FCPS parent here with a 6th and 8th grader and I will say I LOVE having 6th grade in ES. I completely disagree that it is more developmentally appropriate to have 6th in MS and I love that my kids have a year delay on some of the things they are exposed ot once they get to MS. I don't understand the rush for kids to grow up.

Although I do think k-8 is a good option as well, it let's kids be kids a little longer

Anonymous wrote:No space in the schools

That's a really bad reason though. It's the same in PA. Personally, I think 6th belongs in elementary, the kids need it.

Anonymous wrote:Some kids are ready for middle school in 6. Both mine were. 6th graders and kindergartners together also has its issues.

6th graders are in no man's land. Nevertheless, let's be real - the 6th graders really don't run into the kindergartners in a K-6 program.
My childhood school system (small town USA) - long after I left - moved to K-5, 6, 7-8, 9-12 set-up. They used the town's original high school which had become the junior high (7-8) and then an elementary school and made it a citywide 6th grade building for all 6th graders. I realize that's not practical here; but it seemed like a good transition for that in-between age/grade, a way for 6th graders to meet not just kids from their own school/what would be a middle school, but all the 6th graders they would then be in junior high with.

In the end, I really don't think it makes much difference whether it's a K-6 or a K-5 system.

Some kids are ready for middle school in 6. Both mine were. 6th graders and kindergartners together also has its issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most school systems have 6-8 for MS and FCPS is an outlier.

because it's more developmentally appropriate to have 6-8 than K-6

No it’s not.
It’s why they keep the 6th graders separate in middle school bc developmentally and academically the majority aren’t ready for middle school. This adds to the terrible mess at middle schools.

I wish elementary was k-6. I grew up in AZ and that is how it was there (but unlimited space for school buildings makes things easy).

OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Anonymous wrote:I think most school systems have 6-8 for MS and FCPS is an outlier.

because it's more developmentally appropriate to have 6-8 than K-6

I think most school systems have 6-8 for MS and FCPS is an outlier.

This changed in the late 1990s due to space constraints. Honestly I think it was the canary in the coal mine about APS’ inability to build and allocate seats for their students after the idiotic decision to turn over school buildings (e.g. Madison) after the baby book waned. They’ve been shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic since.

Anonymous wrote:No space in the schools

Also some of the elementary schools that go through 6th, segregate the sixth graders and also allow them to change core classes as a transition to a Middle School.

No space in the schools

To be fair, not all fcps elementary goes through 6th. Some are through 5th.

Why don’t Arlington elementary schools end in 6th grade like FCPS?