[cjohnson1]

Hi!

I am relocating to Las Vegas in the coming week from NYC. In NYC, children who turn 5 anytime in 2008 are eligible to start kindergarten. In Las Vegas, only those that turn 5 before September 30, 2008 are eligible to start kindergarten. Our daughter was born in October. She also tested into the Gifted and Talented Program in NYC on two tests indicating she is in the top 1%.

What options do we have to start our daughter in September even though she did not turn 5 by September 30th? Does the CCSD give any "variances?" Are private schools open to starting kids that turn 5 between Oct 1 and Dec 31st?

Any and all suggestions and input are welcome and appreciated!

[Doug17]

I haven't heard any exceptions regarding the Oct. 1st cutoff for Kindergarten in the Clark County School District. There is a boy on my son's soccer team that didn't turn 5 until October of last year and did attend private Kindergarten. You will find many pre-schools offer private Kindergarten and then the kids can transition to public school 1st grade. I think the boy goes to Hand-in Hand or Kids-R-Kids in Henderson. I hope that helps.

[Chest Rockwell]

Many parents choose to delay entry to kindergarten so that their children will have a better chance to excel. This isn't exactly your situation, but an extra year of pre-K may be benificial.

This article from the New York Times is especially interesting.

[VegasResident]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

Many parents choose to delay entry to kindergarten so that their children will have a better chance to excel. This isn't exactly your situation, but an extra year of pre-K may be benificial.

This article from the New York Times is especially interesting.

I was born late September and was not delayed entering school and thus I started college at 17. I was in gifted and talented and honors and graduated with a 3.9 in my Masters program. If they can go let them go.

[Chest Rockwell]

It's also a concern that younger children may struggle to develop socially in an environment where everyone in their class is older and bigger. While delaying kindergarten in order to be older than all the other kids may be taking it too far, I don't see many advantages in trying to squeeze a child in ahead of the deadline either.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by VegasResident

I was born late September and was not delayed entering school and thus I started college at 17. I was in gifted and talented and honors and graduated with a 3.9 in my Masters program. If they can go let them go.

you can argue this both ways.

i was born in october and was therefore delayed entering early. don't really see a draw back to it as there are advantages to being older. i could drive before all my friends, i could drink (legally) before all my friends, and i had that extra 6-11 mo growth on people in my class (really nice when playing sports).

i understand if the issue is that all her friends are starting school, but i don't think that is the case here.

hope it works out for getting her in early (as it seems that is what you would like), but if it doesn't don't sweat it. keep her interested in education at this age and she'll continue to excel regardless of when she officially starts.

**d'oh...just read chest's post...a bit more eloquent then my "i could drink 1st, etc." but the sentiment is the same

[radraja]

Just wait another year. It won't hurt to do so.

I think that waiting is better than just settling for any school that will take her (which will likely only be small, independent kinder-care type places).

[radraja]

Originally Posted by VegasResident

I was born late September and was not delayed entering school and thus I started college at 17. I was in gifted and talented and honors and graduated with a 3.9 in my Masters program. If they can go let them go.

Ehh..starting college at 17 can be a pain in the butt. Especially if you plan on leaving the city. You can't sign any of your own papers...you still have to fax everything home to your parents. It's lame.

[savager1]

I had this same issue with my daughter. Private schools would not accept her as they had 100 children that did make the age cut off on a waiting list. So my only option was to homeschool her. We did homeschool for six months and then she was eligible to attend public or private school. And I actually had a blast homeschooling. I am so happy we made that decision.

Good Luck in what ever decision you make.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by radraja

Ehh..starting college at 17 can be a pain in the butt. Especially if you plan on leaving the city. You can't sign any of your own papers...you still have to fax everything home to your parents. It's lame.

Many years ago my mother finished Hunter College High School at 16 and graduated with two children at 20. And in 1940...Talk about bad timing. She had been there and drove all her children in the same way. Mostly worked out.