Early Admission to Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

My twins tested into k early in mcps. They didn’t turn five until October 10 but they were in k. Girl went straight thru—she is now college freshman. Boy repeated 9th grade because by then he needed another year to mature. He is now in 12th grade and doing great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My twins tested into k early in mcps. They didn’t turn five until October 10 but they were in k. Girl went straight thru—she is now college freshman. Boy repeated 9th grade because by then he needed another year to mature. He is now in 12th grade and doing great

MCPS is different than FCPS. The cut-off is September 30. There are no exceptions or test-in options or “principal’s discretion.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twins tested into k early in mcps. They didn’t turn five until October 10 but they were in k. Girl went straight thru—she is now college freshman. Boy repeated 9th grade because by then he needed another year to mature. He is now in 12th grade and doing great

MCPS is different than FCPS. The cut-off is September 30. There are no exceptions or test-in options or “principal’s discretion.”

No, the cut off is 9/1 and test in date id 10/15. So, many go private.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Try reading more carefully. The poster was specifically asking about Grade 1 enrollment. One year of private kindergarten would not be followed by a Grade 1 entrance in FCPS. If OP’s kid did 2 years of private kindergarten, then yes, they would then enroll in Grade 1 in FCPS because they would be 6 years old and turning 7 in Grade 1.

This is the answer:

4 year old does private kindergarten and completes it

5 year old does private first grade and completes it

6 year old transfers to FCPS as a second grader

This happens but rarely.

And find me the reputable, accredited private school in Fairfax that allows kids to enter K before the Sept 30th deadline. Most privates are team red shirt, not team move a kid ahead. I’m talking actual private K, not daycare K.

A day care K or other program is equally credentialed as any other school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twins tested into k early in mcps. They didn’t turn five until October 10 but they were in k. Girl went straight thru—she is now college freshman. Boy repeated 9th grade because by then he needed another year to mature. He is now in 12th grade and doing great

MCPS is different than FCPS. The cut-off is September 30. There are no exceptions or test-in options or “principal’s discretion.”

No, the cut off is 9/1 and test in date id 10/15. So, many go private.

No, the FCPS cut-off is Sept 30. And there is no test-in. This is an FCPS thread. I specifically included info about FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Try reading more carefully. The poster was specifically asking about Grade 1 enrollment. One year of private kindergarten would not be followed by a Grade 1 entrance in FCPS. If OP’s kid did 2 years of private kindergarten, then yes, they would then enroll in Grade 1 in FCPS because they would be 6 years old and turning 7 in Grade 1.

This is the answer:

4 year old does private kindergarten and completes it

5 year old does private first grade and completes it

6 year old transfers to FCPS as a second grader

This happens but rarely.

And find me the reputable, accredited private school in Fairfax that allows kids to enter K before the Sept 30th deadline. Most privates are team red shirt, not team move a kid ahead. I’m talking actual private K, not daycare K.

It happens. Merritt Academy used to allow this. This is where my friend’s daughter went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Try reading more carefully. The poster was specifically asking about Grade 1 enrollment. One year of private kindergarten would not be followed by a Grade 1 entrance in FCPS. If OP’s kid did 2 years of private kindergarten, then yes, they would then enroll in Grade 1 in FCPS because they would be 6 years old and turning 7 in Grade 1.

This is the answer:

4 year old does private kindergarten and completes it

5 year old does private first grade and completes it

6 year old transfers to FCPS as a second grader

This happens but rarely.

And find me the reputable, accredited private school in Fairfax that allows kids to enter K before the Sept 30th deadline. Most privates are team red shirt, not team move a kid ahead. I’m talking actual private K, not daycare K.

A day care K or other program is equally credentialed as any other school.

It's possible that there's an accredited private kindergarten, whether part of daycare or preschool or private school, that accepts children early, but I've never seen them. It's not common at all. I think on other parts of Virginia, it happens sometimes, but in Nova, it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Which private school doesn’t follow state age requirements and has several grades in it?

So now you (general) are saying that a kid can do private k-2 and come into FCPS at 3rd grade despite age?

[Anonymous]

I know people whose kids completed First Grade at a private K and then started first grade the next year. It happens. I know some who went to parochial schools and others it private PK/K options.

They submitted their K transcript from an accredited K and their kid was in first the following year.

But I don’t know the specific schools, it was 5 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Which private school doesn’t follow state age requirements and has several grades in it?

So now you (general) are saying that a kid can do private k-2 and come into FCPS at 3rd grade despite age?

We are another school district but did it. Really not a big deal. Privates set their own rules. These kids are four for a month or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people whose kids completed First Grade at a private K and then started first grade the next year. It happens. I know some who went to parochial schools and others it private PK/K options.

They submitted their K transcript from an accredited K and their kid was in first the following year.

But I don’t know the specific schools, it was 5 years ago.

Arlington diocese follows state guidelines.

[Anonymous]

State guidelines don’t state the minimum age for kindergarten. They say, “Grade placement (either kindergarten or first grade) will be determined by the local school division at the time of enrollment with consideration for factors such as age, academic records, and school readiness.”

https://doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/office/covid-19-faq-kindergarten.shtml

They set the maximum age for kindergarten. Private schools can determine their own rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I think what she’s asking, and what FCPS allows, is starting kindergarten early at a private school and then transferring back to FCPS a few years later.

They will be in the grade by their age. Some people do it if their kid is old and do a “private” year of K and then enroll in K in FCPS the next year.

No, this is not typical. People who enroll their kid in private kindergarten earlier than FCPS allows, don’t have their kids do kindergarten again the following year in public. Instead, they have their kid enroll in first grade or, more often second grade, in public 1-2 years later.

So you’re saying FCPS would allow 1st grade enrollment despite age?

Different poster: No. The child would still be age 5 by September 30. That’s kindergarten enrollment.

That's not the question. You can enroll a child after a few years in private after the child has completed a few grades successfully.

Which private school doesn’t follow state age requirements and has several grades in it?

So now you (general) are saying that a kid can do private k-2 and come into FCPS at 3rd grade despite age?

I posted it above. Merritt Academy did this years ago. At least, I think that was the name. The child is 16 now, a senior in high school. Our girls went to preschool together for the age of 3. For 4, mine continued in preschool and she enrolled her daughter in private. Her daughter stayed there until the end of second, when she then transferred into aap for 3rd. Mine has always remained a year behind in school even though the girls share the same birthday month. They both turned 5 in December.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor’s kids both started K early at the same FCPS school. One has an October birthday and I think the other has a November birthday. I know the one with the October birthday did K at a private school then started first grade in FCPS. I am not sure if the Nov bday kid did only K or K and 1 at private school.

Both kids are very advanced academically so I assume that factored in. I do feel bad for one of the kids as they are very small for their age and I know there has been some bullying. The parents are not from the US and I think academics was their only consideration. I am not sure they understand the social environment of public schools here and how common it is for kids with bdays close to the cutoff to be held back.

[Anonymous]

I know people who have done this at private schools in the area, but they ended up loving the private school so much that they didn't transfer back to FCPS.

Still, the default at private schools is to follow the state cutoff, so I think you need to make a pretty compelling case for your kid to start early.