Need Straight Answer About Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS with a mid-summer birthday started school in a private school where almost every boy was held in PK until he turned 6 and then started K as a six year old.

We later enrolled in DCPS and he was/is a full year older than a few kids in his class. I was surprised at how young the DCPS classes are, because in other parts of the country is it very normal to have a 6 year old entering K (especially a boy).

I don't think DCPS will force you to put your kid in 1st if he has never had K (you should call and ask), but know that he will be an outlier in the class. If you ever consider private school in the area (or public in parts of Montgomery County, from what I understand), I think you will find that the kids are a little older on average than in DCPS. 9/30 is a late cutoff in general compared to other states. The majority of states use 9/1.

Well, I mean, private schools are going to be a self-selecting groups because they were going to need to pay for kindergarten no matter when they began. For public school parents (which are the majority of DCPS parents), starting kindergarten represents a significant childcare savings.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Call the district office or email. Stop expecting random mothers to help you.

[Anonymous]

1. What is the cut off for kindergarten? In DC, September 30.

Can he still register for kindergarten if he’s already 6 or is he too old? You have to ask the school. It will depend in part on whether your child has special needs and will be getting an IEP.

2. Can’t we just enroll in our neighborhood school or do we have to enter the lottery? We’ve already missed the lottery because we only just found out about the transfer. So where would he go to kindergarten?

In DC, he'd go to kindergarten at his in-bound school (every address in DC has one). Or you can do a post-lottery application and enroll him anywhere he gets off the waitlist (you would have to prove DC residency when you enroll him, and there's no guarantee that his sister would get in).

3. If our daughter is enrolled at the local public school where we live, wouldn’t he automatically get in?

In DC, yes, all kids K-12 have rights to their in-bound schools. It has nothing to do with having a sibling. Having a sibling can get you a preference at a charter school or a DC public school you get into out of bounds.

4. Would it make sense to live in PG county?!
It would likely be a longer commute to your school DC and your husband's job in Northern Virginia than just living in one of those places. But if you can't afford to live in one of those places and/or you want more space than you can afford and you don't mind commuting, then PG county has some of the less expensive housing in the area.

[Anonymous]

Unless there are some kind of special needs issues not explained or understood here, then enroll him in 1st grade and teach him over the summer. First grade rehashes what went on in kindergarten anyway. All kindergartens aren’t created equal. What kid wants to stay back before he gets a chance to soar.

Read to him and teach him how to add and subtract before you start your graduate work in December. Do like others do and supplement your child’s work with educational videos or TV or get a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Ha. I love these posters who post multiple times in the forum (two posts about a kid turning 6, need to redshirt, ASAP, all the frantic-ness) and expect random annonymous internet people to have the exact answers they are looking for (in a situation that, as has been explained) doesn't really happen in DC.

The incredible level self-importance is hilarious (and honestly probably means you'll fit in well in certain PTOs).

[Anonymous]

DCPS teacher here. Our school is usually very strict about matching the birthdate with the correct grade but they might make an exception for a student who has never been in school before as it could really be a struggle for your child in first grade. First grade is now more like second grade was when I was a kid. We’ve had a few kids get moved back after the year starts and it was tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You managed to get into graduate school but you never sent your child to preschool or kindergarten and in MAY when your child is almost SIX you start thinking about enrolling him in school. What have you been doing with him these 6 years?

Yeah I have questions too.

[Anonymous]

Just coming here to day no do not live in Maryland if you’re work is in Virginia and DC. Also if you provide more details on your situation people will usually be more helpful

[Anonymous]

Your* sorry autocorrect

[jsteele]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/880898.page