is now in 6th grade. He went to preschool in a county with a 9/30 cut-off for K and we live in a county with a 9/1 cut-off. We sent him to a more academic pre-K program at a Catholic grade school for the year between preschool and kindergarten - he got the benefit of another year of social growth (which was needed) in a slightly more academic environment that felt a bit more like kindergarten. The next year we moved him to kindergarten at our parish school, where he remains. Our parish school gave us the options of doing two years of kindergarten there, but I felt that he would feel like he was being "held back," so we opted for the different environment for the pre-K year. No regrets with our decision. I think he was academically ready for K right after he finished preschool but definitely benefitted from the year of social growth.

Thanks so much for this perspective (and to others who shared their experience.) was it hard having him in three different schools in three years? I also think my son could benefit from a more academic curriculum next year, but he loves his current school and I’m worried about changing his school two years in a row. The school were interested in for kindergarten is k-12 so no pre-k option there.

PP here - I did worry a bit about switching him again, but our parish school did not have a preK at the time so like you, we could not move him directly there. Looking back, I do think he had some butterflies the first week of kindergarten likely due to missing his old school, but those quickly evaporated thanks to the excellent teacher he had who quickly won him over. It is a temporary issue that will quickly fade if he’s in the right school, especially at that age. Good luck with your decision!