We only got into K-8 schools. Pleased with the schools but wondering if it's better to keep in public. Worried about exmissions out of these places. Hearing such mixed reviews about HS placements from these schools - wondering if all that money is worth it if it doesn't help with HS. Do we apply for K-12 next year? Does anyone have experience? Feeling overwhelmed.
Omg we just had an argument (dh and I) over this. We didn't apply to any only k-12 (wl all) and he's second guessing that choice. Personally we have dd and ds and I couldn't go through it all over again with dd, plus I've heard hs emissions are brutal .
Would love to hear opinions too bc there are some great k-8 boys schools for
GL to you! Hoping people respond and provide perspectives.
You will be OK. If you like the K-8 school you should accept the spot. I went thru the HS application last year, and I liked the fact that the kids can provide their input on what school they choose. And you would know them better as student by then, instead of deciding where a 4 year old goes to high school.
@NYC mom TY! We do love the K-8 schools. They seem so nurturing, which is what DC needs. Do you feel that the schools provide enough support during exmissions? My fear is that DC doesn't get in anywhere for HS and I will have to move to the burbs hah. I know that sounds paranoid, but there it is.
Almost everyone I know loves their K-8 schools-until they get to the MS years. So I would say take the offer and be happy that your DC will be in an amazing school for many years. No need to worry about HS admissions so soon, and who knows what the HS scene will be at that time. The situation is changing now...
Why do they dislike MS at these schools? Exmissions-related?
Because the schools are focused on younger kids and the older kids are bored. This is a big issue at our k-8 and most of the kids are out by 6
@Anonymous To clarify they apply out at 6th grade?
I would take the K-8 spot if you are talking about Kindergarten this fall. Who knows if the NYC public schools will fully open. You could alway apply out on an off year if you are still concerned about HS admissions down the road.
That's an interesting perspective. DC would be entering 2nd from public, which has been a mess. I didn't know families apply out on off years (so like grade 6 /7?) when they are in K-8 schools. I don't want to think about HS right now but the past year has really made me second guess and panic about every decision. My utlimate fear is that DC wouldn't get in anywhere for HS and we should have done K-12 from the get go.
You can apply out at any time, but the logical point would be for 6th grade.
@anonymouse The complaints are not that the K-8 admissions don't place the kids somewhere, it's that they are not getting enough into the TT. Keep in mind that many of these families at K-8 consider their schools to be as good as a TT, so anything less than this at HS is seem as a big step backward.
OP - Did you apply to TT K-12 schools for second grade? Did you hear back from them yet? If not, why not wait to hear from them first before making the decision.
OP here - We didn't. DC's birthday would mean repeating a grade at most K-12's we looked at and we did not think that would be good for them emotionally. And not academically for sure.
I have DS at boys K-8 and DD at TT girls (B/C/S). I really like and am very happy with the TT (it was our first choice) but I absolutely love the K-8, as it’s more academically rigorous right off the bat, but still very nurturing - and all attention is on younger boys. The first 9 years are the most important in the educational arc as they are the foundation for learning, work ethic, character, etc - and most graduates of K-8 schools will do well wherever they attend HS. Yes, the stress of applying out is very real in the later years, but based on our experience this far, I am more impressed with what DS has gotten out of these critical learning years than DD. So much focus here is on TT but there are many fantastic schools in this city beyond the TT!
I'd be curious if you could compare the academics of the two schools (boys K-8 vs B/C/S) over the years (I obviously don't know how old your DCs are ).
DCs are finishing lower school, so can only speak to the first 5/6 years. DS had more focus on core skills early on, e.g. everyone was reading chapter books by start of first grade, spelling tests and lots of writing, math every day. DD’s school was more focused on cultivating a love of learning, building confidence, SEL in the early years. For example, DD made lots of spelling mistakes up through 3rd/4th grade because they want to encourage writing and big ideas without worrying about making mistakes. I think the academics become equally rigorous in middle school, but I feel like DS has been pushed and challenged a little more over the first five or so years. We are just starting to feel pressure of applying out in a few years - I think a few will apply out for 6th but the vast majority are very happy and staying through 8th.
DS went to a SS K-8 . We didn't apply to any TT K-12 schools for K. Wasn't sure what type of student DS would be and, at age 4, he was far from precocious. If anything he was delayed, at least socially. My observation was that kindergarten girls were more "advanced" or at least focused than boys and thought DS would do better in a single-sex K-8. We enrolled him in one SS K-8, the school was fabulous for him, and he thrived. Fast forward, by 5th grade DS was an excellent and serious student, focused, hard-working. Was ready for a greater challenge. We applied him then to a "TT" school for 6th grade, and so far so good. I don't think the outcome would have been as positive for him if he'd been in a TT co-ed school from K.
We're looking at co-ed K-8 schools for DS. Would you say the academics and other bells/whistles are on par with SS K-8's? Or is there a clear difference between the two categories?
I was surprised that your post ended with you applying out for 6th grade! Does this mean you weren't happy with the school or your DS was not fitting in somehow? Seems very hard to pull a happy child from a school and his friends to plop down in a whole new place.
@anonymous DS actually initiated the switch in schools. He participated in a math program for a few weeks during the summer after 4th grade - which was more serious and rigorous than his prior school experiences. He asked us if there was a regular school that was more like the summer program. He also expressed interest in making new friends at a new school. He was friendly with all of his classmates in the K-8 but for whatever reason, he never found very good friends with whom he really clicked.