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Changing School Districts

cnscrap

cnscrap

Humphity Humph Humph
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
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I need help/thoughts/support/comments :hug

We are currently living with my parents, who live in my daughters school district. She has been going to the schools in this district since kindergarten (day care reasons. parents (babysitters) in district). Last year was her first year of middle school and we got by with her continuing to go to that district by selling our house (which was out of the district) and moving in with the parents to save and keep her in the district. Well now we found a house at a great price but yet again out of the district. UGHhhhhhhhhhhh. It's a cute house that would be a great financial move. We could have something nice, in a good community, and still go to Disney World (ta hehe). But again...not in the prime area to live, therefore not in the district. We have been feeling lately that financially we prbly can't live in the prime area. We just paid off all debt and are afraid that we will be back in that boat if we shoot to high house-wise.

Okay..well that's another whole thought/comment thread. But really what I am curious about is have you been in the situation where your child had to change schools...preferably at the age of 12ish? Any thoughts to help me think this through would be great!
 
I switched my youngest son in his 9th grade year. It was the best move I made for him and, in the long run, he liked that I moved him. He met new friends and found out that he didn't like playing football, so we pulled him from that activity. I say if you're going to have to pull her from that district, now would be a good time so that she has time to meet new people before she gets into the older years.
 
We have moved, but we homeschool, so it wasn't quite as much of an adjustment for the kiddos. Sometimes changing schools is a good thing though - she will get too meet all those new friends! If you really feel strongly though about staying in the specific school, can you open enroll?
 
I agree with Melanie. I chose to move the summer before my daughter entered high school and before my son entered middle school. It seemed like the best time so that they could make friends. Moving late in high school can be kind of tough for them.
 
I changed school in fourth grade so I was 9 I think and I remember being kind of nervous about it before the first day, but then it was smooth sailing. I made new friends and it was just the way things were. Wasn't some big trauma for me at all, but I was a little younger. I know this is a big decision, so wishing you the best of luck and that you'll be able to find peace once the decision is made.
 
We moved to a different district when my oldest was in 5th grade and it was totally fine. The school had a wonderful buddy program to help her meet new friends and get comfortable. I think that if you already thinking about how to make it a positive transition, it will be fine!! I agree with what's been said about getting the move done before high school for sure.
 
I also changed schools as a kid, from 5th to 6th grade... and I went from catholic school to public school. It was an adjustment, but I handled it very well at that age. I did lose touch with most of my other friends though... a few of them (to this day) I still chat with sometimes.

I think it would be fine to move at this age, and just find ways to incorporate her friends into her life and she'll make new friends too so it could be a win-win situation.
 
We are in a similar situation, and yet different because our school district offers school of choice, and we were granted the school we wanted! Our district has 6 elementary schools in it, and my daughter (going into 3rd grade) wanted to stay in the school she was going to, so we did a last minute request since we sold our house after the "in district school of choice form" was supposed to be turned in. Good luck with your decision - we found that moving/buying homes when you have kids is tougher because you always have so much more to think of! Maybe check into charter schools and all options in the area!
 
good luck with the decision! we've moved a time or two and i'm always surprised (for some odd reason) that kids are way more resilient than we often give them credit for...
 
Thanks so much for the support ladies! I am such a worry wart. It is great to hear from you the situations that have worked out. I feel better just hearing them. I wish that our area did provide the school choice system. It would make this decision much easier. However, after thinking about it some more I really think she will be okay. She knows people in the new area from swim team and church. I think it's just me who is over-analyzing like usual. But that's what Mommy's do at times, I guess :)
 
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