Question about kid moving from a different country

[Anonymous]

A co-worker is moving from South africa with her son who is in 9th grade in an independent school. Apparently they start school in January so the kid would have done 7 months of school by the time he arrives. Will the school ask kid to repeat 9th grade or will they put him in 10th even if he didn't finish school. Can co-worker ask for a placement test? Apparently the son is a straight A student but parents don't know how it will compare to the schools here. They plan to send child to a public school in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

If he hasn't complete the classes there, he'll need to redo them here. HS is all about credits.

[Anonymous]

He’ll probably be placed in the same grade. If he is moving in January, then schools here will have been in session for 4 months. Different material is taught or taught at a different pace so he may or may not be repeating material. And the fact that he might be a bit ahead should provide him with a bit of breathing room as he adjusts to a new home, school, and culture.

[Anonymous]

It's on a case by case basis, OP. I moved internationally 3 times when I was a kid, and each time schools made their own determination. One school system thought I should repeat 2 grades (!) because I had never taken formal lessons in their language, so my parents shopped around for a school that ended up skipping me ahead one grade, based on my grades and interview. I did well academically, but socially I was a little young.

I would encourage your friend to place her kid with his same-aged peers if possible, regardless of courses taken, because it sounds like the kid will adjust academically anyway (and might be ahead). A lot of American school systems prioritize age-appropriate placement anyway.

[Anonymous]

I’m in arlington, when we’ve had kids who come in the middle of the year from overseas, they usually repeat the grade.

[Anonymous]

What’s his age? Many kids in Arlignton, Texas specially boys are almost 15 or already 15 when starting 9th. That might also make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, not Texas. Weird autocorrect.