Transferring Schools Midyear

Updated on January 25, 2012
C.M. asks from Queen Creek, AZ
6 answers

We have decided to make the move to be closer to my husbands work. Our next dilemma is when to transfer my son to the school where we are moving. My son is in 2nd grade. We have the option of transferring him at the beginning of February and I can drive him until we are permanently moved or waiting until after spring break. Both schools start spring break on March 12. His current school only has 1 week of vacation, whereas his new school is on a modified year round schedule and has 2 weeks off.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

C.:

Sorry - I would wait and let my husband go first. Changing schools mid-year is hard for ANY child. It's 4 more months. Although I don't know your situation, if he's been commuting for however long and you've decided to move - why not wait until the end of the school year and do it then?

If this move will save your family a substantial sum of money (assuming you own the home you live in right now and can sell it fast), I would figure a way to make it work for the last 4 months of the school year. Put the home on the market and see what happens....
ETA: As a military brat/dependent - I understand the moves. We were fortunate to have summer moves instead of mid-year moves.

GOOD LUCK!

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

.

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C.P.

answers from Columbia on

Just do it now. Trying to drive him will not help him to maintain his schedule or feel any better about the move. The quicker you get it done, to sooner he can make friends locally and get settled into his routine in the new place.

I've been in the military for nearly 10 years...I understand this better than most.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

How long is the drive to his school once you move????
If it is a long drive, that will be a hardship.... on timing/morning waking up and getting ready etc. and then picking him up after school and driving all the way back home etc.

At my kids' school, there are kids that transfer there even now. Who knows why. I guess the family moved. The kids adjust fine. My son is in Kindergarten and my daughter in 4th grade. The "new" kids adjust fine.
And the new kids... you also have to factor in, their getting used to their new school and its routines etc. So that can take some time. And they need to catch up to whatever the new school is doing etc.
So you need to consider that too.
Thus, I would not delay the introduction to the new school.
Kids also often have Homework during the Spring Break. My kids do.

Have you asked your son's school and/or the Teacher, for their input? They see this all the time and may have good input, per their experience with it.

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C.C.

answers from Flagstaff on

I'd wait until Spring Break. At the beginning of the school year, a teacher takes roughly 3 weeks getting to know the students and testing them to know where they are at academically in each subject. When a student comes in mid-year, a teacher cannot just go on teaching that child without testing to know what the child's prior knowledge is so that the teacher can then add to it. Your child would lose valuable learning time from his current teacher who already knows "where" he is (learning-wise).

As a mom, I would want him to make new friends in the new area where you are moving before the summer, so my vote is for spring break, giving him more learning time in the current classroom before the move, but still time to make new friends.

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

I would keep him at the school he knows until it is over. 4 months will go quick.

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