It depends a bit on your kid's personality, but most will do fine. Go ahead and register them for activities so they have several sources of friend groups.

They will be fine. We moved before 6th and it was fine. During high school dh started talking about interviewing for a job in another city at same company. Kids said no way - they wanted to finish high school and I said if he took the job, he would have to commute. He didn’t interview. Kids (twins) had previously moved before K. I have met several people who moved to our town (not in DC area anymore) and have at least one kid in high school. The kids who are older than freshman year have the hardest time with the transition.

OP - you will be closer to family after the move? That’s great!

It is a big plus in favor of moving. Great for your kids.

I moved every 4 years as a child, to different countries, because of my father's job. It was exciting, but also hard to say goodbye to friends. There are many foreign service and international families in this area, OP, who are living that kind of life.

You can move any time apart from their critical high school years when they're building their grades/skills for college applications. That would really throw them off. So if your oldest is in 7th, NOW is the time. Don't wait until they're in high school.

My family moved 3x between end of 6th and graduation for me. It was too many moves BUT moving before high school was much, much easier than later.

My parents uprooted me to another continent in 7th grade. Ended up being great

Anonymous wrote:My family moved across the country with a rising 7th and rising 5th. It was fine. Find something about the new area or new house that will excite the kids, so they feel like they're gaining something and not losing everything.

My family moved as well. We were 3 kids.
My older sibling was very happy and immediately adjusted
My younger sibling was young enough to adjust well. I was not happy, very home sick but didn't want to burden anyone with that.
I ended up moving back and have no desire to live where my family is
It just isn't where my sense of home is

My family moved across the country with a rising 7th and rising 5th. It was fine. Find something about the new area or new house that will excite the kids, so they feel like they're gaining something and not losing everything.

Families move all the time with kids of every age. If it’s better for the family, then move.

I was moved around a lot as a kid - including right before 6th grade and wouldn’t recommend it. But that said, so what makes the most sense for your family. I’m fine as an adult but I made a point not to uproot my children unless absolutely necessary.

They will be fine.

Is the 7th grader a girl? If so, that might be very hard on her. It’s hard to break into new friend groups at that age.

The timing is nearly perfect for the ages of your children.

Good move - especially to escape DCPS.

Rising 7th graded is fine, because your child will be entering a new middle school along with other middle school kids (most places do 7/8 middle school; some odd jurisdictions lump in 6th graders for some reason).

I was moved as a rising 8th grader. It was horrible.

But the following freshman year of HS was much better.

Has anyone done this at 7th grade level and uprooted your family? We would have a rising 7th grader, 4th grader and 2nd grader and haven’t moved ever with the kids. It would be for a job, better public schools (current DCPS) and closer to family.