K-8 parents of 8th graders—are you satisfied with outplacement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was Norwood’s placement last year: https://www.norwoodschool.org/program/high-school-placement

By my count, 22 of out of the 48 kids went to a top tier school:

GDS — 2
Prep — 1
Holton — 4
Landon — 2
Maret — 2
NCS — 1
Potomac — 2
Sidwell — 5
STA — 3

People will say some of these aren’t top tier, but they’re all very strong. I don’t believe all these kids fell into the categories PP listed. How many 8th graders have developed an app anyway?!

Only a matter of time before the bitter naysayers will claim that these were due to hooks like legacy/sibling/athlete/URM/etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really incredible list. If some schools are taking such high numbers from Norwood and presumably from other excellent K8s it shows you how few spots are available for kids from public.

I know that for Norwood, the school goes to bat for each kid. They have relationships with the top high schools. That’s just not happening, even for the best kid coming from a public school.

From Norwood’s website:

“Norwood maintains strong ties with all of the independent secondary schools in the greater Washington, D.C. area, as well as a number of boarding schools throughout the country.”

They said that they “ Visit with admission officers to personally present each Norwood candidate.”

I would assume Lowell and other K-8s do the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one knows what the entire class did at this point. It’s too early.

Asking for personal experience from parents of current 8th graders at these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:K8 parent here also with an 8th grader at one of the schools mentioned upthread. My kid has multiple good options to choose from including her first choice. With only one exception, all of her friends got into more than one school including many top choices (she does not know about everyone in the class but in her group everyone seems to have done well).

Thanks. Are you happy with her options? Any regrets about doing k-8? Any sense whether this year was even more competitive as some schools had to dial back admissions because they over enrolled during covid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently at one of the K-8s mentioned above and thrilled with the outplacement and the school's support during the application process.

Same. Our 8th grader got in to 2 of 3 we were hoping for so we are quite happy.

Good to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 7th grader at one of the schools mentioned that receives significant FA, how was it for FA applicants? We're nervous.

This is a good question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:K8 parent here also with an 8th grader at one of the schools mentioned upthread. My kid has multiple good options to choose from including her first choice. With only one exception, all of her friends got into more than one school including many top choices (she does not know about everyone in the class but in her group everyone seems to have done well).

Thanks. Are you happy with her options? Any regrets about doing k-8? Any sense whether this year was even more competitive as some schools had to dial back admissions because they over enrolled during covid?

This is PP. I’m really happy with her options and although we did see certain schools (e.g GDS, St. Albans) offer very few spots, everyone I’m aware of has at least 1-2 good choices. I don’t have regrets about K8. Your kid won’t be the same person at 14 that they are at 4. For me, it was very difficult to picture having my kid at one school for the whole time. Im sure it works well for many people, but my kid is ready for a change even though she has liked her school a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Norwood’s list is impressive. I was not so familiar with the school. How did other K8s in DMV do so far.

It’s from last year. Wondering how families are feeling about this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

This is just NOT true in so many ways. K-12 divides up into divisions. Each division has its own leadership opportunities for the top grade (equivalent to how K-8 do it). It is such a myth that all funding goes toward 9-12 in K-12 schools. Each school is treated as a mini school within the school. Furthermore, at a k-12 if your kid changes over time, you can always leave and apply elsewhere at any point in time--BUT, the real benefit is that you have the option NOT to change if they have a group of strong friends and love the school. Nobody is forcing people to stay at a K-12 but boy is it a huge benefit to not have to go through the stress of high school applications if you don't have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

This is just NOT true in so many ways. K-12 divides up into divisions. Each division has its own leadership opportunities for the top grade (equivalent to how K-8 do it). It is such a myth that all funding goes toward 9-12 in K-12 schools. Each school is treated as a mini school within the school. Furthermore, at a k-12 if your kid changes over time, you can always leave and apply elsewhere at any point in time--BUT, the real benefit is that you have the option NOT to change if they have a group of strong friends and love the school. Nobody is forcing people to stay at a K-12 but boy is it a huge benefit to not have to go through the stress of high school applications if you don't have to.

Exactly. Lifers never have to compete for a seat. Ever. Sweet deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

This is just NOT true in so many ways. K-12 divides up into divisions. Each division has its own leadership opportunities for the top grade (equivalent to how K-8 do it). It is such a myth that all funding goes toward 9-12 in K-12 schools. Each school is treated as a mini school within the school. Furthermore, at a k-12 if your kid changes over time, you can always leave and apply elsewhere at any point in time--BUT, the real benefit is that you have the option NOT to change if they have a group of strong friends and love the school. Nobody is forcing people to stay at a K-12 but boy is it a huge benefit to not have to go through the stress of high school applications if you don't have to.

I agree with this and there are so many benefits! Buddies/mentors/class visits between divisions/attending games and performances and most of all just growing together in a community who knows and loves your child.

I also love k-8s and almost went that way. But it's not like one is empirically better than the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

We’ve been at both k-8 and now k-12 and I’d really disagree with this. My younger kids at a k-12 get to benefit from all of the resources that would never be available at a k-8. The facilities are in a different league, they have access to specific teachers a k-8 couldn’t justify, they get the school spirit of real pep rallies, varsity games, etc. There is tons of interaction between the divisions so even when my kids were little they’d go to a varsity game in their sport and the high schoolers would greet them by name, etc. They still have all the same leadership opportunities and everything bc the divisions have their own heads, student leadership opposition, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d apply for k thru 8 for midddle. Unless it’s for back up if you don’t get into a k thru 12? Why out your kid through the application process twice and make them join a class of kids who all know each other in middle school just to have to leave again in two to three years?

k-8 puts the resources in the k-8. Many k-12(specially the big 5) direct the majority of resources to 9-12. These top schools are very different. What you think is a good fit in k or 4th is not by 9th and it is missable for the kid. Many times the kids want a change. They are bored by the same old insular social scene.

Once you have gone through the application processes once it is not really that big of a deal to do it again. Applying for 9th grade is about grades, teacher recs, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc. Doing the application process again in 8th really makes you think about who your kid is and what schools will be a good fit. Plus everyone else in the class is doing.

Bottom line you pick a school for the kid.

We’ve been at both k-8 and now k-12 and I’d really disagree with this. My younger kids at a k-12 get to benefit from all of the resources that would never be available at a k-8. The facilities are in a different league, they have access to specific teachers a k-8 couldn’t justify, they get the school spirit of real pep rallies, varsity games, etc. There is tons of interaction between the divisions so even when my kids were little they’d go to a varsity game in their sport and the high schoolers would greet them by name, etc. They still have all the same leadership opportunities and everything bc the divisions have their own heads, student leadership opposition, etc.

It’s a personal preference and determination based on what each family wants for their kids. What you share about the benefits of k-12 are exactly what some say are why they do not like a k-12 and prefer a k-8. Some do not want any interaction or influence from high schoolers for lower school students. They don’t want to attend pep rallies or varsity games, because they want the focus on whatever the k-8 students are doing, where at a k-12, the majority of big school activities and events are going to center around the upper school. There is not a right answer here, it is what works for you kid/family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 7th grader at one of the schools mentioned that receives significant FA, how was it for FA applicants? We're nervous.

This is a good question.

I'm also curious about this. Can anyone share?