Moving to USA with year 7 and 9 children?

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hi
We have the possibility of moving to the US with work. Our sons aged 11 and 13 would be in year 7 and 9 at the start of next academic year. So for my youngest this would be his first year in secondary but my eldest would be two years in. What are your honest options about a move with chidlren this age? It would be for 5 years max meaning the eldest would stay until end of 6th form and the youngest til end of GCSE’s before moving back to the U.K.

[catmack16]

Where are you hoping to move to? There are British schools in some cities which might be the best option as your children are in the secondary system.

[knitnerd90]

You'll be liable for overseas fees at university since they require 3 years residence.

Also, the American high school curriculum is structured quite differently. Moving from grade 10 here to A-Levels would be very tricky. You'd want to have him in a school that would prepare for A-Level or possibly IB (some American public schools have IB programmes).

[mylaptopismylapdog]

Depends where you are going to move to. We moved to Great Falls in Virginia near Washington
with our 2 children 20 years ago our company package allowed fees for private school fees at Flint Hill School which was excellent for primary and secondary school children. It was a good experience for the whole family but it does take time to adjust. Both of our children have done a lot of travelling since which has been enjoyable and useful.

[Ninetyseventhirtyfive]

I think it would be okay if the company agrees to pay private school fees and there's a British school / international school local to where you'll be living. If you'd be reliant on public schools I wouldn't do it, not at their age,. There is a huge difference between the US and UK systems, the US is much more generalist, they don't have GCSE equivalents. It's not necessarily better or worse though, but having said that the quality of public schools varies hugely from State to State. Some east coast public schools are v good, I think...but where we are on the west coast, a good public school District is equivalent to a fairly average UK school, certainly for primary anyway. Basically, knowing what I know now I would want an international school option.

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hi sorry I should’ve said that British international school place for both would be funded as my husband and I would be working in the school. My 11 year old is open to it but my 13 year old is adamant he doesn’t want to. He said he would miss his friends. Whilst I would never say this to him, he has only been at his school for 18 months and half of that was lockdown so he really is only just making friends. He didn’t know anyone when he started.

[Ninetyseventhirtyfive]

That's good that the school system will be the same.13 is a tricky age to move though but if you feel this is an amazing work opportunity then I'd try and get him round. Are there some v cool things he would have the opportunity to do in the US that is harder to do back home? Eg skiing, surfing, other outdoor pursuits.. ? Our kids are younger but it has been a huge adjustment for my eldest who was 8 when we arrived here, not helped at all by Covid. Making friends is harder the older they get.. but at 13 he might be able to understand how much you/he might regret not doing it. And if you're on the east coast it's not too hard to travel back, post-covid! A couple of times a year ..

But it's worth checking, if you stay 5 years, the potential cost of uni as an international student either in the UK or US. Because you may find he's considered international in both countries.

[Ineedaneasteregg]

International schools are good in that the kids are used to new kids arriving.
There is always the risk that your friends will leave of course.