Hi all, thanks for all your wisdom and advice on other topics!
Kiddo is a current 6th grader applying to competitive day schools. We never thought of repeating a grade yet just recently heard this advice for high school and wanted any reactions on when it makes sense. He is currently the youngest 6th grader (born days before cut off), ok with academics (ISEE: 7,8,8,9; good grades; extracurricular math), focused on athletics (club soccer, track, skiing - all since 6-7 yo, baskeball team last 3 years; very keen on soccer as his primary sport and playing through school years). I see the following (am I missing something?):
Cons:
one more year of financial commitment
could be bored in subjects he is good at (eg will have to wait several years till they get to Algebra which he is currently doing extracurricular)
Pros:
will mature more (he is normal for his age yet looking at his older brother, we can see how much of a difference a year makes at this age)
more chances to play at higher level sports teams (it’s important for him, yet he just enjoys playing and it will not be the end of the world if he does not get on Varsity team in high school)
more admission slots at schools that start with 6 grade (yet we also have a viable public school option if he does not get in)
Personally, I would “save” the repeat for a time when you can use it better. And that would be high school in most cases.
If you repeat for 6th, you are less likely to have different classes to choose from. Many high school repeats repeat the grade but not the material. While a BS may easily accommodate 9th graders in BC calculus because they have other advanced classes after that, few middle schools have such a breadth of curricular offerings that 6th grad will be radically different the second time around.
Plus, if you wait until high school, you may have more clarity about what the school must offer.
Your idea is interesting. Maybe others will disagree with my take?
If he is not struggling this year there is no need to make him repeat a year. If the school has placement tests and there are legitimate concerns then discuss it with his current teachers.
There seems to be so many parents being told to do this in private schools right now. It does create another year of projected revenue…hmmm.
I might be biased towards childhood days … I would say let him repeat and enjoy childhood, sports etc especially if you think it will allow him to mature more. Letting him one for fun year might be worth extra year payment.
Getting to college & job early can wait a year plus you never know with extra year behind him might be beneficial.
I do not know anyone who has regretted giving their child the gift of extra time. This is not selfish but could turn out to help your child greatly in the future.
I see some wisdom to “saving” the repeat year. We have a relative who was also the youngest in his year. He started high school in 2020 remotely (due to pandemic) and it didn’t go well. He started high school again fresh this year with much greater success and maturity and it was nice to have that option available when grades start to “count.”