Entering in Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

If a child enters a school in kindergarten, are they normally able to progress all the way through school - into middle school and high school? are there other threshold exams to qualify along the way?

Is it easiest to get in for kindergarten (less testing, etc)?

Any other advice for somebody considering kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

K is actually quite tough because it's a huge entry year , but kids haven't developed a track record yet so the decision process seems arbitrary at times. Once you're in though, it's fairly easy to stay. A small minority are counseled out for behavior issues or academic issues, but the vast majority have the option to stay as long as they want.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Easier to enter in first grade?

If you try to get in and are declined or wait listed, any chance of getting in for first grade?


What are acceptance rates at a place like Langley or Potomac for Kindergarten?


Thanks for the response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Easier to enter in first grade?

If you try to get in and are declined or wait listed, any chance of getting in for first grade?


What are acceptance rates at a place like Langley or Potomac for Kindergarten?


Thanks for the response!

We entered our school in first grade - we found most schools have very few spots for first grade because it generally not an "expansion year". That's not so say your child won't get in, but you will want to cast a wide net. We were lucky and had acceptance to 4 of 6 schools we applied to (one of the 2 others was a wait list). Of all the schools we applied to, I think Norwood may have been the only one that expanded a bit in first grade. Langley was one of the schools our child was accepted to for first grade (since you happened to mention that school).

[Anonymous]

My advice is that if you're totally committed to private schools, make sure you have a couple solid backup options. Stated admit rate ranges from 1 in 4 to 1 in 10 at the extreme end. What we failed to factor in properly was the effect legacies, sibs, faculty/staff kids and race/gender have on admissions. If a school has 20 spots, based on sex alone your kid is only being considered for 10 of them and if it happens a lot of the siblings are the same sex as your kid, your odds go down. Not trying to overly dramatize things, just trying to caution you against aiming too high like we did and ending up with just wait lists and not admission anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Good advice! Norwood adds an additional homeroom in first grade.