Mid school year start

[Anonymous]

Are there any private schools that allow a mid year start? My child is having a hard time at their local public school. I would like to transfer them to a private.

[Anonymous]

Yes, almost all of them if there’s room, but you need to call. It really depends on a variety of circumstances like if people have moved, transferred, etc.. No one can tell you for sure right now if there’s any openings.

[Anonymous]

What grade, OP? I could see this maybe in the early grades if there is space, but not by middle school; even late elementary years probably not at many schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, almost all of them if there’s room, but you need to call. It really depends on a variety of circumstances like if people have moved, transferred, etc.. No one can tell you for sure right now if there’s any openings.

I can’t speak to lower schools, but the upper grades where I work won’t consider mid-year starts after the first term ends. What grade, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What grade, OP? I could see this maybe in the early grades if there is space, but not by middle school; even late elementary years probably not at many schools.

This just isn’t true across the board. My student started midyear seventh grade at a DC private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grade, OP? I could see this maybe in the early grades if there is space, but not by middle school; even late elementary years probably not at many schools.

This just isn’t true across the board. My student started midyear seventh grade at a DC private.

It’s clearly worth calling widely to ask, but it’s also just not true that “almost all of them” will take mid-year transfers.

[Anonymous]

You have to call and ask, but do it today while someone is still around to answer phone. Has your kid had any standardized testing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools that allow a mid year start? My child is having a hard time at their local public school. I would like to transfer them to a private.

I can't think of them that wouldn't consider it. Even a class that started full in the Fall might have had some attrition for many possible reasons. And the school is incented to fill is classes because of the revenue impact.

Generally the larger ones are more likely to have spots just because.

BUT, you are going to have to explain the "having a hard time" piece of this. These schools look to Admissions to screen out kids that might represent problems to anyone on campus. So, as opposed to the Public schools, Private school Admissions has to be very careful about who it admits including the parents because they are going to take some heat if there are any problems.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a private and have had kids at 3 different privates. Have heard of January starts at each, so absolutely possible if the stars align. Your kid and the school’s needs have to match. Doesn’t hurt to call around and see. Unfortunately, we just went on break. I don’t see many schools having the staff to take the call, schedule the tour, conduct the tour, read and asses an application, possibly interview, etc by first day of January start. My principal and all our admin who do this are awesome, accommodating people. But your timing couldn’t be worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach at a private and have had kids at 3 different privates. Have heard of January starts at each, so absolutely possible if the stars align. Your kid and the school’s needs have to match. Doesn’t hurt to call around and see. Unfortunately, we just went on break. I don’t see many schools having the staff to take the call, schedule the tour, conduct the tour, read and asses an application, possibly interview, etc by first day of January start. My principal and all our admin who do this are awesome, accommodating people. But your timing couldn’t be worse.

+1

The semester doesn't end until later in Jan at ours though, so you might have some more time depending on the school. And if it doesn't work out perfectly to align with the new quarter, that's fine too, especially for elementary. I would take a look at any standardized testing that the potential schools require and see if you could get those scheduled asap (which may/will be difficult until 1/5).

[Anonymous]

What grade and what is making public school difficult/not successful? Nora, in Silver Spring, routinely takes students mid year. It's a small high school that is really good for students who need more attention/support than at a mainstream school, often but not always because of mental health and/or executive function concerns, but for whom a special ed school wouldn't be appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Some will, some won't. Mine won't because there's usually a reason kids leave a school mid-year and it isn't good. I'm not saying that is what's happening in your case. But that's why my school won't take mid year move ins unless it's for a job transfer, international move, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools that allow a mid year start? My child is having a hard time at their local public school. I would like to transfer them to a private.

Call schools and see if they have space, but you likely won't receive FA since it's all been doled out for the year already. I know at our school, mid year applicants are not accepted unless the kid is really strong academically/good behavior & social emotional because they need to be able to transition seamlessly.

[Anonymous]

We were trying to live our school (discussed on this forum as a very popular school in DC) mid year because we really do not like our child’s teachers. We made phone calls and ultimately weren’t satisfied with the rigor of the schools that did have mid-year availability. There are schools that take mid year placements but you need a compelling reason why and these schools won’t be the top tier ones. We did all of this work in December- schools are closed until January, you aren’t going to be able to find something for a Jan 5 start at this point- no one is around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were trying to live our school (discussed on this forum as a very popular school in DC) mid year because we really do not like our child’s teachers. We made phone calls and ultimately weren’t satisfied with the rigor of the schools that did have mid-year availability. There are schools that take mid year placements but you need a compelling reason why and these schools won’t be the top tier ones. We did all of this work in December- schools are closed until January, you aren’t going to be able to find something for a Jan 5 start at this point- no one is around.

Every school has some less good teachers. Switching schools because you don't like the teacher one year is very shortsighted.