Another kindergarten question

Thanks for letting me bounce this off you guys -- I'm so conflicted. My older DD Nadia will start kindergarten in the fall, and we're planning to send her to private school. She was accepted into all the schools we applied to, and now we're trying to decide between two.

School #1 is six miles from our home, with a beautiful campus from K-12. It seems to be academically very good, and offers lots of extracurricular activities. It's a Christian school, but not affiliated with any church (which is a good thing for us). There are three K classes, with 18 students each. One of the drawbacks is that it's not very diverse at all.

School #2 has a north campus that is about seven miles from our home, but this campus only goes through the sixth grade. The main campus, where the kids would have to go from 7-12th grades, is nearly an hour away. However, the school has an excellent academic reputation, one of the best in Atlanta, and better than school #1. A good number of its graduates go on to Ivy League schools. It's not a Christian school. The students come from many different backgrounds.

In addition, school #2 has something called a "transition" program for kids with learning disabilities. My son Kevan has some developmental issues, and I can't help but wonder if he'll need something like this down the line. (It's really too early for us to know, but still.) I would love for all of my kids to be at the same school. School #1 doesn't accomodate anyone with LD's.

Anyhow. With those criteria, which would you lean toward? My DH is really leaning toward school #1, mostly because of proximity. He says one of the benefits of a private school is the small community, and he wants to be able to go to football games on Friday nights, school plays, etc. -- which we likely wouldn't do at the main campus of school #2, because it's so far away. Also, we'd love for Nadia to go to the same school for all 13 years, and I hate the thought of her sitting on a bus for an hour, or taking public transit, starting in 7th grade.

Yet, I'm having a hard time passing up the stellar academic reputation of school #2, plus the diversity, etc.

FWIW, school #2 costs an extra $2K per year ($17,000 vs. $15,000). That's not a lot when it's such a big number already, but times three kids...

For anyone familiar with Atlanta, it's Wesleyan vs. Woodward.

The check is due Friday. What the heck do I do? :unknw:

 

I would choose whichever school you prefer now. I think that 7th grade is a long while away and who knows what may change by then. I would most likely choose school #2 and make the decision about the higher grades later. It sounds like the second school would better accomodate your need for special education in the next few years.

I am struggling with the kindergarten decision as well. Unfortunately my DH isn't as open minded about the choices and we don't have as many options as you do! I wish we did!

Good luck with your decision

 

I would choose school #2. Having lived in the South, unless you really WANT a Christian education, I would stay away from the Christian schools. The second one sounds like it has much more flexiblity and things to offer. Like Melissa said, who knows what your situation will be in 7 years, you never know if you will end up having to move or something else happens.

Also, to me, the accomodation of special needs is key. You never know what life may bring, and any school that is unwilling to accomodate special needs is off my list. Honestly, that is one reason why I am a huge proponent of public schools--they HAVE to deal with special needs. If you find a private school that can accomodate and work with you, that is wonderful, in my book!

Good luck with your decision.

 

^^I was going to say something very similar!

Have you spent a little time at both? Did you get a better vibe from one?

 

One more thing that I want to point out, I actually prefer not having K-12 in the same place. Elementary and Middle School/High School students are very different creatures, with very different needs. I like the separation between the 2 groups. That way the little ones aren't unduly influenced by the older kids and teens.

 

I also wouldn't let the fact that school one goes to 12, influence the "now" decision. You could move to a new city by then, a new school that appeals to you could open up, your finacial situation could change (lets hope not) and private could no longer be an option. Many many things could happen in the coming 7 years.

My number one desire for a primary school is diversity in the student population, I can give them most of the other things at home, but I can't make our family more diverse.

 

Hi

Atlanta native here (with friends from Woodward a long time ago)... I would go with Woodward if I were you. Who knows where you will be by the time your daughter gets to 7th grade? I don't know anything about Wesleyan (don't remember it) but if diversity is what you are desiring, Woodward sounds like the better fit. Also, with the special needs, this sounds like a better fit to me. Let us know what decision you make.

 

Thanks, you guys. Wow, you're making it harder, LOL.

I understand not worrying about 7th grade until we get there, but what if we reach that point, and I really don't want to send the kiddo an hour away for school? Do I pull her and send her elsewhere? I hate the thought that she might lose all her friends at such a vulnerable age...and, I had that continuous K-12 experience at a private school, so I think my opinion is colored by that.

Still thinking here....I appreciate all your responses!

 

Actually, many Middle Schools start in 7th grade, so that is always a blending grade--and sometimes being the "new kid" is a good thing! Especially since you know that the K-12 isn't the school for Kevan, that would weigh in more than the transition at 7th grade. And who knows, in the next 6 years, they might decide to add another "North" campus.