Anonymous wrote:Private school is not going to magically transform your child into a good student. You would do better for your child academically and save him the embarrassment of being held back a year (because his peers WILL notice and WILL give him a hard time) by spending the money on an executive function coach and tutors to get him up to speed.

Private school will not magically do anything for anyone. But a year of maturity is somewhat magical. Especially a September birthday kid you don’t want to send off to college while still 17.

There are enough kids who do this that it is not as embarrassing as it used to be. Plus when kids get to high school, they don’t really notice who is in their grade anymore. A lot wouldn’t even notice.

Anonymous wrote:Kid will be super embarrassed to repeat a grade. Don’t do that to them.

I know a family that switched to private for middle school. The private felt the boy would be better off repeating the grade before (though no academic issues) based on his age which was young for the private. He then returned to public for HS and was a year behind all of his friends. It was somewhat hard for him. He made new friends of course and life went on.

Kid will be super embarrassed to repeat a grade. Don’t do that to them.

Op here- my child doesn't do sports. The child is literally end of September birthday and in prek all the teachers said to start the child. But then Covid hit and the executive functioning skills are just not there...possibly has adhd might get that tested this year. So in retrospect I should have redshirted

Private school is not going to magically transform your child into a good student. You would do better for your child academically and save him the embarrassment of being held back a year (because his peers WILL notice and WILL give him a hard time) by spending the money on an executive function coach and tutors to get him up to speed.

Post covid "school" a lot of kids would benefit from this.

Its common with basketball.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, kids do it for sports. Usually goes like:
Fcps 7th grade
Fcps 8th grade
Private/home school 8th grade
FCPS or private school 9th grade

+1 this is routine with sports especially football. Maybe not in this area since HS football isn’t as big but it definitely happens in the south and the Midwest with high level players who expect to go on to play in college. Ask around your friends and local groups and see what they say.

It's a free country. You are free to do what you think is best. I'm sure private for a year would help fill the gaps from public school.

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks. I would do it to help with academics not sports but this is super helpful.

They all say they are doing it for academic or maturity reasons, but usually it’s just for sports.

Ok thanks. I would do it to help with academics not sports but this is super helpful.

Yes, kids do it for sports. Usually goes like:
Fcps 7th grade
Fcps 8th grade
Private/home school 8th grade
FCPS or private school 9th grade

Op again...or if I wait...can I redo 8th at a private than enroll in 9th a year later?

Check with the Director of Student Services at your MS. I saw the same situation play out and the PS insisted on enrolling at next grade level.

My kid has a birthday at the end of the cut off. Academically things are going fine, but the executive functioning skills are lacking. I think that having an extra year to mature before middle school would be helpful. if I have the child redo six grade and a private school next year, could I then re-enroll in public school in seventh grade?