My son is now in fifth grade in a parochial school. I want him to attend the excellent public high school in our area. Would it be better for him to make the transition next year to middle school so he can make friends before going to high school, or should he make the transition for his freshman year? – Moving On
Answer: Complicating your question about the best time to transfer your son is the great debate now being held over whether a K-8 or middle school configuration is better for young adolescents. Staying in a K-8 school will provide a more nurturing environment for your child. However, moving to a middle school will give him the opportunity to experience specialized subject-matter teaching, electives, and more advanced facilities for sciences, sports, and academic rigor.
There is another important factor to consider in making this decision. Research shows that student performance suffers after transitions. There is some evidence that smaller schools and fewer transitions are good for students. The effects of transition to a middle school and then high school are lessened when both schools have good transition programs. Look into this before making your decision.
Don’t forget to take into account your son’s opinion on whether or not he would like to leave his present school for a middle school. Both middle school and high school will have students coming from many different schools so there will be many students who want to make new friends at both levels.