8th grade is a good year to look for a better fit and apply out. Talk to them at your meeting

Is this K-8 or K-12?
I wouldn't be worried that they're kicking him out now, but it is absolutely possible that they're calling you in to tell you that he won't be a good fit for the high school, so that you have time to apply now for next year for a different school.

And even if they don't say that, I would explicitly ask that - do they think he will be able to succeed at the high school level at that school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I smell a troll.

+ 1,000,000. Don’t believe this for a second. Just because OP comes back doesn’t mean they’re not full of it.

Yep. This. Also failing math because he doesn't know how to take notes? Nope.

Also the OP said three SYLLABLE words.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I smell a troll.

+ 1,000,000. Don’t believe this for a second. Just because OP comes back doesn’t mean they’re not full of it.

Go away then. I am struggling with a school problem in a new situation and wanted some feedback from other parents of private school students. This is all new to me. What is wrong with you that you hang around and read threads just so you can insult the OP (me) without adding anything useful at all? You should seek professional help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he didn’t have to write essays, it’s not a rigorous school. Which is good news! They will be much more willing to work with you.

Do rigorous schools have student essays for Middle School admissions? I thought that started in HS admissions.

All the schools my kids applied to in middle school required testing and essays (this was pre-pandemic). This is not a comment about rigor, rather that all schools I am familiar with required an application that required work on behalf of my kid.

I am with the other poster - if your child is having trouble with three letter words in 8th grade, that feels odd. Presumably he had to spell three letter words at previous schools. Could be some mental health or larger problem going on. It sounds like you are no focused on him, which will probably be a big help to him.

Good luck!

OP here, now I see why everyone is saying troll. I said - or meant to say - three SYLLABLE words. Like "rigorus."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he didn’t have to write essays, it’s not a rigorous school. Which is good news! They will be much more willing to work with you.

Do rigorous schools have student essays for Middle School admissions? I thought that started in HS admissions.

All the schools my kids applied to in middle school required testing and essays (this was pre-pandemic). This is not a comment about rigor, rather that all schools I am familiar with required an application that required work on behalf of my kid.

I am with the other poster - if your child is having trouble with three letter words in 8th grade, that feels odd. Presumably he had to spell three letter words at previous schools. Could be some mental health or larger problem going on. It sounds like you are no focused on him, which will probably be a big help to him.

Good luck!

Three syllable, not three letter.

Sounds like our NoVA parochial school. Enrollment is open, meaning no testing or essays, although they do look at grades and recommendations. Kids get direct spelling, grammar and writing instruction all through elementary and are taught how to take notes and study for tests. Expectations start to ramp up in 6th grade and by 8th they're expected to have the basics down since the teachers are preparing them for what they'll see in high school. The writing requirements and studying for mid-terms and finals is a shock for all of the new middle schoolers so I imagine it would be doubly hard if there are any weaknesses in the fundamentals.

The school will likely suggest you have kid get IEP evaluation by FCPS, which is a nightmare process. I'd recommend booking private educational evaluation instead, if you need evaluation, but will cost $5k most places.

Honestly OP, I would consider switching to a private for kids with learning disabilities because they can better bring your kid up to speed. Lab School, Newton, etc. Explore your options.

Anonymous wrote:Troll

Kinda agree. My public school 6th grader and write a paragraph. Grammarly will fix big errors for you.

Anonymous wrote:I smell a troll.

+ 1,000,000. Don’t believe this for a second. Just because OP comes back doesn’t mean they’re not full of it.

Troll

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he didn’t have to write essays, it’s not a rigorous school. Which is good news! They will be much more willing to work with you.

Do rigorous schools have student essays for Middle School admissions? I thought that started in HS admissions.

All the schools my kids applied to in middle school required testing and essays (this was pre-pandemic). This is not a comment about rigor, rather that all schools I am familiar with required an application that required work on behalf of my kid.

I am with the other poster - if your child is having trouble with three letter words in 8th grade, that feels odd. Presumably he had to spell three letter words at previous schools. Could be some mental health or larger problem going on. It sounds like you are no focused on him, which will probably be a big help to him.

Good luck!

This was me 40 years ago moving from DCPS to a private in middle school. Hang in there and he will eventually catch up but it will probably take a couple of years. Sounds like the private is willing to help and hopefully his peer group will help as well. It took me about two years to catch up and they weren’t super fun but I definitely felt proud of myself at the end.

Anonymous wrote:If he didn’t have to write essays, it’s not a rigorous school. Which is good news! They will be much more willing to work with you.

Many schools modified admissions processes during COVID. Ours usually requires a hand written, in person essay with an unannounced prompt (not the one they work on for days and type into Ravenna and have parents check over before hitting submit). So normally they see the kid's raw, timed writing skills. Not during COVID though.

OP. Breathe. You are doing the right thing for your kid. He will be fine. Think of it as luck or a blessing that you caught this when you did and work with the school, as others suggested. Most privates really will work very hard with you to ensure his success. Even the Big 3, where I have my kids regularly works with families, like mine. (My youngest needs a bit of help in some areas).

Something similar happened to my niece and nephew who moved from public to private during the pandemic. They were top performers in their public school and went straight to the bottom of the class in private. I think it's a bit of stress and the lacking in education of the publics. Get tutors if you have to. I hope he is motivated. My niece and nephew switched second semester last year, did a summer of catch up with a tutor, and are now right back at the top of the class. You son too will find his feet with time.

Anonymous wrote:If he didn’t have to write essays, it’s not a rigorous school. Which is good news! They will be much more willing to work with you.

Wow!!! All I can say is wow. You are a piece of work. It's obviously rigorous to this child. Wow!