Which charter elementary schools feed into middle schools? Or run from K/1st up through 8th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lamb doesn’t backfill students, so you have a better chance to get into dci from lamb or dc bilingual than from Mundo verde or stokes who have expanded.

They do backfill some, just less than MV and they have more freedom to backfill from different grades because of the Montessori mixed-age approach (i.e. if they lose K students they will choose to backfill in PK often).

The bigger issues is that MV and stokes have opened additional campuses and that's a lot of extra Spanish language kids (and some additional French language kids and the French program at DCI is smaller). The backfilling issue is far less significant than the size of school issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

In addition to Latin/Basis, I think it's also very possible to lottery into ITS for 5th grade. There are spots. You can also try to lottery into a Deal/Hardy feeder in 5th grade.

OP, I'm someone who has a great IB elementary and terrible IB middle school, and we actually decided to stay in our IB elementary and try our luck in the 5th (and potentially 6th) grade lotteries for middle school. We have two kids in mid elementary and they love their life (their school, having neighborhood friends, walking and biking to school every day). No regrets yet, and strangely I dont feel that worried about middle yet. We'll see what happens in two years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

In addition to Latin/Basis, I think it's also very possible to lottery into ITS for 5th grade. There are spots. You can also try to lottery into a Deal/Hardy feeder in 5th grade.

OP, I'm someone who has a great IB elementary and terrible IB middle school, and we actually decided to stay in our IB elementary and try our luck in the 5th (and potentially 6th) grade lotteries for middle school. We have two kids in mid elementary and they love their life (their school, having neighborhood friends, walking and biking to school every day). No regrets yet, and strangely I dont feel that worried about middle yet. We'll see what happens in two years.

(I'm the PP... all add that we strongly considered lotterying into a charter for elementary and even were offered spots, but I realized that our IB was a better school, so we stayed. I didn't want to sacrifice elementary school just for middle school peace of mind.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

In addition to Latin/Basis, I think it's also very possible to lottery into ITS for 5th grade. There are spots. You can also try to lottery into a Deal/Hardy feeder in 5th grade.

OP, I'm someone who has a great IB elementary and terrible IB middle school, and we actually decided to stay in our IB elementary and try our luck in the 5th (and potentially 6th) grade lotteries for middle school. We have two kids in mid elementary and they love their life (their school, having neighborhood friends, walking and biking to school every day). No regrets yet, and strangely I dont feel that worried about middle yet. We'll see what happens in two years.

(I'm the PP... all add that we strongly considered lotterying into a charter for elementary and even were offered spots, but I realized that our IB was a better school, so we stayed. I didn't want to sacrifice elementary school just for middle school peace of mind.)

So true. Because some of the K-8 charters do have a middle school, but it's way worse than the elementary school. If you wouldn't actually go there, it might as well not exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

In addition to Latin/Basis, I think it's also very possible to lottery into ITS for 5th grade. There are spots. You can also try to lottery into a Deal/Hardy feeder in 5th grade.

OP, I'm someone who has a great IB elementary and terrible IB middle school, and we actually decided to stay in our IB elementary and try our luck in the 5th (and potentially 6th) grade lotteries for middle school. We have two kids in mid elementary and they love their life (their school, having neighborhood friends, walking and biking to school every day). No regrets yet, and strangely I dont feel that worried about middle yet. We'll see what happens in two years.

(I'm the PP... all add that we strongly considered lotterying into a charter for elementary and even were offered spots, but I realized that our IB was a better school, so we stayed. I didn't want to sacrifice elementary school just for middle school peace of mind.)

So true. Because some of the K-8 charters do have a middle school, but it's way worse than the elementary school. If you wouldn't actually go there, it might as well not exist.

This is a broad brush statement so I will speak from experience. I have had two kids in middle school at Inspired and they have had/are having an overwhelmingly good experience. There are definitely drawbacks of a small school, but also things that I really appreciate. Specifically, I like that they are not able to "get lost in the crowd" and how easy it feels for them to seek help from and connect with teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

In addition to Latin/Basis, I think it's also very possible to lottery into ITS for 5th grade. There are spots. You can also try to lottery into a Deal/Hardy feeder in 5th grade.

OP, I'm someone who has a great IB elementary and terrible IB middle school, and we actually decided to stay in our IB elementary and try our luck in the 5th (and potentially 6th) grade lotteries for middle school. We have two kids in mid elementary and they love their life (their school, having neighborhood friends, walking and biking to school every day). No regrets yet, and strangely I dont feel that worried about middle yet. We'll see what happens in two years.

(I'm the PP... all add that we strongly considered lotterying into a charter for elementary and even were offered spots, but I realized that our IB was a better school, so we stayed. I didn't want to sacrifice elementary school just for middle school peace of mind.)

So true. Because some of the K-8 charters do have a middle school, but it's way worse than the elementary school. If you wouldn't actually go there, it might as well not exist.

This is a broad brush statement so I will speak from experience. I have had two kids in middle school at Inspired and they have had/are having an overwhelmingly good experience. There are definitely drawbacks of a small school, but also things that I really appreciate. Specifically, I like that they are not able to "get lost in the crowd" and how easy it feels for them to seek help from and connect with teachers.

Indeed, that's definitely true. It's also true that a lot of people leave ITS in 5th and 6th. They'll tell you it's for a high school path and for some people that's the real reason, but it's also the socially acceptable reason. It's not socially acceptable to talk about the shortcomings of ITS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). [b]People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

+100 My kid had a very hard transition to a charter middle school because none of his friends went with him. It worked out ok, and he did find a good friend group, but the first two months were HARD and made me realize that kids get less resilient socially as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

Why are you so invested in being right? Sheesh. OP asked about 6th grade for next year. They didn't ask about younger kids. They didn't say they planned to adopt a school age kid. They asked about 6th grade next year. You need a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

I don't know about Cap City, but while Grades 5-8 are middle school at ITS, as far as student experience goes, 5th and 6th are very much like "elementary plus" and 7th and 8th feel more like middle school (letter grades to build a transcript), albeit a very small middle school. Great for some kids; a turnoff or other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

I don't know about Cap City, but while Grades 5-8 are middle school at ITS, as far as student experience goes, 5th and 6th are very much like "elementary plus" and 7th and 8th feel more like middle school (letter grades to build a transcript), albeit a very small middle school. Great for some kids; a turnoff or other kids.

Yes. I do love how 5th and 6th at ITS are sort of middle school but with training wheels, then 7th and 8th are more oriented towards preparing for high-school levels of responsibility. A much more natural transition than just tossing them into a big middle school from a small elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

I don't know about Cap City, but while Grades 5-8 are middle school at ITS, as far as student experience goes, 5th and 6th are very much like "elementary plus" and 7th and 8th feel more like middle school (letter grades to build a transcript), albeit a very small middle school. Great for some kids; a turnoff or other kids.

EL Haynes also starts middle school in 5th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

Yes but unlike Latin or Basis, you can also lottery into these schools for elementary to get a feed for the MS, and both of these schools take kids at 6th or later via lottery.

This is in comparison to Latin and BASIS, where you basically get one shot for 5th grade. These schools do not have an elementary feeder so there is no alternative method for getting access to the school other than the 5th grade lottery, and they also almost never have spots for upper grades available in subsequent lotteries (BASIS in particular is known for choosing not to backfill even when students leave the school).

So these schools belong in different categories in terms of planning. You can start trying to lottery for these schools staring in PK3 and have many, many opportunities to get in by MS (especially if you have multiple kids). Not true for Latin/BASIS where you get one shot.

Latin and BASIS are not the same with regard to entering after 5th. At BASIS it is not possible...full stop. They do not accept kids after 5th. Latin does, but it is space dependent. Next year Latin's new campus will have 10-15 spots open for 6th grade students due to their intentionally small 5th grade class. That is in addition to possible (if unlikely) attrition.

I'm not saying Latin is likely, but it is inaccurate to equate the two.

That's a one-year only thing though -- even if they continue this for a few years as they get the campus up and running (and move to a permanent location), by the time OP's kids are eligible you probably won't have 10-15 spots in Latin Cooper 6th. And when Latin lets in students in upper grades, it's usually only a handful. The most at 9th as some kids peel off for application high schools, private, suburbs, or Wilson. But total crapshoot. It's really not that different from BASIS where they don't allow any kids in at all.

For planning purposes, the only way to approach it is to assume you will get one shot at Latin and BASIS in 5th grade and if it doesn't happen, have a real and sustainable alternative. Unlike with many desirable elementaries, where if you lottery every year starting in PK3 you stand a good shot of getting a spot by 1st or 2nd, the same is simply not true at Latin (and obviously not at BASIS). People also need to think about how it's a much bigger deal to switch schools at the MS/HS level than in ECE or early elementary.

Why are you so invested in being right? Sheesh. OP asked about 6th grade for next year. They didn't ask about younger kids. They didn't say they planned to adopt a school age kid. They asked about 6th grade next year. You need a hobby.

NP. OP said they have preschoolers and are hoping to make a change before 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS years start at Inspired and Capital City at 5th as well.

I don't know about Cap City, but while Grades 5-8 are middle school at ITS, as far as student experience goes, 5th and 6th are very much like "elementary plus" and 7th and 8th feel more like middle school (letter grades to build a transcript), albeit a very small middle school. Great for some kids; a turnoff or other kids.

We're in a younger grade at Cap City and keep seeing notices that they have spaces in fifth, so it may be pretty easy to switch in at that point if it seems more appealing than your in-bound.