Anonymous wrote:I have heard the test is challenging but certainly many kids pass it. From what I have heard, basically they are looking for being at end of K level academically as well as social and emotional readiness.

This is an often discussed topic, but think carefully and look ahead. Do you want her to always be the youngest? Do you want to send a 17 year old off to college?

I have a September birthday and was a year older than every one of my friends with a September birthday (I turned 18 at the beginning of my senior year). I never thought about it at the time but looking back I see absolutely no difference. A few of my friends (graduated with me but a year younger) said the same thing. My DD has a September birthday now but luckily we are in FCPS with a 9/30 cutoff.

Go onto the MCPS website and look for the application. Also check out the k curriculum. You will get an idea of what is expected. What I'm hearing from my teacher friends is that they are not sure what this Year's assessment will bring ecause of the new 2.0 curriculum. I am in the same boat as you with a birthday in the test in period and a child ready to go.

What I hear from parents is this. If their child didn't test in, they assessed in after a year of private kindergarten. Also, I hear that parents who didn't try to test in or whose kids didn't make it and they just waited a year are happy that their kids had the bonus year at home. So, I guess there is no bad outcome.

Good luck getting into a private K with a September birthday.

I have heard the test is challenging but certainly many kids pass it. From what I have heard, basically they are looking for being at end of K level academically as well as social and emotional readiness.

This is an often discussed topic, but think carefully and look ahead. Do you want her to always be the youngest? Do you want to send a 17 year old off to college?

OP here, thanks for your experiences. How tough is the early admission to K test? Has anyone's child passed it? According to the MCPS website you can apply for early K admission if the birthday falls up to 6 weeks after Sept. 1. Thanks again!

My daughter completed kindergarten in another state. Her birthday is Oct 6. She started first grade when we moved here, even though according to her birthday they wanted to start her in kinder again. I just stated that I was there to register my daughter for first grade. The principal asked if she had already been to kindergarten and I said yes. There was no problem. According to MCPS, they can ask to assess the child's readiness. That's not a bad thing, but they did not do it in my daughter's case.

No. If you move her at second grade, then it's automatic admission on grade level. But, if you move at first grade, she will start in kindergarten and if they feel she's appropriate for first grade, they will assess her and move her around the third week or so into the school year. If you think she's ready, you can apply for early admission. Application period starts near the beginning of February.

She will turn 5 this September. If I send her to private school for K, and move to public the following year, will she be placed in first grade in public school? Has anyone had this experience? She is very mature for her age, so I really feel she would do well with peers a bit older than her. We're in Montgomery County BTW.