Our school has children who are older and not mature socially or academically and children who are young and are more mature than the older children. It really depends on the child.

This thread is from January 2011 so it's couple of years old, OP probably made her decision.

My two cents for other parents though, I wouldn't recommend sending your child at 4. Some other kids could be over a year older (especially if parents redshirted their kids, kids could be six turning 7).

Send them to a play-based PreK or TK (transitional kindergarten) class, that's a great place to beginning social and academic skills. Let them have fun and be a kids for another year before entering formal school.

Anonymous wrote:
Our DD's birthday is October 16, but we've been wondering about the possibility of her starting kindergarten at age 4. Does anyone know of private schools in the DC area that do not have a September 1 cutoff? Also -- I know Montgomery County has a process that can push back the entry date "six weeks," which the MCPS website describes as October 15. Is anyone familiar with that process, including whether they've ever made an exception where it's only a day later?

My DC's birthday fell in the six week window. They evaluate them on pre-reading skills and math (i.e. count out 17 bears) I'm not sure if they make exceptions but you can always ask.

My mid-November DD is not super mature (quite the contrary), but was academically ahead because of her pre-school's curriculum. She's also the smallest in class. When she first started public school, she was the smallest in class and a bit of a follower. Now, she's a "B" student with a few A's and very social and popular. The latter as a huge shock to me, because I expected her to be shy/quiet. For some reason, attending "real" school caused her to blossom, and her extroverted side has come outta nowhere. Our biggest problem now is she gets in trouble once in awhile for being talkative during class.

sup

Pinecrest School in Annandale, VA does not have an age cutoff date - looks at individual applicant to see if appropriate for K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has an early November birthday and is in her right grade. But she is one of the oldest in her class and she is developing physically (in 3rd grade). If she were in 4th grade, it would be less of a big deal. If we moved to New York, many of the schools' cut-offs are December 1 or 31 and she would be in 4th grade legitimally. I never considered pushing her ahead in NoVA. But sometimes I wish she was among the youngest rather than the oldest.

Perhaps in her case, but there are other issues to consider as well as growth--fine-motor skills, ability to sustain focus, social skills, self-confidence in new situations, etc. Sometimes the choice is tough, but in general, those extra months of developmental maturity are an asset.

PP here with developing 3rd grade daughter. I agree that all of the other factors are equally as important. My daughter reached her fine motor skills early and has always had self-confidence and great social skills. Like I said, I never considered pushing my November birthday girl ahead but I actually feel that she belongs in 4th grade rather than 3rd based on her academics, social skills, and developing body. I made this comment because I wanted to counteract the idea that it alwlays wrong to send child on time (with August or Sept. birthdays). I don't agree that it is always the case. You have to know your child and be honest with yourself about his/her capabilities and skills compared to his/her peers.

Feeling sad for those kids whose parents let them do that.

Well, I have heard of several private schools in NoVA that will allow young for grade K kids. Gesher, Vienna T&C (or whatever that morphed into), Westminster, Congressional, etc.

We are investigating options for our october birthday girl who is going to be sooooo ready for K this fall but cannot start until fall 2012.

Well, if my daughter is anything like I was she will be wearing a bra and getting her period in 4th grade and be the tallest in her class. (And I was 16 months younger than anyone as I skipped 1st grade, so imagine if I had been the "right" age.)

Every child is different!

Anonymous wrote:PP here, yes, that is correct. Which means my younger DD will likely be undergoing these same changes in puberty as a third grader vs as a fourth grader.

And from the opposite end, I have a youngest-in-the-class 6th grader who is no where near developing and is feeling very self conscious about it. Especially since the "cool girls" have made comments.

Anonymous wrote:The Boyd School in NOVA will let them into kindergarten if they turn 5 by December 31.

Feeling sad for those kids whose parents let them do that.

The Boyd School in NOVA will let them into kindergarten if they turn 5 by December 31.

Franklin Montessori in Rockville has K with a mid october cutoff or December with testing.

Mid October birthday here. I would definitely NOT recommend putting her in K at age 4. My son is in K now and I can tell you there is a lot more to K than the academics. It is so much harder for the younger kids in the class, and your daughter would definitely be the absolute youngest. Its not like preschool where there are aides helping the kids. They need to be able to deal with a lot of things more independently.

If you are worried that she will be ahead, don't. Most of the work is easy for my son, but there are 3 boys in his class that came in reading chapter books. Your daughter won't be the only one ahead if you school is anything like ours.

PP here, yes, that is correct. Which means my younger DD will likely be undergoing these same changes in puberty as a third grader vs as a fourth grader.