Hi all, does anyone have recent experience of moving to the US with a child nearing GCSE age? My eldest child is 13 (August birthday), going into Y9 next month. My younger two are only 10 and 5, so I don’t have the same concerns about their transition. Realistically it would be early summer 2020 if we move at all, so they’d be going into Y2, Y7 and Y10 in the British system. Those who have done this, are you happy you did? How have you found the schools? The move would be to Massachusetts. Thank you.

We live in MA although my kids have only ever gone to school over here. The previous poster is right in that every town/school district can be completely different to another so you need to know exactly where you would move to. However, some school districts do allow school choice so you can go to school in a neighboring town if that town allows it - the money follows the child.
Your 14 year old would be a freshman (first year) in high school so it would be an opportune time to start schooling here. I’ve found the elementary schools here similar to UK schools (I was a UK teacher) but high school is a whole different system and takes some getting used to. From my experience, your child would maybe be behind in social studies (history and geography) because that’s very US specific in lower grades. Also - math seems to race ahead here compared to the UK - my daughter is going into her freshman year and because she did pre-algebra in middle school she’s now a year ahead in high school.
Lastly - high school takes 4 years here (14-18) so if you’re planning to move back before then I’m not sure how it would work for you.

Thank you, no if we moved then it would be permanent, so college (and cost!) is also a consideration. I know that holding summer borns back a year can be done too, would you think starting my (then) 14 year old in 8th grade instead of high school would be considered in most towns? He is of average ability, so I wondered if that would help him adjust/make friends before HS.

Once again, holding your son back a grade will totally be down to the school district you choose. Our town has the cut off date of September 1st. My daughter has friends who are in her grade but turned 15 in August - the difference will be that they were held back before starting Kindergarten so they’ve gone through school with their peers. As he’s coming from the UK anyway that won’t make a difference- it will totally depend on the rules of your school district.
As a FYI I’m almost positive that coming in with an English accent will work in his favor, especially with the teenage girls lol! My nephew came to visit for a few summers and my daughter’s friends loved him and his accent😉

Thanks all. It’s so hard to decide what to do, but I feel that we are at a crossroads of ‘go soon or wait a very long time’ as our children are quite spaced apart, so one or the other will soon be at a crucial point at school. The kids are very keen to go, which is positive, but they definitely view it with rose tinted spectacles.

Although my kids never went to school in the UK I do have experience as a teacher in England. I’ve found that the academic choices my high schooler has now are mind boggling and although she is pushed hard in the core subjects, her choices for electives are creative and there seems to be something for most kids to tap into their interests! And the sports, at least in our school district, are second to none. Teenagers over here seem to be kept busy either with school, school sports or local sports leagues, which I like!