K-8 parents of 8th graders—are you satisfied with outplacement?

[Anonymous]

We are looking at k-8s for middle school. I know things are getting more and more competitive for 9th. Now the results are out, how satisfied are you with the process? Can K-8s still deliver good outplacement options?

[Anonymous]

Obviously, it is too early to tell for this year (although my kid has been texting with his friends all weekend . . . ), but signs are very good. I think the PK (K) - 8s like Sheridan, Norwood, Lowell, St. Pats have consistently done well. Our kids are at one of these, and we are really happy with the results.

Adding that these schools do the middle years really well. They tend to focus on social-emotional well-being and educating the whole child. I understand now how important that is in the tween/early teen years. Middle school has been a good experience for our kids. They seem both happy and well-prepared for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously, it is too early to tell for this year (although my kid has been texting with his friends all weekend . . . ), but signs are very good. I think the PK (K) - 8s like Sheridan, Norwood, Lowell, St. Pats have consistently done well. Our kids are at one of these, and we are really happy with the results.

Adding that these schools do the middle years really well. They tend to focus on social-emotional well-being and educating the whole child. I understand now how important that is in the tween/early teen years. Middle school has been a good experience for our kids. They seem both happy and well-prepared for HS.

+1

[Anonymous]

Was this year different from other years?

[Anonymous]

Dont do it for hs placement.

[Anonymous]

If your primary interest is good high school placement, you’re better off applying to one of the schools that starts in lower grades and goes through 12. Otherwise, yes, the k-8s in general do fine in outplacement but everything is more competitive and nothing is guaranteed. It’s also been changing so much the last few years that I think it will be difficult to predict what it will be like in 2-4 years when you will be looking at high schools.

[Anonymous]

Currently at one of the K-8s mentioned above and thrilled with the outplacement and the school's support during the application process.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

[Anonymous]

No one knows what the entire class did at this point. It’s too early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Currently at one of the K-8s mentioned above and thrilled with the outplacement and the school's support during the application process.

Same. Our 8th grader got in to 2 of 3 we were hoping for so we are quite happy.

[Anonymous]

DD graduating from K-8 school has the great options we were hoping she would have. We are happy we the K-8 model. They do a great job of helping the kids find a school that is a good match.

[Anonymous]

Also at one of the K-8s mentioned above and kids I know about are happy. GDS was a much tougher admit this year, for everyone, I assume, because they had committed to shrinking the number of students to comply with their agreement with the neighborhood. But otherwise the results seem to be pretty great. A few are waiting to hear from public magnets. I know of one who was admitted but didn’t get enough aid. I think it’s been really hard for many to get the aid they need. That’s maybe not talked about enough here. Some kids get waitlisted because they need aid, and some get in but are on financial aid waiting lists. That’s hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also at one of the K-8s mentioned above and kids I know about are happy. GDS was a much tougher admit this year, for everyone, I assume, because they had committed to shrinking the number of students to comply with their agreement with the neighborhood. But otherwise the results seem to be pretty great. A few are waiting to hear from public magnets. I know of one who was admitted but didn’t get enough aid. I think it’s been really hard for many to get the aid they need. That’s maybe not talked about enough here. Some kids get waitlisted because they need aid, and some get in but are on financial aid waiting lists. That’s hard.

Has it been harder than in previous years? If so, why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

The current 8th graders joined during COVID!

[Anonymous]

Is it hard for the kids to start over at high school, socially?