Many are writing on this thread not to eachother but to get the attention of the schools. It is an indirect but likely effective (over time) strategy. Perhaps the school administrators were unaware of some of the sound research showing impacts of held back students on the rest of the class.

Has the percent of each class that is held back changed over the last 10, 20 years for DC independents? Only the schools will know this with any certainty.

Are you talking to yourself again?

I believe if one is to join those racing to the top it would mean more competition and production ( not less) something increasingly waning on the American horizon.

Your conclusion makes perfect sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Having multiple delayed entry kids in a K classroom changes the dynamics for everyone in the room. Including teachers who can't do better than assessing children by comparison to the others in the classroom. There is some "robust" research that suggests this leads to increased numbers of the younger kids being viewed as having ADD type issues. Duh. They'd probably look pretty jumpy if they skipped a year and were in class made up entirely of year older kids.

The sad thing about this is it's a classic race to the bottom. Parents are calling out here the practice has gotten out of hand. If the schools do not respond by reining in the total numbers, the race to the bottom gains speed for...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em is the only practical response.

Why would any sensible parent race their kid to the bottom? Isn't it more sensible to race to the top. Matriculate into a school that permits your child to "race to the top". If no such schools exist in the D.C. area try homeschooling ... or simply win the race to the bottom.

This. Nothing else about "the sad classic race to the bottom." Just this: Send your kid where you think is best for your kid.

Podunk K vs. Ivy (or MIT) K is what I was wondering about.

And the most obvious "good reason" not to take your approach is that these school are generally admitting not just for K but through MS or HS. They're looking for kids who will succeed in/contribute to their program over the long haul. Doesn't make sense to admit kids whose comparative advantage at age 5 consists of being a few months older than other applicants.

That before we get to the fact that your "Ivy K" doesn't have to choose between an unprepared 5 year old and a 6 year old who is way ahead. It has many more qualified applicants than slots.

Nothing here to wonder about. Public schools by law take all comers. Area D.C. private schools do not take all comers -- by choice. In other words, area private schools discriminate.
What is Ivy K or Podunk K is in the eyes of the beholder. If a child doesn't meet the admission requirements of an area D.C. private school in K the parent will receive a pink rejection slip. Public schools do not do this. It's illegal.

A private school can choose to fill it's K classes with precocious 6 and 7-year-olds if the market will bear this...or any other variety. For some elite private schools the market will support this decision. If not, these schools will be going out of the non-profit "business". There are a number of private schools that are headed in this direction or have eliminated certain grades and/or merged with other private schools in the area.

Supply/demand economics rule the day for area D.C. private schools and not redshirt and redtrouser parental neurosis.

Having multiple delayed entry kids in a K classroom changes the dynamics for everyone in the room. Including teachers who can't do better than assessing children by comparison to the others in the classroom. There is some "robust" research that suggests this leads to increased numbers of the younger kids being viewed as having ADD type issues. Duh. They'd probably look pretty jumpy if they skipped a year and were in class made up entirely of year older kids.

The sad thing about this is it's a classic race to the bottom. Parents are calling out here the practice has gotten out of hand. If the schools do not respond by reining in the total numbers, the race to the bottom gains speed for...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em is the only practical response.

Why would any sensible parent race their kid to the bottom? Isn't it more sensible to race to the top. Matriculate into a school that permits your child to "race to the top". If no such schools exist in the D.C. area try homeschooling ... or simply win the race to the bottom.

Podunk K vs. Ivy (or MIT) K is what I was wondering about.

And the most obvious "good reason" not to take your approach is that these school are generally admitting not just for K but through MS or HS. They're looking for kids who will succeed in/contribute to their program over the long haul. Doesn't make sense to admit kids whose comparative advantage at age 5 consists of being a few months older than other applicants.

That before we get to the fact that your "Ivy K" doesn't have to choose between an unprepared 5 year old and a 6 year old who is way ahead. It has many more qualified applicants than slots.

Do you actually think that way or are you just trying to jerk already neurotic people around? Either way, I feel sorry for you.

I think that way. Give me one good reason why a private school must accept the 5-year-old kid of a neurotic parent into a K classroom full of 6-year-olds that are way ahead of this 5-year-old who doesn't meet the school's K admission standards? If the school advises the parent to wait a year for admission the parent can oblige or seek admission elsewhere. No sugar coating here just plain real facts of life. We have choices: Podunk K or Ivy K (designations only in the eyes of the beholder). Yes, I think this way

PS: You may send condolences by way of cash to your favorite area private school financial aid fund/pool

I think that way. Give me one good reason why a private school must accept the 5-year-old kid of a neurotic parent into a K classroom full of 6-year-olds that are way ahead of this 5-year-old who doesn't meet the school's K admission standards? If the school advises the parent to wait a year for admission the parent can oblige or seek admission elsewhere. No sugar coating here just plain real facts of life. We have choices: Podunk K or Ivy K (designations only in the eyes of the beholder). Yes, I think this way.

Do you actually think that way or are you just trying to jerk already neurotic people around? Either way, I feel sorry for you.

The schools make it competitive the admissions process is competitive. The average to above average 6 year old will gain admissions over the average to above average 5 year old.

If the kid can't cut it at one school due to higher standard find another school. We all know that freshman year mathemtics and physics at MIT may be more rigorous than these subjects at Podunk U. Most MIT accept your child if he or she doesn't make the cut. I don't care the age.

If you want your 5-old child to be competitive with the 6-year-old K entrant at a certain elite D.C. private school start reading to your child long before your intended application so ensure more intellectual development, or pray the admission committee lowers their standards. Take your pick. You could settle for Podunk K.

Anonymous wrote:
The anti-redshirters are the real cheaters. Is that better for those who are monosyllabic?

Whatever makes you feel better about your decision.

I feel better about my decision to enroll my 2 kids 1 to 2 years younger than those in K. Best decision I've ever made. I have no objections to those that choose to redshirt or redtrouser in my children's classroom or world. I don't worry about other children provided they are not breaking the law. I trust the decisions I make for my children. I don't really bother about the motives/motivations/rationale other parents use to redshirt or redtrouser their kids. That's their problem not mine.

Such hyperbole. The most common scenario by far of redshirting is that the summer bday boy is given a gap year. Nothing's "out of hand" or scary or worrisome. No race to the bottom. Your "on time" child will be fine.

Having multiple delayed entry kids in a K classroom changes the dynamics for everyone in the room. Including teachers who can't do better than assessing children by comparison to the others in the classroom. There is some "robust" research that suggests this leads to increased numbers of the younger kids being viewed as having ADD type issues. Duh. They'd probably look pretty jumpy if they skipped a year and were in class made up entirely of year older kids.

The sad thing about this is it's a classic race to the bottom. Parents are calling out here the practice has gotten out of hand. If the schools do not respond by reining in the total numbers, the race to the bottom gains speed for...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em is the only practical response.