Having been in similar shoes, go abroad in 5th grade when children are still pretty open to meeting new people and making friends. Our child started private middle school in 6th and it was a lonely transition year. Social connections didn't start forming until their second year of school. Speaking with other parents it was pretty common for them to say it was also a two-year adjustment period for their kid as well regardless of the entry year -- so go while you child is younger, not older!

An upside to joining in MS is you don't need to participate in the HS "Hunger Games" (unless you decide to switch schools for HS). The downside is that it can be an expensive approach.

I would start private in 6th at a school that goes through 12th.

As others said visit schools now. Go abroad for 5th.

We moved and DS started a new school in 6th. It was a hard transition! However, by 8th he was totally settled in. Now he’s super happy and secure starting HS. I’m glad that he made the transition in 6th not 9th! He is socially comfortable, understands the academic expectations, and has been able to do well in HS from day 1 vs going through an adjustment now.

I would do 6th or 7th... I found middle school a better time to adjust than if we had switched our dd in 9th grade. It took her some time, but by HS, she felt acclimated.

I would figure out what schools you’re interested in and see what their expansion years are. For most, it’s 6th and 9th. But, for some, it’s 7th not 6th. I think applying for middle is preferable to 9th. There is often a transition period of going from public to private and get accustomed to increased rigor. I don’t know what school she would attend overseas but it might be an even greater adjustment in that situation. It’s better to go through that before grades count for college. Plus, it’s often easier to get in for 6th or 7th than 9th.

I'd go abroad for 5th, Deal for MS and apply to private for HS. Our DCs changed a lot in MS and the schools we might have zeroed in on for middle were not the best options by the time they got to HS. Also, MS tends to be the weakest link at K-12s. In any case, being here will allow you to visit and get a better sense of the schools when you apply for HS vs trying to apply from abroad for MS.

I'd go for 9th and then do private HS only.

I’d go abroad for 5th and apply for 6th grade entry (it is usually an expansion year) but the application process is more effort when you’re out of town, and she may not be able to attend shadow days etc.

Anonymous wrote:Biggest Entry years at many privates are 6th and 9th. Some schools add spots in 7th. Kids are less resilient to changing schools/peer groups as they get older, so I would go abroad in 5th and apply to privates for 6th.

+1

But start researching and going to open houses before you go. It will be difficult to learn about schools while you are abroad if you can’t get to events.

Biggest Entry years at many privates are 6th and 9th. Some schools add spots in 7th. Kids are less resilient to changing schools/peer groups as they get older, so I would go abroad in 5th and apply to privates for 6th.

My kid is in a DCPS public school. We will have the opportunity to live abroad for 1 academic year when she is in 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th. We anticipate sending her to private high school (and maybe private middle school). She’s a good student, but we aren’t interested in the Big 3 privates (not sure if that’s relevant).

Given this situation, would you go abroad for 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th? And would you apply to privates while abroad so that she returns to a private or would you send your kid to public middle school (Deal) and apply to privates once back in the US.

I’m thinking through the best time to go abroad and the best time to apply to privates from the perspective of her academics, her social life, and the likelihood of admittance to a local private (think a tier or two less selective than the top privates). Thoughts?

(Please don’t tell me not to go at all; we will definitely spend one year abroad and just need to figure out the best timing).