What can a K-8 do to Keep Students through 8th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We adore our K-8. We like the academics, the atnosphere, families, facilities, happy middle school environment, nuturing feeling. It's just a great place and we want both of our kids to stay through with. I'm feeling a little antsy, though, hearing about families jumping ship early. I think most want to secure a high school spot, others might be less happy, want a bigger environment, or a more competitive sports program, I'm not really sure. What, though, can a school do to retain more families? If you left your K-8 early, is there anything the school could have done to "keep" you?

So there you go. Why do you care what other families do?

She's clearly worried that the 6-8th experience won't be as good, because of attrition.

This will depend on the school - the 6-8th experience was great at our k-8 and I appreciated it even more when my first graduated and went to a Big 3. The MS at Big 3 was 100% lowest priority and the weakest division of the school. And my child was just as prepared for 9th grade as the rising 8th graders from the Big 3 (and more prepared in some ways).

To be honest, the attrition we saw recently at our k-8 has been to schools that weren't Big 3 (not even Big X)....which I found very interesting. The past few years, they have mostly jumped to what parents gunning for Big X would consider the "safety schools" for their child in the scenario that the family doesn't want to use their zoned public HS if their child isn't accepted to a more selective Big X.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many great 9-12 only schools that are great options to go from a K-8 school. Georgetown Visitation, Georgetown Prep, Madeira, Episcopal, Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell, to name a few. They focus on high school and school leadership is not busy with younger grades like in K-12.

I believe the Catholic schools which are mentioned above give admissions preference to (a) students coming from other Catholic schools and (b) to Catholic church member families. Episcopal is a boarding HS, so might not be ideal for a family wanting a day school. Madeira does both boarding and day, so suitable for either type of family.

After those caveats, the number of places for 9-12 day school which are not Catholic seem to be fairly limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many great 9-12 only schools that are great options to go from a K-8 school. Georgetown Visitation, Georgetown Prep, Madeira, Episcopal, Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell, to name a few. They focus on high school and school leadership is not busy with younger grades like in K-12.

I believe the Catholic schools which are mentioned above give admissions preference to (a) students coming from other Catholic schools and (b) to Catholic church member families. Episcopal is a boarding HS, so might not be ideal for a family wanting a day school. Madeira does both boarding and day, so suitable for either type of family.

After those caveats, the number of places for 9-12 day school which are not Catholic seem to be fairly limited.

+1000! Absolutely the case!

[Anonymous]

Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

[Anonymous]

I think leaving a K-8 early has often more to do with where the child wants to go to high school. If it's a very competitive school that has younger grades, it makes sense to apply earlier than for 9th grade, like for 7th and 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think leaving a K-8 early has often more to do with where the child wants to go to high school. If it's a very competitive school that has younger grades, it makes sense to apply earlier than for 9th grade, like for 7th and 8th grade.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think leaving a K-8 early has often more to do with where the child wants to go to high school. If it's a very competitive school that has younger grades, it makes sense to apply earlier than for 9th grade, like for 7th and 8th grade.

My DC wanted to go to a competitive HS but when we toured at an earlier date (to consider MS), they discovered that they liked their k-8 MS better than the other schools (especially early MS 5th/6th). There were some things they liked about the other schools but none of them were better enough to make it worth leaving their current school early. They stayed through 8th and were later accepted to all the selective HS's they were interested in attending - no need to leave early. Best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

not anymore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

not anymore

Can you elaborate? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

If you are HAPPY with your K-8 whether it’s Catholic parochial or private like Little Langley can you name your school? Just to get an idea?
I wonder whether having multiple tracks makes it better overall?
I went to a one track parochial school and the middle school started to feel small and cliquish but I’m sure that’s true at most places?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

not anymore

Can you elaborate? Just curious.

the school has changed. many more leaving prior to MS or before 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

not anymore

Can you elaborate? Just curious.

the school has changed. many more leaving prior to MS or before 8th.

Our neighbors have a child in 7th who started in preschool and I haven’t heard that. We are interested in sending our child for K next year and keeping them through 8th. Can you tell me more specifics about what has changed and why people are leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of jumpers regret it. Just do you.

I agree with this. We keep in touch with many of the families that left. They’ve expressed that they’re relieved to not worry about HS admissions but otherwise unhappy.

Unfortunately that doesn’t bring them back to our school or solve the problem of contagious admissions anxiety.

We are so happy we left. I just wish I had pushed on it a year earlier. The environment got toxic. Small K-8s need to work on girl bullying. When that isn't addressed parents leave.

This is why we left out K-8. Mean girls. Bullying. Gossip amongst faculty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which k-8s have good middle schools with little drop off (ie students stay)?

Little Langley.

not anymore

Can you elaborate? Just curious.

the school has changed. many more leaving prior to MS or before 8th.

Former Langley family and agree the school changed after COVID and new leadership. Homework load increased in MS and I will say my HSer does not have a homework load like in MS. Many times multiple tests on same day when the teachers used to coordinate to avoid that as much as possible. SEL course changed. The school used to empower students to become the best they could be and advocate for themselves...teachers started to reach out more to the parents instead of working w the student for any issues. Lack of leadership opportunities unless involved in student government. Zero creativity to create opportunities for students to bond and create understanding and new relationships. There were many toxic relationships in all the MS classes.