My daughter is moving schools for next year (10th grade). The school she is leaving (in the DC area) way oversold itself. We went in thinking it would work for a girl who is smart, not really athletic and looking for lots of other extracurricular opportunities. None of it turned out to be true. She went in so enthusiastic and is leaving completely demoralized. It's heartbreaking as a parent. But we figured that we needed to make a change and now was the time to do it. Thankfully there was an opening at a school we think is more to her to her speed. It just makes me wonder how many kids stay in schools for all four years quietly suffering.

Anonymous wrote:The social climate amongst girls can be especially challenging. Sometimes it takes just one toxic girl to make a lot of the grade miserable. But realize that no school is perfect. There will probably be some things you don't like at the new school too, so be ready to accept that. Evaluate whether the issues at the old school are likely to go away (or whether DD can adjust) or whether they are likely to continue for the next three years. No one deserves to be miserable for three more years.

Our DD has a toxic mean girl in her class, and it does color the social climate. Over time I hope it will become less an issue as the girls grow up a lot in high school. We gave serious thought to moving our daughter next year, but she has a few good friends and wants to make it work. The academics are solid and she is doing very well, so we allowed our daughter to decide whethe or not to leave.

We're moving our daughter from one Catholic girls high school to another for next year. Any one of these schools costs too much just to muddle your way through.

Every school around here admits some kids at 10th grade ...

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently in 9th and staying where she is. The class ahead of her had one girl transfer in and by all accounts seems to have transitioned well. Another girl left bc parents weren't happy.

Our class will be losing a handful of girls next year too. I think there are adjustments that some families make.

Cost is also often a factor when transferring. Some girls schools in this area are in the 20k range and others are 34k and up. The choice can't always be simply a matter of the "best fit" for the student.

My daughter is currently in 9th and staying where she is. The class ahead of her had one girl transfer in and by all accounts seems to have transitioned well. Another girl left bc parents weren't happy.

Our class will be losing a handful of girls next year too. I think there are adjustments that some families make.

The social climate amongst girls can be especially challenging. Sometimes it takes just one toxic girl to make a lot of the grade miserable. But realize that no school is perfect. There will probably be some things you don't like at the new school too, so be ready to accept that. Evaluate whether the issues at the old school are likely to go away (or whether DD can adjust) or whether they are likely to continue for the next three years. No one deserves to be miserable for three more years.

Ignore those who say it won't make a difference. We changed our son in elementary school. It was a huge plus up. From daily crying to thrilled to be in school. Forget the naysayers.

Anonymous wrote:We are doing the same right now as well. We periodically have a pang of doubt but know that in the end it is for the best. Our DD is very disappointed in the high school school she (and we) selected last year at this time. Her grades are excellent but the overall the experience has made her miserable. Interestingly word has it that a large number are leaving with her, so at least we don't feel as if this is all our imagination.

I would like bevto lnow what school. Thank you in advance.

Sometimes it's class-specific and nothing to do with a school. I wouldn't worry. My daughter at Holton had several girls join the class in 10th grade and they've become very close to everyone and seem quite happy as are their parents. Do what's right for your child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switching after 9th grade happens more often than you'd think.

Our 9th grade daughter is switching for next year and it's amazing the number of girls in her class who are doing the same thing.

So they're switching after 9th, or for 9th? I am increasingly concerned that we made the wrong choice for our DC--starting in 7th, now in 8th--and wondering if things still dont' feel right in the fall of 9th whether looking for an alternative will be advisable at all. I feel like the transition last year was already hard enough. The thought of doing it again worries me, but so does the thought of DC continuing to be somewhat unhappy. Do kids who start a new school in 10th really make friends and connections in that short a period of time?

Our daughter is in 9th now and switching for next year. I agree that starting a new school can be stressful--last September was not easy for us. But she has grown so disillusioned with the choice we all made that she's quietly if a bit nervously looking forward to the move. She'll be leaving some friends she's made, which is making her sad, but the daily unhappiness is not worth the expense and emotional toll. One thing to be aware of is that she has partly seen all of this as some kind of failing on her part. It's not and we've told her that. Seeing several other girls do it is helping.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switching after 9th grade happens more often than you'd think.

Our 9th grade daughter is switching for next year and it's amazing the number of girls in her class who are doing the same thing.

So they're switching after 9th, or for 9th? I am increasingly concerned that we made the wrong choice for our DC--starting in 7th, now in 8th--and wondering if things still dont' feel right in the fall of 9th whether looking for an alternative will be advisable at all. I feel like the transition last year was already hard enough. The thought of doing it again worries me, but so does the thought of DC continuing to be somewhat unhappy. Do kids who start a new school in 10th really make friends and connections in that short a period of time?

Yes. Have a DC who switched for 11th and 12th and it was the right move.

My DD switched to NCS for tenth and it was absolutely the right move. So very happy for the opportunity. Openings do not become available every year so, look before you leap.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switching after 9th grade happens more often than you'd think.

Our 9th grade daughter is switching for next year and it's amazing the number of girls in her class who are doing the same thing.

So they're switching after 9th, or for 9th? I am increasingly concerned that we made the wrong choice for our DC--starting in 7th, now in 8th--and wondering if things still dont' feel right in the fall of 9th whether looking for an alternative will be advisable at all. I feel like the transition last year was already hard enough. The thought of doing it again worries me, but so does the thought of DC continuing to be somewhat unhappy. Do kids who start a new school in 10th really make friends and connections in that short a period of time?

Anonymous wrote:Switching after 9th grade happens more often than you'd think.

Our 9th grade daughter is switching for next year and it's amazing the number of girls in her class who are doing the same thing.