How common is red shirting in public schools in the suburbs?

[Anonymous]

Not McLean or North Arlington, but places like Fairfax and Springfield. Is red-shirting only very common among the UMC and in the privates or is it pretty much everywhere now?

[Anonymous]

Re Springfield/Burke, it is common but not universal, IME.

[Anonymous]

I see it in West Springfield, but as PP said it's not universal. There are plenty who start their kids "on time" with summer birthdays. We are one of those families and it's refreshing to be around others who do the same. My DS is a July birthday and always has at least 2-3 kids younger than him in his class. I also know of at least one late September family that started their child on time.

Then I know of two families that have red shirted very bright, articulate kids with August birthdays. There was no developmental reason, only that they didn't want them to be the youngest. So there are definitely families like that in the suburbs.

My son's kindergarten teacher is not a fan of red shirting and almost rolls her eyes at it. But I've talked to a kindergarten teacher at another local ES and she thinks red shirting can be a good thing because the expectations are much higher in K now.

Some families also choose to have their child do private K at a local daycare/preschool so that they can benefit from a smaller class size. Then start them on time for 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

One kid in my son's class was redshirted with an August birthday, but I don't know of any others.

[Anonymous]

I’d guesstimate about 1/3 of the August and September birthday kids. Maybe close to 1/2 when you get very close to the cutoff. Common but certainly not universal.

[Anonymous]

What is UMC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re Springfield/Burke, it is common but not universal, IME.

This is where I live too. Is 50/50 too high? More than 50% don’t redshirt but 50% may be high. Also it’s more common for boys than girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see it in West Springfield, but as PP said it's not universal. There are plenty who start their kids "on time" with summer birthdays. We are one of those families and it's refreshing to be around others who do the same. My DS is a July birthday and always has at least 2-3 kids younger than him in his class. I also know of at least one late September family that started their child on time.

Then I know of two families that have red shirted very bright, articulate kids with August birthdays. There was no developmental reason, only that they didn't want them to be the youngest. So there are definitely families like that in the suburbs.

My son's kindergarten teacher is not a fan of red shirting and almost rolls her eyes at it. But I've talked to a kindergarten teacher at another local ES and she thinks red shirting can be a good thing because the expectations are much higher in K now.

Some families also choose to have their child do private K at a local daycare/preschool so that they can benefit from a smaller class size. Then start them on time for 1st grade.

I have Aug. boy who I sent on time - when I meet these other people who did not redshirt their summer bday kids either, it’s like the Katniss 3 finger salute!! Haha.

[Anonymous]

I am in Bethesda and the vast, vast majority of August boys we know are redshirted. August girls are 50/50, and July is probably 50/50 for boys and 25/75 for girls. June and before is a lot less common. These reports of 7 year olds in kindergarten are just so over exaggerated IMO.

[Anonymous]

It’s not as common for people who have to stretch to pay daycare. It’s a big financial difference.

[Anonymous]

"I am in Bethesda and the vast, vast majority of August boys we know are redshirted. August girls are 50/50, and July is probably 50/50 for boys and 25/75 for girls. June and before is a lot less common."

Several years back, as a parent at a HGC center which overlapped with Bethesda, if these numbers are correct, they have gone up.

Back in the day, Bethesda parents seemed much more worried about their DC being bored in K and 1st rather than thinking an extra year would help, somehow.

I would have thought that 2.0 would have ratcheted up fears of boredom.

[Anonymous]

There are 5 September birthdays in my son's class. Two that started on time and three that were red shirted, so I agree it's about 50/50. This is in Fairfax county.

[Anonymous]

We are at a school of mixed middle class and poor kids. All the poor kids go on time. The middle class summer boys are majority red-shirted. Spring boys go on time but very occasionally there is a spring redshirt. Uncommon for girls to be held back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is UMC?

upper middle class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at a school of mixed middle class and poor kids. All the poor kids go on time. The middle class summer boys are majority red-shirted. Spring boys go on time but very occasionally there is a spring redshirt. Uncommon for girls to be held back.

My niece who is 2 1/2 months before cutoff redshirted. They had free childcare (my FIL) and since she was very petite - wanted to give her the gift of time. [note - she is the top student in her class of now 5th graders, still the smallest in the grade]