Any word on fourth grade at Holton Stoneridge + NCS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW -- the girls that enter in 4th at NCS that didn't go to BVR tend to have a really hard time breaking into the social circles. The vast majority of those girls have been going to school together since PK. I sort of hate how they do it and think 4th grade should be a lot bigger so that the new girls don't feel so singles out.

I joined NCS in seventh when seventh was a main entry year rather than sixth being one as well. That Beauvoir lifer dynamic existed all through high school. But joining at fourth is easier than joining at seventh. I think ninth is actually better than seventh because girls are often so mean in seventh and eighth.

I think private high schools that start at ninth would be so much better, but they are rare unless you are ok with boarding.

Interesting — I also joined NCS in 7th and had no issues; it was a big expansion year with a lot of new students and my resulting group of friends included both lifers and new students. At the time (maybe still?) NCS offered an optional week-long orientation for new 7th graders in August, which I found helpful, too. And by graduation, lifers from BVR made up only about 15 percent of the class.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone learn anything at Holton's applicant day on Friday re adding a 4th grade class next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW -- the girls that enter in 4th at NCS that didn't go to BVR tend to have a really hard time breaking into the social circles. The vast majority of those girls have been going to school together since PK. I sort of hate how they do it and think 4th grade should be a lot bigger so that the new girls don't feel so singles out.

I joined NCS in seventh when seventh was a main entry year rather than sixth being one as well. That Beauvoir lifer dynamic existed all through high school. But joining at fourth is easier than joining at seventh. I think ninth is actually better than seventh because girls are often so mean in seventh and eighth.

I think private high schools that start at ninth would be so much better, but they are rare unless you are ok with boarding.

Interesting — I also joined NCS in 7th and had no issues; it was a big expansion year with a lot of new students and my resulting group of friends included both lifers and new students. At the time (maybe still?) NCS offered an optional week-long orientation for new 7th graders in August, which I found helpful, too. And by graduation, lifers from BVR made up only about 15 percent of the class.

That is mathematically impossible now. More like a minimum of 50% from BVR by graduation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone learn anything at Holton's applicant day on Friday re adding a 4th grade class next year?

There wasn't really a time to ask questions on Friday. But there were a lot of fourth grade applicants - would be very harsh if they have 0-1 spots and are leading everyone on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone learn anything at Holton's applicant day on Friday re adding a 4th grade class next year?

There wasn't really a time to ask questions on Friday. But there were a lot of fourth grade applicants - would be very harsh if they have 0-1 spots and are leading everyone on.

Current parent and I have heard they are going to add a third 4th and 5th classroom next year but it all depends on the overall number of students at the school because there is a strict enrollment cap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current Holton 3rd grade has 30 girls (in two classes) in it so it will 100% depend on what they decide to do for the 4th grade next year. If they decide to add a third class, they will add another 15ish girls. If they don't, they will admit almost zero because the class is full.

I have heard that they are leaning towards adding a third 4th grade class because their application number are astronomical this year for lower school. But TBD.

What about 5th grade in Holton and NCS?

I don’t know about 5th at NCS but Holton adds a third class in 5th grade and adds 12-15 girls.

Would Holton only add another class in 5th if another class in 4th isn't added? Or is it possible there will be a total of 4 classes in 5th?

I don’t think there would ever be 4 classes in 5th grade. There are currently two 4th grades and two 3rd grades. I think there will potentially be 3 4th grades and 3 5th grades next year.

Thank you. We're also applying for 4th.

It’s not so much of “what do they want to do” vs upper school class sizes. There’s a hard cap on student numbers bc of an agreement with the neighborhood. 9th is a big year for admits and it really shapes the class. The girls entering at that time are far more “known quantities” of achievement and success rather than expanding rapidly in LS. I have 2 in US. my oldest’s class only has 5 added for 5th. My youngest’s class expanded from one classroom to two in 4th. It seems quite unpredictable and greatly dependent on upper school class numbers…all are around 90-100 .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW -- the girls that enter in 4th at NCS that didn't go to BVR tend to have a really hard time breaking into the social circles. The vast majority of those girls have been going to school together since PK. I sort of hate how they do it and think 4th grade should be a lot bigger so that the new girls don't feel so singles out.

I joined NCS in seventh when seventh was a main entry year rather than sixth being one as well. That Beauvoir lifer dynamic existed all through high school. But joining at fourth is easier than joining at seventh. I think ninth is actually better than seventh because girls are often so mean in seventh and eighth.

I think private high schools that start at ninth would be so much better, but they are rare unless you are ok with boarding.

Interesting — I also joined NCS in 7th and had no issues; it was a big expansion year with a lot of new students and my resulting group of friends included both lifers and new students. At the time (maybe still?) NCS offered an optional week-long orientation for new 7th graders in August, which I found helpful, too. And by graduation, lifers from BVR made up only about 15 percent of the class.

That is mathematically impossible now. More like a minimum of 50% from BVR by graduation

My daughter is a current upper schooler at NCS. Her class is definitely not 50% Beauvoir girls. (Also, NCS only considers girls who started in PK to be “lifers,” those who came in K aren’t typically included in the “lifer” photo senior year.) Her class is definitely not 50% BVR, no matter when they started there.

[Anonymous]

Several BvR girls end up leaving over the years. There are 30 girls from BVR in 4th, but a good chunk leaves by the time upper school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW -- the girls that enter in 4th at NCS that didn't go to BVR tend to have a really hard time breaking into the social circles. The vast majority of those girls have been going to school together since PK. I sort of hate how they do it and think 4th grade should be a lot bigger so that the new girls don't feel so singles out.

My daughter entered at 4th and has had a lovely time at NCS and has many friends.