We did, mostly prompted by the pandemic. Moved one child for 7th grade in fall 2020, followed by another for 6th in fall 2022. Great experiences for both!

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we did it and it was great for our DD. Will help a great deal with private high school admissions also. You'll have options!

Same here! So glad we did. It was a great middle school experience for our DD, and they provided so much support for the high school admissions process.

Pretty common at the Catholic schools also. If families are hoping for a Catholic HS many will move in 6th grade when more students per class.

Yes, we did it and it was great for our DD. Will help a great deal with private high school admissions also. You'll have options!

Anonymous wrote:Our K-8 considers middle school to be 5-8. We’ve had new students every year except 8th (although kids have joined the school in 8th before). Not a lot, 2-5 each year, out of class sizes around 25-30, but it’s common.

Our experience as well. The The only issues really are that the kids have expectations on behavior that the new kids coming in may not have.

Yes, people apply to sixth and seventh grade at Capitol Hill Day.

DS started at his preK-8 school in 5th, which is when their middle school started. He was at our local public and doing fine but we had some specific concerns about him in middle school.
It's been a great experience - kids were welcoming and he's thrived. I really love K-8 schools - I wish their were more of them.

Our K-8 considers middle school to be 5-8. We’ve had new students every year except 8th (although kids have joined the school in 8th before). Not a lot, 2-5 each year, out of class sizes around 25-30, but it’s common.

yes! quite a few left our DCPS for the K-8 schools during middle school years. Of note, some were kids who were really struggling academically in public (just an FYI in case it helps to know---it wasn't that hard to get a spot).

Yes, we applied for next year which will be 7th. We'll see ... no idea if there will actually be space (or acceptance), but hoping so.

yes. two of my kids began Norwood in Middle School. One in 5th grade, one in 6th. Excellent experience for our family

PP adding that the kids were very welcoming to those who joined in middle.

Yes. Kids joined our kid’s class in middle school, although most of the kids who came in after K did so in the lower school. I just don’t there there is as much demand for 5th and 6th grade slots at a K-8.

That said, the few families who did join sound like you. They were not sure they wanted to go with private all the way. (Most were avoiding Deal in DC or their large MCPS middle school.)

My DC moved to a K-8 in 8th grade and there weren't a ton of new kids but, they were very welcoming.

Not sure we want private all the way through high school and there are more k-8 schools to choose from.