K-8 Regrets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are on the fence, I would chose the K-12. Its so much less pressure on the kid--- and of course, you or your kid can always decide that a move at 9th grade is warranted regardless - but you don't have to move and that is a pleasure.

We did re-evaluate for my kid in 8th grade and he wanted to stay and we agreed, but he didn't have to move.

Sounds like you aren’t a k-8 family ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably would still do it again. But for a younger child, we are considering applying out for 7th given that there are fewer applicants for that grade and the eighth grade year in particular is somewhat odd in a K-8. Not bad, but an unusual experience for a 13-14 year old.

This varies by school. 7th and 8th grade are very strong and great at our K-8. But I do know some schools are different

[Anonymous]

If think it comes down to whether or not you see the catholic high schools are potential landing spots. There are lots of spots in 9th in the catholic schools and many fewer spots in the independents. For the independents, K-6 like NPS is the better model

[Anonymous]

If you want an independent co-Ed high school, K-8 admissions can be hard. But single sex and catholic have plentiful spots so the K-8 works better. Most of the people most have happy with exmissions are people that applied primarily to catholic and single sex at our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No regrets whatsoever. My kids are so nurtured and loved at their K-8. Childhood is so fleeting and they are making the most of it. It's big enough to have a choice of friends and small enough that we feel like we know the other families and their teachers.

And a bonus is that I want my kids to have some self-determination in the high school process and not just to get carried by momentum. They change so much year to year, I can't imagine trying to guess what high school would be a good fit back when they were in pre-k.

And remember, even if you do go to a K-12 now, it's not a sure bet. You may still be applying out for high school! Do what make sense for who your kids is/what your kids needs in the very foreseeable future and take it from there.

This is one of the reasons I love k-8. I think that it helps kids be kids longer, which imo, is a great thing. I don't think it makes frow up as fast as traditional middle school does.

[Anonymous]

The lifers at K-12 don’t always do very well either when it comes to college admissions. My experience is the fresh blood that comes in at 6th and 9th grade entrances tend to be much more competitive than the lifers. So while high school applications might be painful process, it’s also a learning process and a practice run for college, when the stakes are much lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lifers at K-12 don’t always do very well either when it comes to college admissions. My experience is the fresh blood that comes in at 6th and 9th grade entrances tend to be much more competitive than the lifers. So while high school applications might be painful process, it’s also a learning process and a practice run for college, when the stakes are much lower.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want an independent co-Ed high school, K-8 admissions can be hard. But single sex and catholic have plentiful spots so the K-8 works better. Most of the people most have happy with exmissions are people that applied primarily to catholic and single sex at our school.

As a non-catholic, the good single sex schools are not easy to get into at all

[Anonymous]

Big fan of the K-8 model! The two best years for my DC were 7th and 8th grades. We thought about pulling her out after 6th but are so glad we didn't. We saw a huge transformation in those years. Her maturity and confidence really came out in 7th and 8th grades and I credit the fact that those grades are emphasized at a K-8. She is now in 9th and having a great year.

[Anonymous]

Having a child entering 9th I think it’s really hard to “start over” in HS. It may make more sense to apply out for 7th.