Question: What is the distance between the two schools under consideration ? How will each student get to & from school ?
@Publisher
BancqsyKid2’s first and second choices (schools A & B) are both 30 minutes away from BancqsyKid1’s school and 5 minutes away from my office. Schools A & B are 10 minutes away from home.
BancqsyKid1’s school is 20 minutes away from home in the opposite direction and 5 minutes away from H’s work.
H drops off and picks up BancqsyKid1. I would drop off and pick up BancqsyKid2.
I’ve gotta figure out an easier way to identify them. I’ll refer to them as D1 and D2 from here on.
Consider: What if one parent is sick or has to go out of town ? Any neighborhood kids who attend either school if an emergency ride is needed ?
It seems as though there should be other factors beyond the sibling rivalry that would guide your decision. It is clear that you respect your children & their input, but it might help to point out the advantages of attending the same school as one’s sibling.
On the other hand, you & your spouse will have a lot of friends as middle school parents tend to socialize together & bond.
Green Farms Academy ?
P.S. After further thought, I think that parents should make the decision as to which school is best for each child at this very young age (age 10). Although you are doing so & seeking opinions on weight to be given child’s input, I just think that the best option should be more clear to the parents.
@Publisher
D1 is a social butterfly and has a great group of friends. She frequently carpools home with a handful of families we’ve become close to.
H does travel for work at least quarterly and I’ve managed to get them all to where they need to be on time with friend/family help.
The factor that weighs heaviest in H’s mind is that if all three girls attended D1’s school, he could see relocating closer to allow the kids more independence as they get older. They could walk home, for instance. If D2 attends a school closer to where we live now, that option is out.
Also, D1 and D2 would be in the same grade next year if D2 attends A or B. D1 is doing a repeat year due to late birthday. D2 would do the same and they would maintain their one year split if she went to D1’s school. This would not be the case at D2’s top choices.
For the record, D1 chose her school despite having the option of going to another that would not have required a repeat year. She cares not what grade her sister is in next year unless they’re in the same school and same grade which won’t happen in any scenario.
D1 has a friend at GFA he loves it. But that’s not her school. 
Seems as though your two oldest differ in that one is more social while the younger is more academic. If their academic ability is notably different, then listen to your younger daughter who prefers the more academically challenging school.
Essentially, you want to treat your children as individuals. And that seems right if there is a significant difference in academic ability & academic demands of each school.
D2’s top choices were my and H’s favorites last year based on facilities and location. They were not the best fits for D1. She landed at the perfect school for her.
This school seems a great fit for D2 as well though for very different reasons. However, I expect she would thrive at the schools she has indicated as her favorites as well.
Bussing to all schools is an option. We haven’t needed to exercise the option and enjoy the morning and afternoon car rides with them separately.
It is clear that you & your husband are willing to sacrifice convenience for the best interests of each child.
You homed in on the focus of my conversation with our GC. D1 is certainly more social though academically focused as well. D2 is a more serious academic who is content to have two or three great friends.
Thank you for this insight. So very much appreciated.
To all who have weighed in… a sincere thank you. I’m happy to keep this thread going and will come back to update after decisions are in and D2 makes her choice (with parental input).
I mentioned in my earlier post that my kids are at the same school for the first time in many years and that this is also likely the last year they will all ever be at the same school.
While I do find it very convenient for the kids to be at the same school, the reason the kids have not been at the same school before this, and will likely not be at the same school after this as well, is because my kids’ needs are quite different. We’ve always chosen to do what is best for each individual child, and until this year, that has not been the same school for each kid. Yes, there have been inconveniences with choosing to send the kids to different schools, but I do not at all regret it.
I thought from your OP that your D2 was not interested in D1’s school only because D1 attended there and did not want to be known as D1’s younger sibling. But it seems very clear that there are other reasons for D2 to favor other schools.
Small update: Decisions were released for 3 of the schools to which D2 applied. She has been admitted to her first choice.
The remaining decisions will not be released until later this month. This includes the notification from D1’s school.
For now, our family is celebrating D2’s accomplishment. She wants to wait to see how it all shakes out before making a final decision. We support that.
There is a downside… D1 is feeling a bit envious. She’s happy for her sister but worries that “people” will think she was not good enough to be offered admission to the school D2 has been. Of course, the only person making that comparison is D1 herself.
Sibling dynamics, I tell ya.
Congratulations, @bancqsy! I am sure it will all work out, and definitely celebrate the accomplishment!
My #2 had a preference for the local Catholic School over the public school. That was where most of his friends were going. We didn’t let him due a variety of reasons, but primarily because we knew he would be challenged both academically and athletically more at the public school.
He made made friends, and was recruited by several Ivy League teams for his sport. No chance that happened at the other school. And he’s happy. Sometimes you need to do what you think is best for them, even if they don’t see it.
Hi everyone,
So D2 is a very lucky girl. In the end, she was extended admissions offers with FA to 3 schools - Schools A, B and C. She attended revisits at all three and has chosen to enroll at School B which has been her long-time favorite school. D1’s school was very supportive and understanding of her decision.
D3 who is only 3 years old was extended offers of admission to two schools as well. She will enroll at D1’s school in pre-K.
Our family is ecstatic and exhausted. It has been a a stressful two years of applying to schools for our three girls. We are happy to feel settled and hope not to hear the word “apply” again until college. X_X
Thank you all for weighing in and sharing your advice and experiences.
Congrats, @bancqsy!