Changing schools in Wilmette/Winnetka (Skokie, Northfield: school district, move, kindergarten)

[Markomalley]

Hi everyone-
Still trying to figure out the Wilmette/Winnetka school system-how do the kids handle all the school changes? It seems like a lot to switch schools K-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9, 10-12. Or is this not a big deal? Do some parents send their kids to private schools to avoid this?
Thanks!!

[efb]

It does seem a lot. Since the recent referendum for New Trier highlighted the over crowding at the Winnetka campus, why don't they move the 10th graders to the other campus and use it as a 9/10 campus and the Winnetka one as 11/12? Seems to make sense. We are new to the area, though, and there may be a good reason why this logical step can't be (or won't be) considered.

[Rlest8]

My 4 kids seemed to adjust well to the changes in the Winnetka schools. The biggest change is when they move from their K-4 and all come together for 5th-8th in Winnetka and Wilmette. In Winnetka changing from Skokie (5/6) to Washburne (7/8) is not a big deal because the campuses are so close and the have been together since 5th anyway. I think most of the kids are excited about going to a new building and beginning in 5th grade getting to go to school with other kids from the community they may have known from other local activities.

I thought this could be an issue, especially becuase I went to an all girls k-12 in a different city but it really never was an issue at all for my family.

As far as the NT situation-that's another story. I agree with efb-put more kids at Northfield. Perhaps the Jrs. and Srs. there where there is parking and it is less residential. Or better yet-2 four year high schools.

[Sodium]

The Kenilworth government school district has kids in a single school from pre-K to 8.

[847mom]

The Avoca School district, which serves a small section of Wilmette, has only two schools. Avoca West is K-5 and Marie Murphy 6-8.

[Anthera]

Its not a big deal. But if you want less changes I would look into Kenilworth, Avoca or Northfield.

[STL Mom]

In Wilmette, I know families who send their kids to Catholic school (K-8) to avoid the transitions. But really, the big transitions are from elementary to middle school, and then junior high to high school. In Wilmette, like Winnetka, the junior high is right next to the middle school, and has all the same kids, so that isn't such a huge transition.
I know someone who grew up in Northfield (a small school district that feeds into New Trier) and she moved to Wilmette so her kids could be part of the biggest cohort that goes to New Trier. She felt that her transition to New Trier was difficult partly because she hadn't experienced many transitions when she was younger, as well as coming from a small school.
Then again, it's November, and my 5th grader still talks about wishing she could go back to her elementary school, so every child's ability to transition is different!

[Sarah H.]

My oldest has been thru transitioning to Highcrest and now is at the Junior High. I was worried about all the changing of schools too but it hasn't been a very big deal. The schools do a great job of transitioning the kids. They start talking about it the year before and in the spring take a tour of the new school, talk to students already there, etc. Even at the elementary level the kids go see the next grade's classrooms and talk to students. I think the transition is much better than when I was a kid, for sure!

I agree it's nice to be from the larger junior high feeding into New Trier. We're not there yet but from the parents I've talked to it makes the first month or so a little easier.

I don't personally know any families who choose private schools to avoid all the transitions. The families that I know who have left the public school system do so for religious reasons or for a smaller and more personalized education. And I know a few who go to St. Joe's for kindergarten, as it's full day, then switch to the public schools.

I hope this is helpful. You really have to decide based on your children's personalities and what's best for them.