Anonymous
02/07/2026 12:26
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
Anonymous wrote:Our oldest is in 4th grade and we’re starting to think about sending him to private. We’ve been happy with our public school for elementary school but we’re not in a very academic district. As my kids get older, I want them to be prepared for college. Additionally, the graduating class size is 500 kids and it’s basically impossible to make sports teams unless you’re dedicated to one sport.
We’re trying to decide if we start in 6th grade or wait till 9th grade. My hesitancy about 6th grade is that I don’t think my son needs to worry too much about academics in middle school and that I would like to save the money. But I’m worried about public middle school - his school goes from 100 kids per grade to 300-400 kids per grade.
For those who chose to switch their kids from public to private, is 6th or 9th grade a better option?
Re the sports, we are in private now, but may go back to neighborhood HS for sports. The big public schools are competitive, but not so competitive where they are actively recruiting athletes. The Catholic schools and other top independents recruit athletes and can offer financial aid, which makes it even harder to make their teams. If sports are important to your kid, factor that in too.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 07:09
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
It's really good to have a year to adjust before grades count for college in 9th as the academics from DCPS are a giant step up. since getting a spot in 8th is almost impossible, leaving in 6th or 7th is ideal.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 06:11
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
Anonymous wrote:Depends where you want to go. Getting into a top private is orders of magnitude more difficult in 9th. If you're not jockeying for what is bandied about as a top 5 or top 8 school, no problem with 9th. If you have your eye on STA/NCS/Potomac/GDS/SFS/Maret/Holton, start as ealry as possible recognizing that a denial in 6th might lead to admission in 7th or 9th.
+1. For the school we wanted it was 66% accepted 6th grade and 50% accepted 9th. Plus the kids 6-8th have three years to acclimate and build friendships. No regrets.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 03:40
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
I’m so glad that we moved my son in 6th. It gave him time to adjust to the expectations, overall environment, and make friends. Going into HS, could focus on academics whereas new kids in 9th had to deal with getting acclimated on multiple levels.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 21:11
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
We moved our daughter to private in 7th grade, but wish we had done it for 6th. She was exposed to a lot of garbage in 6th at a well regarded DC public school (really foul language in halls, kid having sex in bathroom at a school dance).
Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:52
Subject: Re:Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools can be v good as well. We are not Catholic but are sending our child to one and are pleased.
Good to know, thanks. What percent of the class tends to be non-Catholic?
For sure, Catholic schools are very similar to what our public schools used be in the 80s and 90s I feel. It's a solid choice for most people that doesn't break the bank. We love the focus on good writing skills, grammar, etc. and the reading of actual novels as opposed to these short text extracts that are common in public now. The math is probably not as strong as in public but they don't rush it. More time is spent on the basics.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:04
Subject: Re:Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools can be v good as well. We are not Catholic but are sending our child to one and are pleased.
Good to know, thanks. What percent of the class tends to be non-Catholic?
That varies by school.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:04
Subject: Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
We moved one of ours in 9th, which was our plan for all the kids. The following year, we moved our younger kids too. The difference was that big.
Anonymous
02/05/2026 10:43
Subject: Re:Private starting in 6th grade or 9th grade
Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools can be v good as well. We are not Catholic but are sending our child to one and are pleased.
Good to know, thanks. What percent of the class tends to be non-Catholic?