Advice on Pre-K Age Requirements for September Birthdays

[Anonymous]

Kids enter at later grades based on the grade they completed in public. Starting around 4th or 6th grade in private, we’ve seen kids with early September birthdays come in without needing to repeat.
In 3rd and 4th you also see the opposite - where a student who was previously young for the grade comes in at the grade level below for maturity reasons.

[Anonymous]

Do public K and then private K. Who knows maybe you like the public And decide to stay.

[Anonymous]

OP here again, thanks for the replies. These are helpful. I think we’re just coming from the perspective of having Sept birthdays in the family. My husband was one of the youngest in his year and really excelled in that position. My parents chose to hold my brother back, and he wasn’t challenged academically even at a prep school with providing accelerated course work until the late elementary years - had to send him with a pile of books everyday to keep him from getting in trouble, starting with his repeat year of kindergarten. I know someone mentioned nobody regrets holding back but unfortunately hasn’t been our experience or the experience of others with older boys we know. Lots to think about, thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the replies. Even in his private daycare, they’re going to start him in their pre-k 3 class in the fall if we stay based on skills/readiness. We’ll try the lottery and see what we get, but regardless of whether he stays in his private daycare or moves to public school, it seems like he’ll be doomed to repeat a year once switching to private school since all we’ve been looking at pick up at pre-k 4.

An extra year of preschool for a September birthday is not being "doomed." Your kid won't even notice and he'll be with same age peers.

Clearly was being a bit hyperbolic here, but thanks for the feedback.

[Anonymous]

Why would you want your kid to be the youngest in the class? You should be glad he just missed the age cutoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again, thanks for the replies. These are helpful. I think we’re just coming from the perspective of having Sept birthdays in the family. My husband was one of the youngest in his year and really excelled in that position. My parents chose to hold my brother back, and he wasn’t challenged academically even at a prep school with providing accelerated course work until the late elementary years - had to send him with a pile of books everyday to keep him from getting in trouble, starting with his repeat year of kindergarten. I know someone mentioned nobody regrets holding back but unfortunately hasn’t been our experience or the experience of others with older boys we know. Lots to think about, thank you!!

well, if you really want your kid to be the youngest in his class, then send him to public and switch to private for middle school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, keep in mind, your child won't be 1 month younger than everyone at a private, he'll be on average 6-9 months to even a year younger than everyone. Doesn't matter if your child is academically prepared. If your child isn't socially very mature for their age, it will be so much better being older than younger. From a parent with a Sept birthday kid.

This x 100!

In the thick of it right now with my September birthday kindergartner. Academically my child is ready for and challenged in kindergarten. But it’s so obvious that they are socioemotionally/developmentally behind their peers. I am not sure when to repeat and if that will bother my child too much.

[Anonymous]

A lot of Montessori programs will let you start an almost 3 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again, thanks for the replies. These are helpful. I think we’re just coming from the perspective of having Sept birthdays in the family. My husband was one of the youngest in his year and really excelled in that position. My parents chose to hold my brother back, and he wasn’t challenged academically even at a prep school with providing accelerated course work until the late elementary years - had to send him with a pile of books everyday to keep him from getting in trouble, starting with his repeat year of kindergarten. I know someone mentioned nobody regrets holding back but unfortunately hasn’t been our experience or the experience of others with older boys we know. Lots to think about, thank you!!

I don’t think experiences from previous generations are very applicable now (my husband was also “young” for his grade and did fine). The behavioral expectations and demands of kindergarten and early elementary now are so different, and boys in particular often struggle. Have you seen the research about how young-for-school-year boys are more likely to be diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD? Likely because they are t developmentally ready for what is expected of them.

[Anonymous]

We have a September 2nd birthday son. We had him do PK/K in DCPS and then repeated K when we moved to private. It is a great set up and I think he benefits from being on the older end.

And, yes, he had a few questions at first on doing K twice, but it is long forgotten. And all new people, so it really was a non issue.

If you are switching before K it even seems like less of an issue.

[Anonymous]

Rochambeau uses the French calendar year system. We have an early October birthday that started private school in PK but at Rochambeau she would have been K. One other international school asked if we wanted to red shirt her. I thought she would be the oldest in her grade at private but she is pretty middle of the pack as almost all kids born June-September in her grade red shirted one year.

[Anonymous]

September bday kiddo did prek3 and Prek4 at DCPS and then repeated prek4 at a private. If you don’t repeatedly your child will be by far the youngest. There are June bday boys held back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:September bday kiddo did prek3 and Prek4 at DCPS and then repeated prek4 at a private. If you don’t repeatedly your child will be by far the youngest. There are June bday boys held back.

I've seen schools that strongly encourage redshirting spring birthdays regardless of gender. I find it insane.

[Anonymous]

Some are, you need to talk to them but most push holding back as its easier on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of Montessori programs will let you start an almost 3 year old.

This. Most private Montessori programs will take as young as 2.5 if the child is ready. Although I'm not sure they would be as willing to offer you a spot if you are just going to jump the next year for a different private school.