Elementry or Middle School for International student?

[Anonymous]

My son just moved back to the US to live with me. He was top of his class in a private school overseas.
He would be entering the 7th grade and English is his second language. He is currently at a 3rd grade reading level in English.
He's been going to a learning center this summer and is showing great progress but I'm wondering if I should hold him back 1 year to give him
a chance to adjust to the US school system culture and catch up on his language skills. He's going through a tremendous transition and I'm wondering if Middle School would
be too overwhelming.

He would be entering in the Mclean school pyramid. Long term is it more advantageous to keep him in 6th grade to better position himself for AAP or can he enter the 7th grade at Longfellow as an ESOL student and still participate in some of the advanced classes.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son just moved back to the US to live with me. He was top of his class in a private school overseas.
He would be entering the 7th grade and English is his second language. He is currently at a 3rd grade reading level in English.
He's been going to a learning center this summer and is showing great progress but I'm wondering if I should hold him back 1 year to give him
a chance to adjust to the US school system culture and catch up on his language skills. He's going through a tremendous transition and I'm wondering if Middle School would
be too overwhelming.

He would be entering in the Mclean school pyramid. Long term is it more advantageous to keep him in 6th grade to better position himself for AAP or can he enter the 7th grade at Longfellow as an ESOL student and still participate in some of the advanced classes.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

Talk to the counselors at each school ES and MS on this - they will have a better read on the curriculum vs. esol - and it depends on who the other esol students are and what their level of education is as well - you'll be much better off talking to the principals and school counselors on this one. Just avoid the "position for AAP" bit instead of just saying "allow for full academic success and thrive academically" etc... - mentioning the AAP will just cloud the picture and throw them off from giving you a true picture of what happens to esol. If you do want to apply for AAP - just get an IQ test (wisc-iv) from a private psychologist in the area or in your home language and come with those results - since this is a different topic, I would bring that up at a second, different meeting with the AAP coordinator at the center or MS - and they will be able to comment from the AAP point of view.

[Anonymous]

Very sound advice. Thank you for your insight.