Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:12     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, of course parochials and public magnets are worth looking into. Because you struck out.

Really think about how you are coming off. 98-99th percentile isn't that big a deal in this area, not in the private school applicant pool. That plus rec sports and an instrument... That's not going to set him apart.

I suggest a session with a consultant to calibrate your expectations and find the schools that will be happy to admit your child.


Everyone in this area is top 2%? Is that how math works.

My guess is this kid gets into a Big 3 in 6th grade. This isn’t Harvard.

They are national percentiles, so yes, it would be possible for everyone in this area could be in the top 2% nationally. Is *everyone*? No, of course not, but even pp didn’t claim that, just that 98-99th isn’t a big deal for the private school population in this area.


Seriously everyone who says stuff like this is really naive.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:11     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:And please stop saying “elite”. It makes you sound like a striver. Plenty of kids do parochial k-8 and then go on to all of the competitive high schools you are alluding to. Many parents at parochial schools simply want Catholic high schools but there are those that apply out to the Big 3 or Big 5 schools.

Also, things are not always perfect socially no matter where you go. The advantage of private school is they don’t have to accept certain kids and if they make a mistake and accept someone they shouldn’t have, they can always counsel them out. Generally most private schools aim to create a supportive and collegial environment but kids will be kids. K-8 in my opinion tend to make the middle school experience a little more gentle which is nice but again, nothing is perfect.


+1
For my older one we only toured, applied, and were accepted into top tier schools. Because of our older one, I was fairly confident my younger one would get into top tier (and she did). However, we broadened the search for her out of curiosity. I was really impressed with some of the parochial schools. OP, don’t overlook these. The kids are still sweet and although there aren’t as many different opportunities the opportunities they do have they dive deep - at least in the schools we toured. The bonus is also that they cost a fraction of the top tier - in many ways these would have been perfect for my very gifted non-athletic daughters.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:11     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, of course parochials and public magnets are worth looking into. Because you struck out.

Really think about how you are coming off. 98-99th percentile isn't that big a deal in this area, not in the private school applicant pool. That plus rec sports and an instrument... That's not going to set him apart.

I suggest a session with a consultant to calibrate your expectations and find the schools that will be happy to admit your child.


Everyone in this area is top 2%? Is that how math works.

My guess is this kid gets into a Big 3 in 6th grade. This isn’t Harvard.

They are national percentiles, so yes, it would be possible for everyone in this area could be in the top 2% nationally. Is *everyone*? No, of course not, but even pp didn’t claim that, just that 98-99th isn’t a big deal for the private school population in this area.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:07     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:Judging from the vibe of your post you might want to look inward. Maybe there's a reason why your 99 percentile kid found herself on the wait-list everywhere? Like, maybe your family comes across as difficult and complaining and perpetually unhappy and no private school wants to deal with that?


Agree. And also OP needs to learn the difference between adjectives and adverbs. I hope she didn’t make that mistake in her parent statement.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:03     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Did you apply for aid? You mention ability to afford. That could have cost you tbh. It hurt us when we applied and we got admitted the next year when we didnt apply for aid the next year and took out HELOC to be able to afford.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 09:01     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:Well, of course parochials and public magnets are worth looking into. Because you struck out.

Really think about how you are coming off. 98-99th percentile isn't that big a deal in this area, not in the private school applicant pool. That plus rec sports and an instrument... That's not going to set him apart.

I suggest a session with a consultant to calibrate your expectations and find the schools that will be happy to admit your child.


Everyone in this area is top 2%? Is that how math works.

My guess is this kid gets into a Big 3 in 6th grade. This isn’t Harvard.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 08:58     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:Well, I suspect you struck out because 5th is not a typical entry year. But what you posted makes me wonder if your child has undiagnosed or undisclosed special needs related to social skills. Because of the friend trouble, but also because if the bullying as poor social skills can be why bullies choose a target.

You also seem openly disdainful of public schools (even though you haven't researched magnets) and that can be off-putting to admissions.

I suggest you practice your own talking points so that you can introduce your child and your family and explain your reasons without coming off as a snob or as someone who doesn't acknowledge her child's social skill gaps.


You should avoid private school to avoid people like this who try to psychoanalyze you from a brief post with very little details. How would they know if your kid has undiagnosed issues? So weird.

Also everyone seeking or in private doesn’t like public for some reason or another and this person makes it seem like a psychological disorder.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 09:24     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
If you have a girl, consider Holton-Arms. Sixth grade is still lower school and your child would have a chance to get acclimated to Holton before beginning middle. My US DD started in 6th after K-5 at MCPS and has done wonderfully. Holton MS teachers actually want to teach middle schoolers (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and it shows. Plus the 6th graders can now participate in MS sports even though they are still technically LS (a change from when my DD began).

I'm not a rah rah Holton parent, it has its issues and is not the same school that it was when we began there and I am not a huge fan of higher admin. I am thrilled, however, with my child's education and progress. No doubt that she will be very well prepared for college, both academically and socio-emotionally.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 07:57     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Well, of course parochials and public magnets are worth looking into. Because you struck out.

Really think about how you are coming off. 98-99th percentile isn't that big a deal in this area, not in the private school applicant pool. That plus rec sports and an instrument... That's not going to set him apart.

I suggest a session with a consultant to calibrate your expectations and find the schools that will be happy to admit your child.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 07:48     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Well, I suspect you struck out because 5th is not a typical entry year. But what you posted makes me wonder if your child has undiagnosed or undisclosed special needs related to social skills. Because of the friend trouble, but also because if the bullying as poor social skills can be why bullies choose a target.

You also seem openly disdainful of public schools (even though you haven't researched magnets) and that can be off-putting to admissions.

I suggest you practice your own talking points so that you can introduce your child and your family and explain your reasons without coming off as a snob or as someone who doesn't acknowledge her child's social skill gaps.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 06:48     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
6th grade. Gross! That means they have had 7 years in publics. Think about how many species of lice these kids must have and then they are going to give it to the genius kids. I hope that admin has some answers to this madness.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 23:13     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Yes, I think it was to show emphasis, but in fairness, I’m here now with 99 of my multiple personalities, and we all agree that the OP is a little nutty.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 23:00     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Judging from the vibe of your post you might want to look inward. Maybe there's a reason why your 99 percentile kid found herself on the wait-list everywhere? Like, maybe your family comes across as difficult and complaining and perpetually unhappy and no private school wants to deal with that?


+100


You’re responding with 99 other people? I think you mean +1.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 22:42     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:Judging from the vibe of your post you might want to look inward. Maybe there's a reason why your 99 percentile kid found herself on the wait-list everywhere? Like, maybe your family comes across as difficult and complaining and perpetually unhappy and no private school wants to deal with that?


100%
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 16:55     Subject: entering private in 6th grade?
Anonymous wrote:Judging from the vibe of your post you might want to look inward. Maybe there's a reason why your 99 percentile kid found herself on the wait-list everywhere? Like, maybe your family comes across as difficult and complaining and perpetually unhappy and no private school wants to deal with that?


I wouldn't want to be around this guy in my private school. He probably relies on his dad's money to send his kid to Bullis.