Advice History

Middle School is where it all goes wrong for most parents and kids. Parents who have had their kids in a public elementary school sometimes start shopping for private or parochial schools right about now. 

Many experts question whether the three-tiered model of elementary/middle/high is really workable. Many private schools use a K-8 model.  

For those of us who are not able to opt out of the public school three-tier model, there may still be options. Find out if your school district allows open enrollment and/or magnet school programs and investigate these. You may need to start a few years prior to your child's enrollment date, as some districts use a point/lottery system. Make friends with parents of children a couple of years older than yours and keep in touch with them after they've moved on -- they will tell you the real scoop on how their children are faring. Start identifying the schools you feel your child will thrive at and look for the announcement of school tours for parents.

Some parents bring their kids on the tours -- after all, this entire process is for them. Help them visualize themselves at the new school. Look for any red flags that might indicate that the school may not be the right one.

Finally, it makes sense to poll the parents in your child's class to find out where they are going. If a number of kids both your and your child like are going to be attending one school over another, that might weight your decision more. It's nice for a child to make that transition with a ready-made group of friends.