One thing I thought of (I'm math oriented), is why would it be four schools…if you move him to a private school for first grade, wouldn't he be able to stay at that school for second grade (making it just three schools in four or more years). I know you are moving and that would affect public school boundaries but the boundaries for most private schools are much larger (really limited only by your willingness to handle transportation issues that don't arise in public school)!

Another thing to consider…are any of the other parents considering private school for their child…if your child could go with even one friend from kindergarten that would make the transition that much easier.

My son attended three schools in five years…a private preschool in Colorado for a year, a private preschool/kindergarten here (Texas) for three years, and now a public elementary school. I remember being concerned when I decided to let him stay in the private school for kindergarten because I knew that with the geographic dispersion of the school, if he didn't get admitted to the special "magnet" school (public school that serves the entire city), he would lose most if not all of his friends when he went to a different private or public school for first grade!

Fortunately, he got into the special public school and he started 1st grade with six of the kids from his kindergarten class in his classroom (including his two best friends) and another 15 or so (out of 25 total) at the same school. He adapted to first grade almost immediately and is getting a fantastic educational experience to boot!

I don't think three or even four different schools would necessarily be a bad idea…but I firmly believe that first grade is the most important grade! For me, if the choice was stability (and convenience) or stellar first grade experience, I'd have to go with the educational experience. We're just over three months into first grade and I can't begin to describe the amount of growth and learning I've seen in my son because he is having a beyond stellar first grade experience with classmates that are his academic peers! (our neighborhood school is about 65% English as a 2nd language). I (and other people I know) "checked out" of school in the first grade because we were bored…and while I managed to check back in during college, I lost a lot of years because I wasn't encouraged (or even allowed) to push my limits in first grade! I have no doubt that if my son was in the neighborhood school, he'd already be bored (we had a few problems with that at the very beginning of school before the teacher had the chance to do assessment testing to figure out where to start each child). Instead, he's already on 2nd grade math and his reading level has jumped nearly a full grade level in just three months because he's at a school that challenges students to learn and advance!

if you fail classes here, as long as you take summer school OR take the classes over (i think your sons too young to do that, thats high school)

anyways i dont see why they would say that, UNLESS your son goes to some sort of magnet or advanced school like i did where you could not retake classes.

i would call your local school board and get info and question this, maybe make an appointment and take it up with a higher official at the school board.

but than again, schools in florida ARE terrible.

sorry ALSO the only ways that i know of how to actually hold someone back is if your child fails the FCAT. if he attends summer school, im PRETTY sure they cant do that, ive never heard of it before.