Triaging schools to call looking for last minute opening for 6th grade

[Anonymous]

Lowell 6th grade for next year is full with a waiting list.

There’s been a lot of misinformation regarding Lowell with teacher contracts being delayed, but it is not in financial straits.

[Anonymous]

Call the schools that start in 6th grade. They all have waitlists, but there also can be more flexibility when not trying to balance out a pre-existing class:

St. Anselm's (boys)
Edmund Burke (coed)
Field (coed)

[Anonymous]

Washington Episcopal School

[Anonymous]

St Pats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the suggestions! Definitely not here to trash on any school. Honestly SSFS looks so well suited to my kid. Read some recent threads and seems like the jury is out (rebuilding better than ever vs it’s changed/we are worried it can’t ever bounce back/we are worried it will still close). Also creeped the college admissions Instagram and seems decent. Am I missing any other considerations?

If SSFS is well suited, look at Friends Community as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty open in terms of DC or Maryland. Thanks for insight on the timeline, PP!

Barrie has a small 5th grade cohort and transitions from LS to MS in between 5th and 6th - they are non-religious also. They probably have room.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda invested now... can you come back and tell us if you find a spot that fits your daughter cause it's gonna just wander into my mind periodically until you do 😅

[Anonymous]

I think k-8s are your best bet, as kids sometimes leave at that point for k-12s or schools that start at 6th. When you call, I would say something along the lines of the following, “I know we’re past the deadline for next year, but we did not explore any private schools for middle school as we were planning to move. As it turns out, we will be in the area for middle school and now are looking. Do you possibly have any openings?”

I think this is important because it:

1. Explains why you’re looking after the deadline.

2. Makes clear that you don’t have a contract at another private that is about to become binding in two weeks, so you have some time to work through the application process and realistically could attend. Schools will be more likely to consider you in these circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the suggestions! Definitely not here to trash on any school. Honestly SSFS looks so well suited to my kid. Read some recent threads and seems like the jury is out (rebuilding better than ever vs it’s changed/we are worried it can’t ever bounce back/we are worried it will still close). Also creeped the college admissions Instagram and seems decent. Am I missing any other considerations?

If SSFS is well suited, look at Friends Community as well.

Agree on FCS (Friends Community School). They only go through 8th but the 7th/8th classes gave my child excellent preparation for high school (more so than I even realized at the time). 6th is not a typical entry year for them but they had some extra spaces last year so worth a call to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think k-8s are your best bet, as kids sometimes leave at that point for k-12s or schools that start at 6th. When you call, I would say something along the lines of the following, “I know we’re past the deadline for next year, but we did not explore any private schools for middle school as we were planning to move. As it turns out, we will be in the area for middle school and now are looking. Do you possibly have any openings?”

I think this is important because it:

1. Explains why you’re looking after the deadline.

2. Makes clear that you don’t have a contract at another private that is about to become binding in two weeks, so you have some time to work through the application process and realistically could attend. Schools will be more likely to consider you in these circumstances.

+1 to this approach

[Anonymous]

I believe SSFS may have openings. Our kids is in US and happy. I would reach out to them and see for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lowell 6th grade for next year is full with a waiting list.

There’s been a lot of misinformation regarding Lowell with teacher contracts being delayed, but it is not in financial straits.

Not only is it in financial straits, but it protects perpetrators of sexual violence while silencing and shunning 13 year-old victims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think k-8s are your best bet, as kids sometimes leave at that point for k-12s or schools that start at 6th. When you call, I would say something along the lines of the following, “I know we’re past the deadline for next year, but we did not explore any private schools for middle school as we were planning to move. As it turns out, we will be in the area for middle school and now are looking. Do you possibly have any openings?”

I think this is important because it:

1. Explains why you’re looking after the deadline.

2. Makes clear that you don’t have a contract at another private that is about to become binding in two weeks, so you have some time to work through the application process and realistically could attend. Schools will be more likely to consider you in these circumstances.

+2

[Anonymous]

If you’re Jewish, I would consider the Charles E Smith Jewish Day school. No knowledge of Hebrew is required and the education is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington Episcopal School

j

I believe that grade is full.