Year 9-Grade 10???
Aug 10th 2008, 6:52 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 42
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
Hi,
A few things to note:
1) Get her immunization records together immediately. Shots are taken very seriously here and there some she may not have had (Hep B for example) that are required. Each state differs so you'll need to do some research on the schools in question
2) You should get a good copy of her transcripts and if possible course syllabuses. I would not chat with the 'receptionist' at the school but make an appointment with the guidance counsellor or even a vice principal to see where they recommend she enter. As 9th grade in the US is the 'Freshman' year of the four year high school she'll have some required classes for her ninth grade and then other classes that she can take in 9-10-11-12.
As others have noted, she'll be ahead in some subjects and behind in others. Her US government & history studies are certainly not up to par with her American colleagues, and she'll have some spelling issues (colour, etc) that will annoy her from time to time. Math and Science may be slightly off from where she is, and they sometimes teach it differently here.
3) Prepare yourself. You're going to be heavily involved (well, you'll be expected to be involved) in a lot of the teaching and school. PTA (Parent Teacher Associations) will meet and discuss classes and teachers and other issues regularly, and parents are often asked to chip in to help from everything to buying a few extra school supplies to volunteering time to help with the extracurricular activities (which will make your daughter's head spin).
I'd recommend diving in head first as it will be a great social entree into the community. High school football (American style) is a big event in many communities, and Friday nights will draw folks to the stadiums (which ends up being one big social todo regardless of the quality of play on the field).
Where in SC are you moving to?
A few things to note:
1) Get her immunization records together immediately. Shots are taken very seriously here and there some she may not have had (Hep B for example) that are required. Each state differs so you'll need to do some research on the schools in question
2) You should get a good copy of her transcripts and if possible course syllabuses. I would not chat with the 'receptionist' at the school but make an appointment with the guidance counsellor or even a vice principal to see where they recommend she enter. As 9th grade in the US is the 'Freshman' year of the four year high school she'll have some required classes for her ninth grade and then other classes that she can take in 9-10-11-12.
As others have noted, she'll be ahead in some subjects and behind in others. Her US government & history studies are certainly not up to par with her American colleagues, and she'll have some spelling issues (colour, etc) that will annoy her from time to time. Math and Science may be slightly off from where she is, and they sometimes teach it differently here.
3) Prepare yourself. You're going to be heavily involved (well, you'll be expected to be involved) in a lot of the teaching and school. PTA (Parent Teacher Associations) will meet and discuss classes and teachers and other issues regularly, and parents are often asked to chip in to help from everything to buying a few extra school supplies to volunteering time to help with the extracurricular activities (which will make your daughter's head spin).
I'd recommend diving in head first as it will be a great social entree into the community. High school football (American style) is a big event in many communities, and Friday nights will draw folks to the stadiums (which ends up being one big social todo regardless of the quality of play on the field).
Where in SC are you moving to?
We're moving to Charleston. She just had some extra jabs at the visa medical centre so she's up to date with the US requirements. Also, when we were living abroad (2004-2007) she went to american schools so she's covered some of the american history etc.
Aug 12th 2008, 1:39 am
#17
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Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
I concur with what others have said, put her in Grade 9, that way she won't be the 'new' girl in school and it will help her acclimatize quicker.
My son turned 15 this month and will be going into grade 10 next week. He has always been one of the youngest in his grade, many of his friends are 10 - 18 months older than him due to where birthdays fall and the fact some parents/school have chosen to hold the child back a grade. Having such a large 'age range' in a grade is the norm here.
My son turned 15 this month and will be going into grade 10 next week. He has always been one of the youngest in his grade, many of his friends are 10 - 18 months older than him due to where birthdays fall and the fact some parents/school have chosen to hold the child back a grade. Having such a large 'age range' in a grade is the norm here.
Aug 12th 2008, 6:41 am
#18
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,260
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
I concur with what others have said, put her in Grade 9, that way she won't be the 'new' girl in school and it will help her acclimatize quicker.
My son turned 15 this month and will be going into grade 10 next week. He has always been one of the youngest in his grade, many of his friends are 10 - 18 months older than him due to where birthdays fall and the fact some parents/school have chosen to hold the child back a grade. Having such a large 'age range' in a grade is the norm here.
My son turned 15 this month and will be going into grade 10 next week. He has always been one of the youngest in his grade, many of his friends are 10 - 18 months older than him due to where birthdays fall and the fact some parents/school have chosen to hold the child back a grade. Having such a large 'age range' in a grade is the norm here.
I would agree to putting her in 9th grade
Aug 12th 2008, 2:49 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
I honestly think that she is just fed up with moving in general. We went from London to Kosovo for a year, then on to Abu Dhabi for 2 years (where she absolutely loved it), then had to come back to London for a year and now moving to the states, hopefully for a long time. Every time she had to start a new school she had to work very hard to prove herself, change from one system to another, make new friends all over again...I feel for her and with weeks away from us all moving, I don't think I want to move at all, suddenly London seems so beautiful (even with the nonstop rain this past week).
Aug 12th 2008, 3:18 pm
#20
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
For a 14 year old, 9th grade would be typical for that age. The US system has a kindergarten for age 5, with 1st grade commencing the next year for age 6. The final grade level is 12th grade. Most high schools begin at 9th grade (freshman year) and end with the 12th grade (senior year).
Assuming that your child is a good academic performer, I would suggest that you get her onto an honors track right away. If there are magnet schools in the area, seek them out and choose an appropriate one.
Do your research to determine whether some of the public schools are better than the others. Don't just assume that she should attend the school closest to your home, particularly if there are several options available in your area. You should determine whether the public schools are actually any good; in some parts of the country, they are disdained and private school attendance is the norm. The part of town in which you live and the school that you choose could make a big difference between attending a very good school and being stuck in a poor one.
Starting in about the 10th grade, you will also want to look into Advanced Placement courses. Taking several of these and performing well in them will help her in getting into a quality university. Some schools have an International Baccalaureate program instead, but AP is the more prevalent of the two.
Best of luck.
Assuming that your child is a good academic performer, I would suggest that you get her onto an honors track right away. If there are magnet schools in the area, seek them out and choose an appropriate one.
Do your research to determine whether some of the public schools are better than the others. Don't just assume that she should attend the school closest to your home, particularly if there are several options available in your area. You should determine whether the public schools are actually any good; in some parts of the country, they are disdained and private school attendance is the norm. The part of town in which you live and the school that you choose could make a big difference between attending a very good school and being stuck in a poor one.
Starting in about the 10th grade, you will also want to look into Advanced Placement courses. Taking several of these and performing well in them will help her in getting into a quality university. Some schools have an International Baccalaureate program instead, but AP is the more prevalent of the two.
Best of luck.
Aug 13th 2008, 1:46 pm
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 58
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
Hi,
I have to agree with the others, American schooling is certainly different to the UK. See if you can convince her to start at grade 9, she'll be in with a new intake, she'll have stuff like orientation so she knows what's going on the teachers will be a little kinder. A lot of Americans keep their kids at home until they are a little older before they send them to school, especially boys so they are bulk up for football!!
Make sure you talk to a student counselor - not a secretary. At my son's school the counselor could shuffle the students schedule around so they have the classes they need/like. Make her/him your friend or at least don't piss them off. At my son's school they had a lot of power in getting student the required classes or even changing them into a different one if something was not right.
I have to agree with the others, American schooling is certainly different to the UK. See if you can convince her to start at grade 9, she'll be in with a new intake, she'll have stuff like orientation so she knows what's going on the teachers will be a little kinder. A lot of Americans keep their kids at home until they are a little older before they send them to school, especially boys so they are bulk up for football!!
Make sure you talk to a student counselor - not a secretary. At my son's school the counselor could shuffle the students schedule around so they have the classes they need/like. Make her/him your friend or at least don't piss them off. At my son's school they had a lot of power in getting student the required classes or even changing them into a different one if something was not right.
Aug 15th 2008, 10:14 am
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 27
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
I would agree with most here that 9th grade would be the best bet. I'm a science teacher and have taught both in the UK and US (North Carolina) high schools, and as a kid attended both UK and US high schools. I know what its like to move and try and fit into new schools, and so as in most cases 9th grade will be a new start for most of the students - moving up from middle school - she would be on similar turf with the others.
From a science point of view, the teaching style is very different. At high school that do e.g. biology for a semester and this can range from KS3 upto A'level topics, and then won't do it again at all. You will find she will have a bit of a head start in science as in the UK we build it up each year.
I also agree that participation is key. But I would think that the kids will like her because she is different - unlike my own experiences coming back to the UK from USA and Hong Kong where I was bullied for it.
My experience in Bible belt is to try be patient...most mean well, although after 3 wks I was phoning home for some sarcasm and cynicism!!
From a science point of view, the teaching style is very different. At high school that do e.g. biology for a semester and this can range from KS3 upto A'level topics, and then won't do it again at all. You will find she will have a bit of a head start in science as in the UK we build it up each year.
I also agree that participation is key. But I would think that the kids will like her because she is different - unlike my own experiences coming back to the UK from USA and Hong Kong where I was bullied for it.
My experience in Bible belt is to try be patient...most mean well, although after 3 wks I was phoning home for some sarcasm and cynicism!!
Nov 3rd 2008, 12:38 pm
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
We're getting ready to move to SC from London once we receive our visas. My daughter (born Feb 1994) just finished Year 9 here.
Looking at the enrollment papers they sent us from the high school in Charleston, they are very different from what we're used to dealing with here. Has anyone had the experience of moving from UK schools to US, when their kids were 14-15? Is she going to struggle in Grade 10 even though she finished with Level 7s?
Thanks
Nov 3rd 2008, 1:11 pm
#24
L2, GC, Surrey, OH, TX!
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Surrey to Dallas (via Ohio)!
Posts: 6,363
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
my son is 4 and if we were back in england he would be in reception class at infants now. Here he wont go into kindergarten til next year so is starting school a year later than his uk peers.
Nov 3rd 2008, 5:47 pm
#25
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
Good luck with the move, my teen would be horrified if we made him move right now. He was also born feb '94 and is in 9th grade.
Nov 3rd 2008, 11:32 pm
#26
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 42
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
She is younger than anyone else in her grade being born in Feb 94 but at least she is not complaining that the school is easy and boring.
Nov 4th 2008, 4:07 am
#27
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: texas
Posts: 915
Re: Year 9-Grade 10???
Well...it worked out that our daughter actually went to Grade 10 because the school here in SC thought that she had covered enough in her Year 9 in London with very good grades and had enough credits. She is also in English and French honors and so far so good.
She is younger than anyone else in her grade being born in Feb 94 but at least she is not complaining that the school is easy and boring.
She is younger than anyone else in her grade being born in Feb 94 but at least she is not complaining that the school is easy and boring.
