Anyone moved their child up a grade?

[Anonymous]

My brother did this. Academically, it worked out really well for him - no issues. Socially, not so much as he was smaller and picked on a lot at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done this for a kid who is already the youngest? My very late birthday PK4 kid's teacher suggested skipping him from PK4 straight to 1st grade.

I'm 95 percent against this, but interested to hear experiences. He's actually fairly small for his age already, doing socially just fine but extremely advanced academically (probably academically ready for 2nd or 3rd grade even but not socially).

Yes. Both my son and daughter skipped a year. My son's birthday is at the very end of August - they initially wanted to hold him back an extra year because he was VERY quiet and VERY shy. Basically wouldn't speak unless spoken to and then only in a whisper. The assistant principal gave him a big talk about "Your work is great, we think you may be very, very smart and super bored. We'd like to help you not be bored, but you're going to have to talk more. If we switch you to a more fun class and introduce you to REALLY nice kids, can you participate more?" And they shook hands on it, and DS did keep up his end of the agreement. So he graduated from high school two months shy of being 17, then did a gap year, then went to college and is now in med school, where he speaks.

My daughter's birthday is at the end of November. There was some snafu with her father and I about "I thought YOU mentioned it to her!" and she arrived at school only to be told "Nope, wrong classroom," and sent to the next grade. I was still in the building - someone found me and let me know what was going on. I was 10 feet behind DD as she skipped into her new grade and busted out with, "I'm here! What are we doing?" and the teacher said "We're writing letters letting everyone know what we did over the summer." DD replied, "I LOVE writing letters!" and I walked away. She graduated from high school at 16, did a gap year, and is still just as enthusiastic now, in college.

Both were the youngest in their grades. I know DS was in a math class in 9th grade with two 12th graders. The only thing both kids made any noise about was not being able to drive to school as early as their friends did.

Thanks - this is useful. But this was a 20 or so years ago. It seems like it's less common now. I wonder if anyone who has done it more recently and in DCPS has any insight?

I told you about it because even though it was done over a decade ago, people always get all riled up about "But what about puberty! what about driving! what about being tall?" so wanted you to know how it works out in the long run. I have an 8 yr old who skipped a grade, and of course it SEEMS to be going just fine so far, but I've learned you don't know the full implications until farther on down the road.

I'm the OP, and I in particular appreciated your long-range perspective. And smiled that your son now speaks in medical school. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

And honestly, even if that PP had a perspective from a different time, it is hugely important I think. Nowadays I think we feel like there is so much riding on each little decision.

[Anonymous]

Also looking at this option--which schools have allowed/encouraged it for ready kids?