I have a 4th grader applying to a prep (day) school that starts in 5th grade. Has anyone here applied to middle school from elementary school?
Most of the threads I’ve read are for kids applying to older grades (8th+); I don’t know how to relate these comments back to current elementary school kids.
For example, I don’t think either GPAs or “course rigor” would apply to most (including our) elementary school. There’s no letter grades and there’s no choice of classes. Virtually everything has been online for the last year, and my impression is that makes it difficult for teachers to evaluate kids especially at this young age.
So how do middle schools admissions sort elementary kids academically from one another?
For the purpose of admission? Most schools require the ISEE. They may also request other standardized measures like state tests, other tests like CTY, ERB, NWEA etc. They may review activities like chess club, math club, literary mag submissions etc. They may look at outside classes taken, evidence of disciplined pursuit in sport or EC etc.
Once admitted, class placement is generally observational and performance based. Some have placement tests.
If I am understanding you correctly - you are asking for the admission process not once a student is enrolled and class/level placement.
Regarding admissions - many independent schools entrance grade is either grade 5 or 6 - both for middle schools and also independent schools that go through grade 12.
Admission directors will look at many things:
Your family fit as demonstrated in your essays and your child’s essays, visits and interview
Did you follow up with Thank you emails, notes and show interest?
Test scores -if being used this year - either ISEE or SSAT.
Current teacher evaluations - did you speak to your child’s current teachers and do they have experience writing for private school admission?
Does your current school have history with your private school of choice - do you see a pattern or have a understanding of the students that accept from your current school/area ?
Current elementary school program - is your child/family involved - does you child participate in the extras - ie: after school clubs, pull out for math/reading etc.
Interests - ie: music, theater, sports, STEM - what does your child bring to the school?
Financial Aid - do you need it and if yes, how much?
If a 5-12 school - do they see your child/family as a good fit through high school
If a 5-12 school - does grade 5 “favor” current families and do more “unhooked” applicants gain admission for Grade 6?
Are you only applying to one school - do they know your child will attend if admitted ?
Are you applying to multiple schools - is that common in your community ? ie: many of the same kids applying to 4-6 schools. If you have a #1 did you communicate this to the school (some schools care - some are obvious the area’s #1 and don’t care).
Not sure if this is what you are looking for - good luck with the process.
few more thoughts: is your child applying from a current private K-5 or K-8 program does your family have a track record of supporting your current independent school plus the counselor at that school will help guide your application.
If 5th is the first entry year - do they take a big % or is it a softer start with the majority of students coming in at 6th?
Thank you for all your notes, this is super helpful.
I have a question brought on by this point (“track record of supporting your current independent school…”). I think you are implying that the elementary school is communicating whether the parents are (or aren’t) a donor/volunteer to the middle school. Am I interpreting your comment correctly? And what is that mechanism they might communicate that?
Then even more broadly, is there general communication between private school guidance counselors and the next admissions department? And are guidance counselors quietly giving a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to each kid, or at least sometimes?
I will try to answer based on our personal experience only and that of friends - I am unsure if you are coming from a private or public school and if the school you are talking about is considered competitive - ie: 15+ applicants for each spot or the like.
For “track record” - do you volunteer, do you run a committee - all of this would be communicated by you in the parent statement on the application. When we went through it - it was very clear in the application where to put this information - the essay question might have been how will you participate in the life of the school or along those lines. Donor $ is harder to communicate from the public school end unless you have run a committee/event that raised funds. The teacher’s statement could also work this in - but I have found it helps to provide the teacher a few key points that you feel are important to cover - if the teacher is not used to filling out these forms. The teacher recs matter - again at the schools I am most familiar with through my own kids and friends. I know we met with elementary teachers (public) and the principal before applying to explain to them why we were thinking of moving to private school and to ask their thoughts. When we applied - it wasn’t a surprise to them and I believe they showed strong support in their communication to the schools.
If you child is currently in an independent school K-5 or K-8 - the admission’s officer at your schools should be helping with your application and also providing you feedback on your application and likelihood of admissions. Yes - they know who is applying from your school and yes they have an idea of who will be accepted or not. They would also provide you historically data too regarding acceptances.
I can’t say if it is a thumbs up or thumbs down - but I think a lot goes behind the scenes to support the right candidate for competitive day schools. Independent K-5 schools need to have strong placement (right fit - not always the most competitive) in order to keep current families happy and also show their value for why a family would invest in their school.
Again, depending where you live - I know our private schools take a pretty even split between private and public kids in their entry years. (5, 6 and 9).
Most likely, all schools are getting more qualified applicants vs spots and it is a lot like college admissions - does your child/family fill an institutional need once they have met the academic benchmarks - be it sports, theater, music, family diversity and/or background.