Switching Schools
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Anonymous
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DD's currently in a preschool that feeds into a private school running through grade 8. She's an only, will be an only, and we're trying to figure out what to do... I know K in public schools is often a mix of kids who have been to school before, kids who went to school part-time and kids with zero school experience. We're debating keeping her in private for K, K-2, or K-8.
Now my parents had me in a private and switched me to public in 5th grade. I did not adjust well... and of course am hyper sensitive to that for my child, but I also want to put her in the best place academically. Are we over thinking this? Should we just switch her to public for K, with most of her friends, and leave it at that? Or just keep her at private through 8th? But then we'd have to figure out where to send her for high school... I know I'm overthinking this, so talk some sense into me  DH is also on the fence, his greatest concern is that K in public will be wasted for DD, where as if she stays at private for K she will have a better year. It would be a little tight but we could afford the school (plus they don't close nearly as often as FFX for snow).
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Anonymous
| OP Again - Completely left out half my concern - I don't want DD to have a difficult transition to public. Granted my switch was in a smaller town where everyone know everyone. I think that's more important to me than her academics... |
Anonymous
| I think either way is fine. There are always new kids starting in first (kids who did montessori, kids who moved here) and they switch the classes up every year anyway. |
Anonymous
| It will be the easiest for her to switch in k when everyone is new. |
Anonymous
| We are keeping our child in private and switching for 2nd grade to make sure they get the attention and support i smaller classes. I agree either way is fine. |
Anonymous
| I think asking yourself what your goals are with private/public helps. Are you looking for smaller classes, or more OE/art/music, etc? There isn't a right answer - it is what fits your needs. |
Anonymous
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It's not your kid; it's you. She will grow up to be neurotic and clingy b/c of your hovering.
My daughter switched from a private to public in 4th grade, which meant she enrolled in a school double the size of her private. She had it rough the first month but is now in middle school and loves it. And I don't get the "only" part. An only is not some wallflower who lives in a plastic bubble. I'm an only who attended private through 10th grade b/c my parents wanted to give me a Catholic education. I hated it and hounded them so much much that I switched to public in 11th grade. Although I knew only a handful of kids, few were "good" friends, but I made new ones. And then I chose a very large public university. No wonder kids today are enabled and entitled. A little separation from your kids is healthy. |
Anonymous
Wow, whatever your parents did, didn't work. Chill out a bit. |
Anonymous
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OP, my son is in a private k-5 school. MANY parents just sent their kids to the private kindergarten and then switched out to public. I have a bunch of older teacher friends who have been teaching elementary for decades and they said switching in elementary is the easiest all around.
Having said that, we plan to do K-8 in private. You will see your child change from year to year, and you will be better able to gauge any social issues that arise, and can plan accordingly. Keep in mind, too, that school will not be her only social circle. She may develop hobbies or join activities that she follows year after year, and within these, she will also have groups of friends. It's a little more difficult when you don't go to the neighborhood school, but not impossible. My son plays with neighborhood kids and has a set of friends at the pool. He runs into the same kids in his baseball league. I don't think you can go wrong by private kindergarten for sure, and then reassess as the year goes on. Good luck. |
Anonymous
This. If your public is good, I would just send her in K. They meet a lot of people in K and kids are still really open to new friends at that age. |
Anonymous
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OP Here - Currently in a decent pyramid but planning on buying the spring before she starts K, so can make sure she's in a good pyramid (within budget of course, lol).
Funny the one PP "assumed" I hover - couldn't be further from the truth, obviously due to my experiences when I was younger I'm a bit more sensitive to this. That's it
We love her school right now. We love the small class sizes, she's able to have a variety of extracurricular activities, all the teachers she's had have been amazing and supportive, they have a program with the retirement home next door, good location, awesome PTO... I may also be having an issue just leaving the school in general since she started at the school at 6 months. |
Anonymous
| We were on the fence whether to keep our son in private for small classes or the dreaded huge FCPS classes. He went to private K and we switched him in 1st. To our surprise he loved being in a large class with so many kids instead of a small class. All of the closings are a pain but you need a back up plan. |
Anonymous
| We went from a really small private to a large public in 3rd. There were no issues (I anticipated there may be) - but he adapted easily and made friends quickly. |
Anonymous
| I'm not understanding whether or not finances play a role in your decision. If you keep her at the private, are you prepared to go straight through on that route? If not, I'd go ahead and put her in public K from the start. |
Anonymous
Whoa there are k-8 privates that start with 6-month old babies?! I am misreading something here. A daycare center that turns into a private elementary? |