Oldest Student, Youngest Student

Our state's cut-off date is August 31st; incoming kindergarteners must be five before the deadline. My daughter's fifth birthday rolls around just a few weeks later, rendering her ineligible for K at local private and public schools. It doesn't matter that she is socially, emotionally, and academically ready for K-level work - you're either old enough, or not. She, ... is not.

Doesn't matter much, though, since she's homeschooled. We do kindergarten work to her abilities and interests, and she'll have completed a K-level curriculum before she qualifies for official entry into the grade next year. That part doesn't bother me so much, as it's part of the reason why we homeschool: flexibility.

What's been on my mind more is the social labeling. If I call her K now, she's likely to graduate high school at an old 16, newly 17. She'll always be the youngest in her class -- at government school if she ever transfers in, but also at sports and faith classes. Many of her friends are entering K this year, so part of me wants to let her stay in the same grade level as they are -- not just because she's at the same intellectual level as they are, but because they're her peers right now.

I don't know. I still haven't decided. I tell her that (for now) she's K5. We start our new school year in September/October, which is when her birthday falls; we'll play it by ear this year and decide at the end if we want to consider it her official K year OR if we'll graduate from K5 up to "real" Kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year.

My son is the oldest, and loves it. Their dad was the youngest, and hated it. We have another year before we have to worry about church groups and whatnot, so for now ... we're being vague. I never realized how much stupid stuff there was to obsess over LOL.