A few days ago
Ouck Fbama

Should I hold him back in private school or let him go to 2nd grade in public school?

My son went to first grade in public school. They passed him to 2nd grade. We moved and are more financially secure now than we were when he was in 1st grade so we would like him to go to private school. BUT….the private school that we want him to go to says that they will not put him in 2nd grade there as he would be too far behind (they went by his aptitude test scores from the end of the 1st grade year as well as testing him according to their standards). According to his tests scores he is reading on a kindergarten level. I know that he needs the basic building blocks to be successful, but at the same time, couldn’t he catch up in 2nd grade? He has always been very mature for his age and has always interacted with kids that are older than him. I am just concerned with what this might do to him emotionally. He says that he is ok…but I don’t like the thought of him being the oldest kid in the class…

HELP….what do you think?

I am really having a hard time with this….

Top 6 Answers
A few days ago
Anonymous

Favorite Answer

On a happy note, if you decide to put him in private school, he will be driving before any of his classmates, and that would make him very popular. All joking aside, i somehow failed the 6th grade. I was not only the oldest kid in my class, but the tallest. But i got through it just fine. I think the private school is the way to go. More individual attention. Better education. Looks better on college resumes.
3

A few days ago
nubiangeek
First of all I am a second grade teacher. When I am talking about retention with parents, I describe two scenarios. Would you rather that your child be at the top of the class or the bottom of the class. I think that it is better for a child’s self esteem if they can do the work. And, to answer your question, it is hard for someone to catch up in a particular grade. It is better to retain a student early (1st or 2nd grade) when they are not that far behind. If you keep passing them, they are going to get further and further behind to the point where it is nearly impossible to catch up.
1

A few days ago
Anonymous
Well I know this seems a little unfair but in his case believe me he would benefit much more just starting at a private school. A lot of people get held back in 1st grade it’s okay. Plus public schools are just a mess. I think you should send him to a private school.
2

A few days ago
hplss.rmntc
Hold him back. If you put him in a class that he is not ready for he will be behind for the rest of his school career. He will not just catch up by being thrown in with kids that are ahead of him. If anything he would suffer by feeling less smart than the other kids.
1

A few days ago
♥Kate♥
You should put him in a private school because he might struggle in school! He can still play with kids HIS age like at recess( if he has recess )! It is the only good way to do it!
1

A few days ago
Anne B
I would hold him back. What if he continues to struggle as he goes on? I think it’s the safe bet.
3