Private School Stress

[RachelEllen]

Argh!

We live in district with good elementary schools, but poor middle and high schools. It's always been a factor that DS (10) would try to get into private school for 6th grade. He's a great kid, outgoing, confident, good at sports, an above average student, but an average tester.

He's my step-son, and his parents top choice for schools (one of the few things they agree on!) has always been the local dual language school. (He has exposure to the second language at his mom's house). And, his dad (and IMO) think the school is an excellent fit for him in other ways.

Because it's a dual language school, it's unusual to enter after kindergarden until they reach 6th grade (where they integrate other kids in a language focused, but not bilingual fashion). However, they run year to year a special small program to transition a few kids into the lower grades.

This year, they happened to be running it for DS's target language. We crossed our fingers and applied, and were incredibeley happy when he got in. So, the contract has been signed, the tuition paid, and we thought we were set.

Now, we just got notice that they cannot run the program. (Lack of enrollees) I know its out of their control, but its such a disappointment.

Because DS is not a total beginner, they will evaluate him next week to see if he can get tutoring over the summer and go directly into the main program (stressful year for him, and a longshot). Or, they offered us a spot in a different language (his mom is very against.) They will not guarentee us a spot for next year in the regular transition group.

It's extra stress because the application process for middle school is such a different animal than elementary. The applicaton pool is huge (because of the public school siutation) HE will have to take an SAT type test (not his strong suit. And I say this as someone who overtests to my ability. He tends to undertest)

Anyhow, good thoughts would be welcome!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

If it were me, I would probably choose the option of having the child in the main program, since he is familiar with the language. If he struggles next year, you would have a good argument for switching him into the new class with the rest of the new middle schoolers the following year.

Depending on the other language programme, though...there's something to be said for learning a third language. Depending on how useful it would be for the child in his future, it may be an option to consider.

It's usually been my experience that once your foot is in the door, schools are much more willing to accommodate you than when you're still at the application stage. I would go for it!

 

[ajk912]

So if he starts going now, even though it's not the program of his choice..he is IN for middle school, right? Or does he need to reapply and get accepted all over again for middle school?

If he's in, and he's in..I would just try to sway the parents into making it work, even though it's not their top choice. It seems that getting the top choice is rare nowadays, you know? At least he's in!!!

If he needs to reapply..then I think I would just stick with public school till middle school admissions time came.

 

[RachelEllen]

Yes, if he goes this year, at least he is in! His father is thinking that way, and I agree. It's harder to read his mom, and, unfortunately, they don't have an easy relationship.

Our thought is that the best outcome is for him to test well enough to be in the regular grade school program (We'd even be fine with him repeating a grade. He's very young for his grade)

Failing that, he could do the special program in a third languge. Not ideal. THe special program is 100% in the new language. Imagine starting that at age 10! But, once they get to middle school, they let in a bunch more kids who haven't done bilingual education and it turns more into a language oriented school, rather than billingual. So he could go back to his mother's language (at a lower level) or stick with the new one.

His dad hasn't talked to the school yet. His mom says they will not consider just granting us a spot in 6th grade, but we are hoping this could be flexible.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Am I understanding it correctly that the "third" language option would involve DSS starting an immersion programme where all the other students would also be starting to learn the language for the first time? This might be an easier transition for DSS, since all the students would in the same boat. He may even have an advantage...if his second language is either French or Spanish, then learning the other would be much easier for him than another child who hasn't been exposed to a romantic language.