A or B?
A. Elementary school close to home for K-5. Then separate middle school.
B. Elementary school 13 minutes away but houses K-8 at the same location. Program more hands-on and creative, more FUN.
Both public schools are of excellent quality (9 out of 10 ratings). Bus service available for both (but long bus rides involve lots of bullies, etc., as I rode one for years). I could drive them to either, as well.
Just trying to make the right choice and not have the kids hate school... :)
Thanks! Since research supports that kids do better academically and socially with K-8 in one school, I was giving it thought. I know in 6th, the transition to middle school, I did not make the transition well. Kids from the K-8 school posted comments about it and most were happy to report they don't get bullied there. So it has a great social culture culture from their point of view. And, it's a hands-on approach to learning much more than the traditional school. Very nice for my active preschooler!
But, I want to go with K-5 based on reasons mentioned. Yes, K-5 protects the kids in some sense. But, middle schools are awful places! There is so much pressure, bullies, horrible language/discussions, etc., and I'm speaking about a 10/10 rated Barrington school I went to. I guess it's just a tough age.
My real concern, I learned from your comments, is how I can help the kids with a positive middle school experience. But that's a separate issue.
My daughter goes to a K-8 school and I think I prefer that better although we didn't have a choice. So far it has been a very good experience. I also haven't heard of any of the problems that you may have in a regular middle school such as fighting, drugs and other things. I would opt for the K-8.
I know a principal of a school that is K-8 and also a young lady who is in 8th grade at the same school.
I know there school has stagered times so that Kindergarteners are not on the bus with the 8th graders and the 6-8th graders are not in the same hall as the younger kids.
The 8th grade girl is a good girl, smart and she says it's fine in her eyes.
Hi Mommy G
I would say K-8, why change schools when you don't have to. Most kids like consistency, I would think it has to be aso very hard at 6th grade to go on to a new school. I have never understood the middle school thing.
Also you stated more hands on, creative & fun, those are all plus'. regarding the bus, i drive my Daughter. I would not do the bus.
good luck with your decision
V.
I'd choose the school closer to home K-5 if you are worried about bullying at all. Shorter distance to ride the bus, closer to home so having friends in the neighborhood would be a plus and do you really want your young child in the same environment as an 8th grader everyday? I think that could lead to more instances of bullying...Best of luck!
We always drove our son to school. Have you considered that? Maybe you could set up a car pool so you would not have to drive everytime.
I find it interesting that you can pick a public school. typically, there are districts/service areas and you have to go where they tell you. Plus, I don't buy into the bully/bus thing. my kids have always ridden a school bus without any issues. the middle school experience allows them to begin the transition to a more high-school like atmosphere and to separate from the elementary school setting.
I would try to talk to parents from both. I am a teacher and have taught at both kinds of schools. Of course it depends on the area, but the K-8 buildings I taught at had kids at the 7-8 level who were extremely disrepectful, behavior problems, etc. It is my opinion that sometimes the older kids can provide a negative role model for the younger. Whereas, the K-5 doesn't have that and often hopefully the 5th graders are the role-models/leaders of the school in a positive way. I would go for the K-5 school, but it depends on what you find out and your own personal preferences. Good luck with your choice! C.
It sounds like you have already decided, but I still wanted to chime in a strong preference for K-8, especially if it's a good creative, fun program. Learning should be fun. Also, children in 6-8th grade do so much better in a K-8 because they aren't treated so much like a "difficult age" as they are in middle schools. Kids tend to rise or fall to expectations.
Just wanted to chime in late. Consider that switching schools for middle school gives kids a clean slate socially. A new chance to make friends and develop different parts of their personality. That's how it worked for my daughter - switching to a bigger middle school has been great!
There are lots of horror stories about middle school but I've dealt with it for 5 years now and its not that bad. My daughter is in 7th grade and none of the horror stories of mean girls and cliques has panned out. It has been wonderful for her.
GOod luck!
i would rather my child not be exposed to the older kids
Since they're both good schools, I'd choose the K-5 closer to home. Your child will be near his classmates and you may make some friends among the parents.
I am more in favor of the K-5 school followed by the middle school, for reasons already given by others. By sixth grade, students need a change from the school they have attended for six years, and they also need a school focused on their very specific, pre-adolescent needs. I would also, as someone else suggested, talk to parents of children from different grade levels at both schools. How are the junior high parents at the k-8 school, and how do the fifth grade parents at the k-5 school feel about their kids learning?
Wow, you're very lucky to have a choice! My son is at an elementary school (k-4) where the middle school (5th, 6th, 7th & 8th)is in an attached building. He loves it! He is a very advanced reader, and now has access ( with his advanced reading group) to the larger middle school library. They also have more facilities for gym, music, arts, etc. Because the younger kids have some classes where they walk through the middle school building to the auditorium or whatever, it prepares them for the bigger school and they get to know their way around a little and get comfortable with the middle school as well as their own elementary.
His school also has a great 'mentor' program where 4th graders like my son mentor new kindergarteners and then THEY get mentored by 6th grade students. We have not experienced ANY bullying at all from older kids and I do not know of any parents in the elementary school who have. Any bullying I have ever heard about from parents has come from peers in their own age group. I think your kids will be around people of different ages for a long time and need to become accustomed to it and not be afraid of bigger kids for no real reason- don't create problems where none actually exist yet.
I have not seen any drawbacks at all from having the middle school attached to the elementary school- it has actually been a plus and my son really likes sometimes catching a glimpse of his babysitter or a friend's older brother or sister that he knows in the middle school.
My FIL is the principal of a junior high (grades 7 and 8). I never would have given it any thought had he not pointed it out to me, but one thing they have to be aware of when they break down schools into K-6, 7&8, and 9-12, etc is the potential for dating among the students. Sometimes in a middle school that is grades 6-8, you have 11-year-olds dating 14-year-olds. And if you have a middle school that teaches grades 7-9, you have 15-year-olds dating 12-year-olds. It has nothing to do with academics, but it is something that you might encounter WAY down the road.
Personally, I'd choose the school closer to home. Your child will live closer to fellow classmates and will appreciate a shorter bus ride.
