I’m wondering why all the JBS I’ve looked at go to the 9th grade year, but regular prep high schools start at 9th grade. I get that they want to get the 9th graders from not JBS, but in reality for those in JBS, how does that work? Do a lot of kids leave a year early to get the full 4 years in HS of choice? Do JBS still help their 8th graders do their high school searches as well? It seems like there are far fewer openings for 10th graders at BS, so what about the group that is moving from JBS to BS? It seems like the 9th grade year in JBS sounds great, but I would worry about the loss of the 4 years at the high school boarding school, and coming in as a 10th grader.
My DS was at a JBS and left after 8th, because he wanted all 4 years at his high school (Deerfield), in part because of of his particular ECs (much better at his new school than his old). But it was VERY rare for kids to leave after 8th-- I think only one or two other kids did so, and both were children of faculty members in different senior boarding schools-- which the kids then attended. The JBS definitely discouraged kids from leaving after 8th, both by enticing them to stay (promising special leadership positions in 9th, etc) and by not particularly helping them in the application process if they applied in 8th (but would help tremendously in 9th). A lot of boarding schools really like kids who have attended JBS (boarders have already learned to live in a boarding community; kids have shown they can handle the workload and are independent), and so absolutely give a lot of those 10th grade places to kids from JBS. Many JBS have EXCELLENT placement records in SBS and, yes, it does make getting in for 10th grade somewhat harder for kids not coming from JBS (because there are fewer slots that go to non-JBS kids). My own DS is very glad he made the switch after 8th, and has been very happy at his new school, but it’s not what most JBS students do. His old classmates who DID stay in JBS and start SBS in 10th, however, also seem to be doing fine this year-- and some actually do a repeat 9th year if they DO want the 4 year BS experience. But my DS was very happy he made the switch after 8th.
I would not worry at all about that. All the boarding schools mentioned in these forums take kids as 10th graders coming out of JBS, and they assimilate quite well. Oftentimes, especially at the larger schools, the new students already have a built-in set of friends with others coming from the same JBS. Regardless, all the returning 10th graders look forward to the new blood that the JBS’ers provide.
I would think you would be at an advantage staying through 9th and repeating 9th for that 4year experience.
There has to be some credit given for a JBS 9th.