Reply to Transitioning from Catholic school to competitive privates (like STA/NCS/Sidwell)

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[quote=Anonymous]As a parent of kids who made this transition for high school, I can attest that it is a step up in overall rigor, but not an insurmountable one. Some of the below should apply to middle and even elementary school.

Broadly speaking, we found our kids lacking slightly in writing capabilities (not grammar and structure, or vocabulary, but the ability to analyze and produce simple narratives and theses), math (more advanced algebra concepts and even some very pre-calculus), and foreign language (in particular). Some of this is attributable to less classroom time vs. their independent peers in core subjects (foreign language, in particular), and some of it is rooted in different teaching approaches. Depending on the current and new schools, some facilities and offerings (athletics, arts) can also vary wildly. That’s not to say the other kids are smarter; it’s just a different approach and environment. Overall, it was manageable, but we felt noticeable. Re: high school, the first half of 8th grade in Catholic schools is also driven by HSPT (placement test) prep and the high school application process, which, in hindsight, contributed slightly to a gap in our opinion.

For the above, my advice would be to use the summer between 8th and 9th to sharpen some of the core skills — very basic and not going overboard at all/low pressure, but some online tools (IXL, etc.), light reading, and maybe even a summer class or two if the new school offers them (also a good way to potentially meet other kids and teachers). I’d also advise listening to the school when they propose various class placements, don’t obsess over the regular vs. advanced track etc. as there will be plenty of time for that. Just get settled in.

And be ready for some cultural shifts: new friends, (likely) going from uniforms to free dress, a wide variety of religions, more free time to manage, more open classroom discussions, more transparent discussion about mental and sexual health, etc., that are generally not found in Catholic schools.

We found the admissions offices of the various schools very supportive in discussing the shift, which was helpful.

The bottom line is that there will be a shift, but that’s OK. We don’t regret the decision to start in Catholic schools or to pursue a different path later on. The good news is they’re largely all good paths.[/quote]

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