UK to US move

[MovingtoUSmum]

Hi all,
I'm new to Mumsnet.
We're moving from the UK to the US for the start of the next school year.
We've just instructed a school search agent. Is there any advice regarding the school systems there, any major hurdles I might face or has it been reasonably smooth transitioning for those who have done it? Not sure whether the kids go into the corresponding US grade from the UK year or whether they go up one - do they get tested? Lots of things to find out and am looking forward to the help!
Thanks xx

Quite often school districts will post their curriculum and instructional guides on line so you can easily see what your children will be learning for each grade.

If you are going down the public school route, see if there are magnet schools in your district. These are public schools that will offer the same curriculum as other schools but will have additional focuses e.g. foreign language, science, arts. My children are at an International Baccalaureate middle school so they have learned French. If they had stayed at the local middle school they wouldn't be starting a foreign language until high school. I think quite a few districts have IB schools.

Quite often school districts will post their curriculum and instructional guides on line so you can easily see what your children will be learning for each grade.

If you are going down the public school route, see if there are magnet schools in your district. These are public schools that will offer the same curriculum as other schools but will have additional focuses e.g. foreign language, science, arts. My children are at an International Baccalaureate middle school so they have learned French. If they had stayed at the local middle school they wouldn't be starting a foreign language until high school. I think quite a few districts have IB schools.

I don't agree with BeAlert regarding religious private schools...there are plenty of secular private schools (like the one I attended) in the NYC area that are geared towards particularly academic, athletic, or artistic children.

I think it's actually mathanxiety you don't agree with, as I've said nothing about religious private schools...

If they had stayed at the local middle school they wouldn't be starting a foreign language until high school

Gosh - that's late! Ours start foreign languages in 6th grade.

yes you're right it was mathanxiety who said most private schools are religious! Sorry BeAlert

S'okay - I only noticed your comment because I know nothing about religious schools :-)

DD is in kindergarten and has been learning Spanish since PreK 3. She started mandarin this year (kindergarten).

We are in a school district that most people laugh at.