What schools are PK-8 (or K-8)?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know why the private schools in the area have such diverse (and in my mind, wacky) grades served? I ask this as a New Yorker where the privates go either from K-8 or K-12. The K-6 or 3-12 model just seems strange to me.

[Anonymous]

My son started at Landon in 6th grade and his transition was fine.

[jhuber]

Anonymous wrote:Mr Huber --

Thanks for chiming in because this is a question that my husband and I are debating now.

My question is this: why is it better to avoid a transition at 5th or 6th grade instead of 8th/9th? Isn't age 13 (the onset of adolescence) a more awkward time to be a new kid at, say, Landon or St. Albans. (Yes, I know that some kids enter that year -- but there are more who have been there since 4th grade).

I ask this because I have a friend who did just that (enter St Albans in 9th grade) and he really hated that first year or two. He said that the other boys made his life hell and basically hazed him. He says that he wishes that he had entered at 4th or not at all.

What do you think?

I cannot speak for either school, obviously, but what I have seen in 8th graders is a readiness to spread their wings and establish themselves in new communities as they approach secondary school. I'd rather that this happen for the child at the end of 8th grade than the end of 5th grade. Also, as we talk with families about secondary school placement, there are inherent pressures about choice and acceptance that I'd rather avoid putting on the shoulders of a 5th grader in the early days of adolescence.

Of course, the counter argument toavoiding transitions would be enrollment in a K-12, but my experiences with middle-as-leaders, rather than middle-as-middle, sway my opinion to PS-8.

I hope this helps you with your decision, and I wish you all the best.

[Anonymous]

my sons had easy transitions at St albans -- so for everyone who has the opinion that a certain school MUST be a certain way, think that this is just one opinion and each child is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my sons had easy transitions at St albans -- so for everyone who has the opinion that a certain school MUST be a certain way, think that this is just one opinion and each child is different.

Did they enter at 9th grade (or whatever they call it)?

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Norwood