Any advice for transferring a 2nd grader from a public school to private?

[Anonymous]

I'm considering moving my 2nd grade DD from her current public school to a private school. Has anyone made this switch before? I'm mainly worried about the change in curricululm, even though curriculum is the main reason I am considering the switch. My DD is advanced for her class, but the new curriculum will be alot more challenging for her and completely different from her current one. She is great about rising to challenges, but is also very sensitive, so I know she will notice that she may be behind in some areas. So if you made this switch, was the private school teacher helpful in getting your DC accustomed to the new curriculum/schedule? I realize I will need to give my DD lots of support at first as well to help her catch up.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
DC did at Grade 7 and was not behind. I don't think it will be a problem. When do you plan on doing this? For next year, many schools are done taking applications. Of course, some schools have rolling admissions.

[Anonymous]

Where are you switching her to/from? I actually think public school curriculum is more challenging than the curriculum at most DC privates for that age...we attend private so not a complaint, but I do know that MCPS for example has a much more rigorous math curriculum than where we are and from what I have heard from friends at other schools.

Mostly what I hear when people switch is that their kids is ahead, not behind.

[Anonymous]

It was really hard for my DC changing from private school (Catholic) to MCPS. Even if the curriculum is harder at your DC's new private school, the smaller class size should allow the teacher more time to help DC get caught up. Also, if the curriculum is that much harder than public school, I'm sure the new school is used to helping kids make the transition. I wouldn't worry too much unless the teacher says there is a problem.

[Anonymous]

I moved my daughter after second grade (from MCPS to a private school), and I was surprised to discover that the public schools actually move along faster in math than at least this one private school. Private schools may have a more extensive science and social studies curriculum, but she is fine and it was a non-issue.

[Anonymous]

Ditto - last few posters. My DCs are in a lower school private (Big 3) and all of their friends in DC publics are "further ahead" in these early grades. As one poster indicated, kids in independents probably have more robust social sciences and science curricula, but 2nd grade is still fairly early on the curve. The biggest change, perhaps, if your DC is moving to a progressive, may be in pedagogy.

[Anonymous]

DC moved from public to private in 3rd grade, and was put in the most advanced classes where DC did well. I wouldn't worry about catching up.

[Anonymous]

We are also considering moving our son from MCPS to a private school next year for 2nd grade. I'm interested in any feedback on how dificult the transition was for your child socially if you transferred? Are the kids already in tight social circles that are hard to break into, or is 2nd grade to young to be worrying about that type of thing?

[Anonymous]

I moved my daughter to CES in Rockville in 4th grade and could not be more pleased with the transition. The admissions director herself brought her son into the school in 3rd grade, so she assured me she would take special care of 'older' students transferring into the school.

We have found the private school to be less 'academic' than MCPS (for example, they don't push covering three math chapters in one day and don't have the daily/weekly tests), but my daughter is actually learning more and in a hands on way. She is understanding concepts and applying them in ways that amaze me...even though she was in 'advanced math' at MCPS and in the high reading groups, she has truly excelled at the private school, WITHOUT the anxiety and crazy stress of being in public.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP, forgot to add:

socially, my child has done wonderful. The key is to get them in a school that is nurturing and supportive, with teachers who will look out for new kids and help the adjust (i.e. suggesting play dates, helping them feel included at recess, etc).

The social issue was one of my biggest concerns, but my child has blossomed, even saying to me last year, "Mommy, here at my new school, I feel like people really understand me....they listen to what I say and respect when other people are talking. Last year, I had so many people that I thought were my friends, but here I feel like they really care about me for who I am." I was shocked, because she was only in 4th grade when she said that, but that just reaffirmed that my decision to change schools was the right one for how I wanted her to develop as a person.

[Anonymous]

I think socially it will be an adjustment, but kids do adapt, and many schools make an effort to help new kids become adjusted and make new friends. By the halfway point in the year, your child will likely have found her friends. If the change will help her grow academically, it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

OP, why are you making this move?