Age cut-off by state

Yodajo

Jen2124:

 

 

Yoda, All this "talk" made me call the school the boys will be attending. Even I was shocked by what she said to me. I said my boys had a Sept Bday and I was going to start them when they were 5 turning 6 and before I could even finish she said "good idea". Then she went on to tell me they won't even be close to the youngest in the class and how she guesses 75% of the Kindergarten class this year is redshirted.  She also said that since lots of people move here from other states, they are already "held back" because our cutoff date is so late. 

What surprised me most is she said "The principal of our school always tells parents, we see parents who regret starting their child early, but no one ever regrets keeping them back a year." I kind of could not believe she said that to me (even though I already planned on doing it). I think I didn't expect them to be so opinionated on the matter. She did add "Of course, you do what is best for you.", but it was like an afterthought.  With as common as she made it sound, I'm really surprised there are areas close to us that it isn't common at all!

Exactly my experience.  I called the school my boys will be going to and was surprised when it was the  principal who called me back.  She said almost exactly word for word what you were told and even told me her personal experience with her own kids.  Its so odd that it varies so much within such a (relatively) small area.   

shouldbworkin

Yodajo:

Jen2124:

 

 

Yoda, All this "talk" made me call the school the boys will be attending. Even I was shocked by what she said to me. I said my boys had a Sept Bday and I was going to start them when they were 5 turning 6 and before I could even finish she said "good idea". Then she went on to tell me they won't even be close to the youngest in the class and how she guesses 75% of the Kindergarten class this year is redshirted.  She also said that since lots of people move here from other states, they are already "held back" because our cutoff date is so late. 

What surprised me most is she said "The principal of our school always tells parents, we see parents who regret starting their child early, but no one ever regrets keeping them back a year." I kind of could not believe she said that to me (even though I already planned on doing it). I think I didn't expect them to be so opinionated on the matter. She did add "Of course, you do what is best for you.", but it was like an afterthought.  With as common as she made it sound, I'm really surprised there are areas close to us that it isn't common at all!

Exactly my experience.  I called the school my boys will be going to and was surprised when it was the  principal who called me back.  She said almost exactly word for word what you were told and even told me her personal experience with her own kids.  Its so odd that it varies so much within such a (relatively) small area.   

I'm in Walled Lake.  Maybe it is the lack of a young 5's program?  B/c when someone asked our principal at KG orientation, she was very open to the school being able to handle kids of all ages and levels.  They are going to great lengths this year to place the kids in the right classes and understand where they are coming in at before school starts. DS (on the younger side) was placed in the smallest class with the best teacher, but the class is not made up of all late bdays.  I think they just tried to balance the kids out and place them with who they would benefit from the most.

I know quite a few late Nov kids that have started our school on time, too.  I'm sure there are some that hold back, I know of one Oct boy not going this year, but he has a speech delay.  I have friends in West Bloomfield that haven't held their kids back either.  I think that as you get closer to starting your kids in KG, it isn't as clear cut as you think.  They grow so much from 4 to 5, especially right before they turn 5.  You have to keep holding them back a year open as a possibility, but it's definitely not a sure thing either.