Anonymous wrote:Some people I know enrolled their kids in private K and then moved to first grade in public school.

NP. When I looked into this, the private accredited kindergartens all had the same cut-offs as FCPS. So I don't really know how this would work.

There are some areas, such as Montgomery County in Maryland, that allows some flexibility for early entry for children who are close to the cutoff. But FCPS does not.

20:07 again. My older son is 14 and finishing 8th grade. Between middle school and sports teams, he has some friends a grade above him, as do many kids that age. He went to school on time but because he wasn’t old for the grade he now had a lot of friends who are 1-1.5 years older. Quite a few that are talking about getting permits soon and how they can all go out in cars a few months after that. The idea that he will have friends driving in a year terrifies me, like most parents. Do you really want your kid in all that a year sooner?

Being an October birthday has been nothing but a positive for my daughter. I see a huge difference in her experience over my son’s, who was on the younger side or seemed so since half of his friends were redshirted. Everything was easier. Teachers complemented her maturity and behavior, academics weren’t a struggle mostly because she was a little older, being taller certainly helped with sports since rec leagues were by grade.

We thought about doing private K and starting her and I’m so glad we didn’t. She had a really happy elementary experience and enjoyed school. Maybe she would have anyway but you never know.

So many advantages to being the oldest child in the class. I was initially annoyed my daughter missed the cut off by 1 day, but I’m happy to have her as one of older children in her class. There’s tons of kids older than here too because the wealthy white parents love to red shirt anyone born after March.

One of my son’s preK classmates basically did a kindergarten curriculum at our small private preschool and is going into first grade next year. I personally don’t really understand why the parents want to rush her into first grade. They did the same thing with their older child and he is 7 and barely bigger than my just turned 5 year old, and is now being bullied by his fellow second graders. I think they’re doing this because the kids are smart and could be bored staying back, but they have failed to consider the social implications. I feel so bad for their son as he is going to be small and probably targeted for it for many years. Some kids are such jerks and will find other kids’ weaknesses and exploit them. I would much rather supplement for my bright child then push them into a grade where they will be the youngest and smallest.

My DD has an early October birthday and I felt like this when she was 4, turning 5. I ended up waiting and sending her on time. I’m SO glad we did now that she’s finishing up 1st grade. She’s tall and has been academically advanced, but she has loved school and thrived as one of the older ones.

I was so happy with how things turned out for DD, in fact, that I’m purposely holding back her younger brother. DS has a late September birthday, and is 4 turning 5 just a few days before the cutoff (opposite consideration of DD). We are going to wait another year for K for him so that he’s almost 6 at the start of the school year.

Anonymous wrote:DD turns 5 in October missing the end of September deadline, any way around this rule? She has to wait the extra year no ifs and buts about it? Thank you.

Those kids who are at the old end of their class but not red shirted are in the best position for college and a lot of other things. I can't imagine sacrificing that to save a year of daycare unless I was desperate. Have you explored other options to pay for childcare? It seems so unfair a family would be forced to do this to their child because of money, so I hope you find a solution.

Anonymous wrote:Some people I know enrolled their kids in private K and then moved to first grade in public school.

What schools allow this? I've been looking at privates for when we move back to DC in a couple of years- I have a Sept birthday DD and most privates also have the same Sept 30 cutoff, a few are August though (Ad Fontes). Maybe I'm not looking hard enough..

Anonymous wrote:Some people I know enrolled their kids in private K and then moved to first grade in public school.

This is what happened with my older child. We moved to Fairfax County the summer between K and 1st and asked for a 1st grade placement since DC had completed K already. At the time (DC is now in college, so things may be different now) it was up to the individual ES principals; ours did approve an assessment by the reading specialist and signed off on putting DC in a 1st grade classroom when it was recommended.

It all goes by too fast as it is - don’t rush it. Do you really want your child going off to college a year earlier?

Just send her when she needs to go. Most people wish their kids had extra time in preschool. I have one with an October 2nd birthday and he'll be huge and almost 6 when he starts K this fall. Oh well!

But there will be kids with summer birthday who were held back and will be 6 and a few months when Kindergarten starts. And now look at your 4 year old and ask if you really want her to start in the same class as those kids.

Anonymous wrote:DD turns 5 in October missing the end of September deadline, any way around this rule? She has to wait the extra year no ifs and buts about it? Thank you.

Yep.

If they make an exception then why not for all the others in the same boat?

There has to be a cutoff somewhere.

Same boat has many many others. That's why a lot of preschools offer a 5-yr old class b_c what else are parents supposed to do?

Anonymous wrote:Some people I know enrolled their kids in private K and then moved to first grade in public school.

so what you are saying is that if she does kindergarden at a private institution, then she can graduate into 1st grade early?

Some people I know enrolled their kids in private K and then moved to first grade in public school.

DD turns 5 in October missing the end of September deadline, any way around this rule? She has to wait the extra year no ifs and buts about it? Thank you.