Thanks @ChoatieMom this is a pro for 9th as well as 10th! I was wondering if anyone had anything on if repeats leads to less of a chance than other people in 8th applying 9th?
I second @ChoatieMom 's sentiment, @bluetoon . My child had to take the placement tests the summer before she began boarding school. She took placement tests for math as well as languages. The math placement put her on a track that was slower than what she had been in public school. At first it seemed a bit alarming, but it soon became a gift. Being on the slower track meant she could spend more time on the material and gain greater mastery. This was evident when she sat for her SATs. She just was more comfortable and familiar with the “tricks” of the test.
As far as languages are concerned, again it might look on paper like she was repeating level 4 of a language. In actuality, the class in BS was far more advanced and nothing like her prior school. She welcomed the learning. The next year, she started in level 5 and migrated to level 6 midway thru the year. So, the school and her teachers supported her when she felt she could progress to a higher level. Also, large® BSs can sometimes offer accelerated classes in languages (as well as math). So, if a student is particularly gifted in a language, they can participate in a class that covers more material more quickly.
In prior posts, @bluetoon, I believe I have suggested that repeating a grade could be a blessing. It is not for everyone. It will cost your parents more money, will take another year to graduate, and there is a greater probability you will contract “senioritis” your last year.
Repeating the 9th or 10th grades is a long standing practice in BS, and I am sure that most AOs would respect a student’s willingness and dedication to prepare for an extra year.
I scratched my head over that one, too, @TheStig2 when we first encountered this phenomenon. I only understood repeating in the context of failing the previous grade and could not comprehend what this meant at BS. Here is where I was enlightened:
Repeating a grade is very common in our private day school. My DS, born in April, is the youngest in his entire grade. School administration practically pushes you to have your child repeat a year if born in the spring or summer.
I’m in 8th grade and applying for 9th. I have an older sister who is in her freshman year of college. She said she couldn’t imagine spending another year in high school, by the end you REALLY are ready to move on. I’m excited about BS, but I don’t think I would like being 19 and still having to have checkins and things all and not be getting on with my life. I don’t know. Obviously I’m young and have not experienced it yet, but I feel like in 4 years, I definitely want to be in college.
I think it’s also important to point out that there are distinct regional differences. My son who we “held back” at K turned 15 at the end of June and was always the oldest in both a small private school as well as LPS here in CA. That being said, we were quite surprised when we were told that there were many boys older than him in his dorm. In the west, folks would never consider having their child repeat a grade in 9th or 10th grade despite entering a new, more academically environment–nor would they even consider it for athletics! No one repeats past third grade where I live, even if they are having academic difficulties (sadly the school’s keep pushing them through). The idea of voluntarily repeating a grade in high school was completely foreign to me until this year.
In the northeast repeating is somewhat common in 7th and 9th grade, especially for younger kids. Several of the local private day schools start in 7th and a number of kids will enter as repeat 7th graders.
I always knew I was born on the wrong coast, @MA2012 
I agree that repeating a grade in middle- or highschool must be a NE or East Coast thing. In the Midwest I have never heard of repeating after first grade, and even then rarely and for real academic reasons.
I was wondering… I have heard all the good things about either repeating or keeping up with 10th, so I was wondering if someone could kindly… throw some shade on either one of the opitons
It has always been very individual. The age/birthday of the student. Are they advanced academically or do they have so me challenges. Are they small for their age. Are they going to play a sport and some maturity would be va,unable. We asked admissions at two schools about the their thoughts re repeating or not. We were told what I just relayed. Further, about 25% of students repeat. Not just 9th grade but for all grades.
@Center Have any of the AO said that repeating would hurt chances? Thanks!!
Bluetoon: absolutely not. We were told that it does not matter at all.
It does matter to some schools. We’ve asked. Unless we’re talking about red shirting (for sports), and assuming that you’ve chosen to apply to schools that are a good academic fit, it really comes down to financial aid for a lot of applicants. If you need aid, it’s good to be flexible about which grade you’ll apply for. However, that said, repeating is not necessarily preferable (from the eyes of the AO). They know, better than anyone where/how your student might best fit in. Ask the AO. It’s different school to school. Ask.
well yes–it only matters relative to other factors.
Thanks guys! I am applying for financial aid, and as the admissions process is wrapping up, I am thinking to do a mix of 9th and 10th! Does anyone know which schools definitely discourage repeats @mathmusicmadness
Talk to the AO at each school (ideally in the fall during the visit/interview phase - January starts to get really busy for them with deadlines approaching). Every situation is different.
@bluetoon I don’t think it’s a question of which schools “definitely discourage repeats”. Many people have shared their successes in applying as a repeat to x, y or z schools but that’s not been our experience. (On the other hand we’re on the application end vs the admit end.) The AO’s have, for the most part, been very direct (I think) about their perspectives as to which grade would be the best fit (supposedly without compromising DD’s chances). I had thought, based on CC folks I’ve been in direct contact with (off forum) that DD would be encouraged to apply as a repeat, especially since she is a FA applicant. Not so. I think it’s a combination of many things: current & past grades, level of difficulty of courses taken, SSAT scores, recommendations, extracurriculars and then…character (as in strength of). At some schools I think it goes a looooong way if you’re a lacrosse star…others a music prodigy…and of course there is math. So, like many wise folks before us have said…it’s all about fit. (It takes quite a bit of ground work to figure that one out.) But, yes, we did ask about repeating 9th and were surprised that basically what we got was “no, not necessary”. Only one school said, “good to know you’re open to 9th because that may help if it comes down to FA”. We will see what happens on 3/10. p.s. in case it’s not glaringly obvious, FA candidates need to come in above the mark (so to speak). There’s not enough raw data on this forum to chart that out with any accuracy or great detail but I think that if you’re in the process long enough, talk to enough people (including AOs) and read all of what’s here on the forum, you will come to the same conclusion. I could fill volumes with first-hand stories of kids (we know) who are going to this that or the other school with C’s and D’s (but who are “brilliant” on the field). We even had one AO tell us “I’m sure we have students whose SSAT scores are in the 40th percentile.” !!! Not kidding. (Could not believe he actually said this in an interview context. Very illuminating. Note: There was zero irony. School shall remain unnamed.)
@mathmusicmadness I was reluctant to answer until I had a recent interview, actually a few… Surprisingly, when I asked the AO, the schools all recommended 9th grade repeats… without a doubt. I am not sure if my debate skills are unique, but I am doing a variety of both!
Daughter was encouraged to repeat 8th grade at a school, as she would be a few months younger than others and an extra year would be also helpful for her to adjust from homeschooling. It did make sense and I liked it. But it was a surprise still, considering that she is emotionally mature, has high 90s SSAT and good academic record.