K8 or K12

[Anonymous]

We were told it is extremely hard to get into TT high school. Wise to choose K12 over K8?

[Anonymous]

The K-12s that are incredibly hard to get into for 9 are also incredibly hard to get into for K.

And honestly - speaking as a parent of two middle schoolers - there are a lot of years and a lot of changes between age 4 and age 14 and it’s very hard to predict what school will be right for them so far in advance; just because Trinity or Horace Mann is a TT school it doesn’t mean that it’ll be remotely the right fit for your kid.

(Of course it’s also not guaranteed that any given school will even still be TT in 10 years, these things shift over time)

[Anonymous]

I actually think K-8s are good because most kids would get tired of being in a school with the same <100 kids per class for 13 years. Maybe it’s different for the bigger schools like Horace Mann and Fieldston.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much both!!

[Anonymous]

In addition to what others said, I will tell you that while my child is at a K-12, I think the K-8 kids who enter the school are better prepared/taught the basics than the lifers.

The K-8 schools (and public schools) teach you to get out - so you know grammar, math, reading skills that will be tested on entrance exams/standardized testing. You will have a better foundation at those schools.

Every year, I look at the kids at the top of the graduating class at my child's school, and every year, most of them are people who joined the school in G9.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for sharing your insight! Beyond helpful and I feel so much better about K-8 now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In addition to what others said, I will tell you that while my child is at a K-12, I think the K-8 kids who enter the school are better prepared/taught the basics than the lifers.

The K-8 schools (and public schools) teach you to get out - so you know grammar, math, reading skills that will be tested on entrance exams/standardized testing. You will have a better foundation at those schools.

Every year, I look at the kids at the top of the graduating class at my child's school, and every year, most of them are people who joined the school in G9.

any k-8s in particular that standout for these skills?

[Anonymous]

None in particular. I think any of them that are preparing you to test out/for tests (K-8 or public) are going to be stronger, academically, in the lower years, as they have a greater emphasis on fundamentals, like grammar and writing mechanics, whereas the private schools do more hands-on-learning, field trips, etc.

My child is in MS at a (I hate the term) "TT" school. I have friends with kids across the divisions (LS, MS, and US) at other "TT" schools, both in Manhattan and in Hill schools, and they say the same.

Now, is it going to be a smidge difficult to compete to get out of those K-8 schools? Perhaps. But that is why people start applying out early - to beat the rush for G9. Ha!

[Anonymous]

We got waitlisted at TT that is arguably the hardest one to even get an interview with for K. Decided on a K-8 that is for Gifted kids. Sometimes these kids are doing Calculus in 8th grade. The differentiation is insane. That said many kids often matriculate into said hard TT school. Does anyone know come high school... is it less on legacy and more on grades/who the kid is? Do families then keep in touch with said TT in some way? Who knows what they'll want in 9 years but we could arguably being applying there again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got waitlisted at TT that is arguably the hardest one to even get an interview with for K. Decided on a K-8 that is for Gifted kids. Sometimes these kids are doing Calculus in 8th grade. The differentiation is insane. That said many kids often matriculate into said hard TT school. Does anyone know come high school... is it less on legacy and more on grades/who the kid is? Do families then keep in touch with said TT in some way? Who knows what they'll want in 9 years but we could arguably being applying there again.

It’s more about the kid for 9th grade entrance. Speyer kids come in strong with STEM, but sometimes the history/english department is where the transition can be hard (if you’re talking about Trinity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s more about the kid for 9th grade entrance. Speyer kids come in strong with STEM, but sometimes the history/english department is where the transition can be hard (if you’re talking about Trinity).

Sorry, are you saying that Speyer’s humanities are on the weak side compared to a TT? We’re also considering it and the curriculum looks pretty advanced, but I have no idea how that works in practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s more about the kid for 9th grade entrance. Speyer kids come in strong with STEM, but sometimes the history/english department is where the transition can be hard (if you’re talking about Trinity).

Sorry, are you saying that Speyer’s humanities are on the weak side compared to a TT? We’re also considering it and the curriculum looks pretty advanced, but I have no idea how that works in practice.

That is the feedback I’ve heard from Speyer families at the TT I mentioned. It doesn’t mean Speyer’s is weak and I have no idea what the transition into other TT schools looks like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is the feedback I’ve heard from Speyer families at the TT I mentioned. It doesn’t mean Speyer’s is weak and I have no idea what the transition into other TT schools looks like.

Understood, thanks.