Moving to US next year, advice with US tests

[MintyFreshAlways]

Due to a new job in Houston TX, were relocating to the States next year. We have a son, 10 turning 11 in June next year, who we need to find a new school for. He's currently in the private sector in the UK, and does flexi boarding often.

So a few questions!

Any experience or recommendations of schools in Houston. We like St Johns and Kinkade based on what we've seen online, but there must be more.

The tests for admissions seem very different, with ISEE and OLSAT being standard. But we can't find old papers for grade 6 entry OLSAT. Any advice on preparing for these, is there value in coaching here in the UK to prep for the tests.

Any other advice would be very welcome!

What about the British International School? How long are you going to be there? Will he be coming back to the UK for GCSE's/ A Levels? If so I would seriously consider keeping him in UK system.

Thanks. That's high in our list of options too. We'd probably come back to the UK around the time for University. The advantage of BIS is that it has rolling admissions, as opposed to timed entrance exams. How easy would it be though to enter the US system if that ended up our path?

Don’t go to BISH! It’s got a terrible reputation. I know several families who have pulled their kids out - including some who have sent their kids back to the UK to board because they were so desperate the keep them in the British system but BISH was so bad. Lots of other families going down the tutoring route.

Don’t discount American schools. Grade 6 is the beginning of middle school so you have the option of going to a school that goes right through to 12th or one which stops at 8th and then making the switch for high school.

Where will you/your DH be working? Houston is massive and you really need to have an idea of location first. You don’t want to be working in the Woodlands for instance (not even really Houston, but a lot of expats still refer to it like it is) and living/going to school on the Westside.

Entering the US system really isn’t difficult and plenty of schools have options for rolling admissions - expats are two a penny in Houston so it’s a very normal thing to move in and out during the school year.

If you give me some more info on where you will likely be located, I can give you some more advice

(Very jealous by the way - we’d move back in a heartbeat)

What sets are they in currently? If they plan to come back to the UK for uni I'd stay in the UK system if you can BUT be aware the kids likely won't want to at that point and US university costs a lot more and parents are expected to pay a lot more.

I don't have direct experience or knowledge of Houston schools, but I would not discount state schools. In the US, the really good state schools are fantastic. Houston has 2 schools in the top 25 nationally (and the US is enormous, so this is quite an accolade) - Carnegie Vanguard www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/houston-isd/carnegie-vanguard-high-school-19262 and DeBakey High School www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/houston-isd/carnegie-vanguard-high-school-19262.

Ooops, here is the correct link to DeBakey www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/houston-isd/debakey-high-school-for-health-professions-19235.

It all depends on how long you are thinking that you might be in the US for. He will be starting middle school, so your good options are Kinkaid, St Johns, River Oaks Baptist. Going on to High School, your private options open out a bit to include Episcopal High School, St. Thomas. All are pretty selective, and many will have started (and finished) the entrance process already for next year, so definitely get in contact with them ASAP. Awty is an option too - international school, and while it gets mixed reports compare with the first 3 listed above, streets ahead of the British school. PM me for more information on that.

My children attended Bish and as Slaying Dragons says I would avoid. It is a Nord Anglia school. The biggest budget is marketing. For profit school, with no Board of Governors. This presents many problems. There are many good schools in Houston. I would agree with ksb76 advice on recommendations.. Good luck. Just to add, . I love living in Houston.

My kids are at the British International School in Houston and thriving. We've been there for over 6 years and they are in years 10 and 6. For the past 2 years, BISH has had better IB results that the other two major international schools in the city (Awty and the Village School). My kids are happy to go to school, teaching is innovative and the facilities are amazing. I know people who have pulled their kids from BISH and sent them to boarding school, some of whom are not happy with that either. BISH has gone through many changes over the past few years, it grew fast, built a new campus and imho leadership lost sight a little of traditional teaching but there is a great feeling that we are past that and on a very even keel with good progress being made. I have friends with kids at the Village and Awty, some are happy, some less so. Horses for courses. Your best bet is to visit to be honest.

You may wish to consider where your ds will end up for his senior years at school. The US system is a little different, math is taught differently and some things in a different order, history is American of course rather than European, and as students progress through the school, the differences between the systems become more apparent. This can be resolved with tutoring as students change systems but it's a consideration. If you're looking at GCSE / IGCSE later on, BISH is the only school in Houston to offer this.

Btw, Houston runs on networks. St Johns is almost impossible to get into unless you know the right people, Kincaid is almost as bad and Strake slightly less so. They are all pretty focused and intense. Carnegie and De Bakey are good (I work in educational funding and visit them regularly) but are high schools so students aged 14+. Your ds will enter grade 6 this September, given his age I believe, the first year of middle school. Please bear in mind your dh's office location when selecting a house and school, traffic is horrible. Public schools have catchment areas like the UK and school buses are common. There are magnet programs whereby gifted students can attend schools in other catchment areas.

Hope this helps.