Anonymous wrote:For kids that went to private K and then to public K the next year (an appealing idea to me, mom of a Sept born boy) - how did you find your kid did that first year? I'd worry about frustration experiencing the same lessons/materials again?

We had the occasional complaint about things being too easy, etc. but there was plenty socially and emotionally to learn. Overall it was a fun year making friends and learning how to function in public school. In retrospect I wish we asked the teacher to do a little more with him and/or supplemented more after school. Academically it was a bit of a lost year, which is fine except that caused some minor issues at the start of first grade (since he wasn't used to having to pay attention or really work at all).

For kids that went to private K and then to public K the next year (an appealing idea to me, mom of a Sept born boy) - how did you find your kid did that first year? I'd worry about frustration experiencing the same lessons/materials again?

Anonymous wrote:Our MCPS school gives people a hard time about having them repeat K if they have already done K privately and meet the age for Gr 1. Remember it is more expensive that way. They can save a year by putting your child in Gr 1. I am not saying they won't allow it but they try not to.

I'm curious how the school would know your child went to private K? Is this something you need to reveal?

Our MCPS school gives people a hard time about having them repeat K if they have already done K privately and meet the age for Gr 1. Remember it is more expensive that way. They can save a year by putting your child in Gr 1. I am not saying they won't allow it but they try not to.

Don't have an answer about the evaluation but our nephew as very gifted academically and tested into Kindergarten (early sept birthday). It was a disaster on the social/immature level. He had a difficult time with impluse control, couldn't stay focused on the lessons and while he had no difficulty with the academic and Kindergarten benchmarks he was so distruptive to the class and had a hard time connecting with any of the other kids. They looked into ADHD but he wasn't diagnosed. They pulled him from public, had him repeat kindergarten at a private and he calmed down a lot- he tested into First grade and things were much better. For him the "gift of time" helped with his maturity.

We're sending DD to a private Kindergarten for this very reason. Buys us an extra year to decide if she's ready for 1st grade the following year or if we send her to Public Kindergarten. Means an extra year of "tuition" but it's worth it to me to ease some of the anxiety of the decision.

A teacher friend of mine said to do K in a private then if you have to repeat K - you can go to public and there is no stigma of being held back - if you are doing well then go to public 1st grade.

If the choice is daycare vs. private K - the cost is about the same at a local private school (or less).

My other friend sent their son to K public - was a bad decision then went private to repeat K. The next year they went back to public for 1st (thinking the stigma would be less after a year - like kids would forget or something).

The first week (not teasing but just asking) - kids from his old class said "hey why are you in 1st shouldn't you be in 2nd" - the dad was surprised but he told the son that the school messed up and he couldn't fix it.

The kids bought it - pretty funny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of one boy who was in your son's situation (in MoCo) and he ended up repeating Kindergarten as it wasn't the right choice. The parents regretted the early entrance, especially (as you wrote) with all the red shirting in this area, especially of boys.

In MoCo it's very hard to repeat a grade. I wouldn't count on this as your fail safe.

Yes, this. Don't count on MCSP letting your child repeat a grade; it's very hard to get the system on board, even if your child is immature. If they are performing on grade level or close to it, MCPS will insist on pushing them along.

Once you make the K decision, you are generally stuck with whatever you decided.

Anonymous wrote:Unless he is super mature socially, I would not send him early. We sent my early October bday on schedule and it was best decision we ever made. Socially there is no way he could relate to kids a year older. As for school being challenging, you will be surprised how many "smart" / "advanced" kids are out there. You didn't say what area you are in but in my son's K class 3 of this kids came in reading at level 16 (as high as they test = end of 1st grade).

I agree. We held my son back (he met the cutoff by ten days) and it was because of his social/emotional immaturity, not intellectual capability - he was capable of doing the work, but was very socially immature. Fast-forward, he is 14yo now and in eighth grade, and doing great. I'll note that he is still somewhat socially immature, and am so glad we didn't send him "on time" - he would be drowning in various ways if he were a grade ahead of where he is now.

Anonymous wrote:I know of one boy who was in your son's situation (in MoCo) and he ended up repeating Kindergarten as it wasn't the right choice. The parents regretted the early entrance, especially (as you wrote) with all the red shirting in this area, especially of boys.

In MoCo it's very hard to repeat a grade. I wouldn't count on this as your fail safe.

Unless he is super mature socially, I would not send him early. We sent my early October bday on schedule and it was best decision we ever made. Socially there is no way he could relate to kids a year older. As for school being challenging, you will be surprised how many "smart" / "advanced" kids are out there. You didn't say what area you are in but in my son's K class 3 of this kids came in reading at level 16 (as high as they test = end of 1st grade).

I know of one boy who was in your son's situation (in MoCo) and he ended up repeating Kindergarten as it wasn't the right choice. The parents regretted the early entrance, especially (as you wrote) with all the red shirting in this area, especially of boys.

I am posting here as well as the school forum because I really need guidance and we are in Montg County:

Who do we go see for such an evaluation? We are in Montgomery County and my son has taken the early entrance exam and the results will be back in two weeks. Husband and I are not seeing eye to eye on this issue as I think we should let him wait and go on time and he wants to push him in early if allowed (early sept bday). I don't worry about the academics, but about the emotional/maturity component, especially since so many red shirt in this area and the fact that he still is a typical 4 year old in this area and his pre-k teacher said his distraction and emotions were the only things that they are still working on him with. I would like some sort of psych or educational eval from an indep source to assess my son. I am in such fear of him starting if he gets in because of the academics and having a hard time and hating school that I am sick to my stomach over it. My husband is fighting equally hard back saying he fears boredom and wants him challenged. SIGH. Any help appreciated-references, cites to literature, etc. Thanks