US vs Canada

[Cristy 4]

I have 3 kids who will be moving to the US with me. I am a bit concerned about schooling. I have not been given any clear answers as to what grade they will be in. I assumed it would be the same grade, but have been told they may need to test because they may be ahead or behind.

I would like to hear from anyone who has gone from Canada to the US with kids.

[Mermaid 0]

Hello!

Sorry, can't help you much. I am wondering the same thing. My oldest will hopefully be attending school in the US in September. I am hoping she will not have to repeat her present grade level. Have you tryed contacting the school district where your children will attend school? Good luck!

[KarenCee 3]

Cristy and Mermaid....do you have your children's records from their previous schools? The school where they will attend will definately want to see their scores (i.e. any grades or testings they've done). From my experience, they will most likely look at that to determine where they'll be placed. If testing is needed they will most likely inform you right then, when you register them. Unless they are seriously behind academically, I doubt they will be placed below their current grade level. BUT, keep in mind, this is just MY opinion...the only experience I've had with kids being registered from a different country were the few that have come in to my school from Mexico and Guatemala...and they didnt speak English, so we had to place them as best we could.

Just make sure you have all their school records, birth cert, immunizations, and if you've had to get permission from your ex to bring them to the US, might ought to have that too. If I think of anything else, I'll post it. Hope this helps

[Peggy 1]

My son started school here in August/05. He graded from grade 10 in Canada, but when he got to the school here they put him in grade 9 Needless to say I took him out of that school. They told me the credit system is different then in Canada. There was no way that I was making my 16 year old son go back to grade 9 after already completing that grade plus grade 10 at home.

So he left that school and is now in GED classes to get his grade 12. Not what we had hoped for as I wanted him to graduate from high school, but I wasnt making him go back two grades. To me that is taking steps backwards instead of forward. Plus the teachers at his school were always rubbing it in his face where he was from. Saying they didnt care that he was from Canada. Making fun of him cause he didnt know the American Athem. Dam I dont even know that. Just like those kids or teachers wouldnt know our Athem if they came to Canada. Another thing that the teachers did was make fun of him in front of the other students there. My son hated it there. Told me he sat by himself at lunch that noone talked to him. That broke my heart hearing the ####### he was going thru at that school so I took him out. Now this is just our experience from the school down here. Which is suppose to be one of the better schools here. Yeh right.

We even called the school board and they never returned my calls. I left tons of messages and never heard a thing back. So thats our story. Not all schools are like this I am sure. We just got the shitty end of the stick at that school. I guess they didnt care about him cause he aint American. Sad but true. So good luck to anyone that has to put there kids in a new school. I think it will be easier for smaller kids to start a new school. It just wasnt a good experience for us................

Edited March 5, 2006 by pink_roses

[Cristy 4]

Yikes not a good experience at all! My kids are a little worried. Their school now is K-8 with less than 300 students. My twins will be in a school that is K-6 with over 600 and my oldest should be in a middle school (7&8) with 1200 kids and uniforms!!

I would hate to think they would be made fun of for not knowing American things like the anthem or Presidents. We are working on it a bit right now. Spelling concerns me too because we do have a few differences.

I hope they do not put them back a grade. I feel it would be an added stress they don't need...new home, new country, new family...

[KarenCee 3]

My son started school here in August/05. He graded from grade 10 in Canada, but when he got to the school here they put him in grade 9 Needless to say I took him out of that school. They told me the credit system is different then in Canada. There was no way that I was making my 16 year old son go back to grade 9 after already completing that grade plus grade 10 at home.

So he left that school and is now in GED classes to get his grade 12. Not what we had hoped for as I wanted him to graduate from high school, but I wasnt making him go back two grades. To me that is taking steps backwards instead of forward. Plus the teachers at his school were always rubbing it in his face where he was from. Saying they didnt care that he was from Canada. Making fun of him cause he didnt know the American Athem. Dam I dont even know that. Just like those kids or teachers wouldnt know our Athem if they came to Canada. Another thing that the teachers did was make fun of him in front of the other students there. My son hated it there. Told me he sat by himself at lunch that noone talked to him. That broke my heart hearing the ####### he was going thru at that school so I took him out. No this is just our experience from the school down here. Which is suppose to be one of the better schools here. Yeh right.

We even called the school board and they never returned my calls. I left tons of messages and never heard a thing back. So thats our story. Not all schools are like this I am sure. We just got the shitty end of the stick at that school. I guess they didnt care about him cause he aint American. Sad but true. So good luck to anyone that has to put there kids in a new school. I think it will be easier for smaller kids to start a new school. It just wasnt a good experience for us................

Now that makes me mad....that was totally uncalled for....especially from the teachers. I don't blame you one bit for taking him out! You are right though, not all schools are like that and I have to brag about ours...we have one of the best around as far as teachers and staff. I know he would have been welcomed here. I do know you and your son would have been treated with way more respect than he got there at that school. Makes me wanna write to them, as a fellow educator, and tell their arses off!!!! How dare they treat a student like that! (steam comin out my ears!)

[Fuzzness 2]

[Peggy 1]

Yeh it wasnt a good experience that is for sure. I felt so bad for my son. He couldnt sleep at nite worrying about going there everyday, and I lay awake at nite questioning me bringing him here to put him thru this #######

So I just hope that everyone elses experiences are better than what we went thru. He just hated going there everyday knowing he would have to face all that ###### thrown in his face. He was so good to go to school at home too. I would call him once to get him up and he would be up and in the shower. He liked going to school at home.

Your right Cristy we didnt need this extra stress in our lives. Moving to a new Country at the age of 16 for a child is hard enough. He left all his family and friends behind so he could be with me. Hes my youngest son and is very close to me.

I just wish you all good luck with the schools and your children

[wally 0]

I've had a good experience with my son in Grade 5 and my daughter as a Sophomore, grade 10. He moved in October and was placed in the same grade he was in Canada. He is, however, the youngest cause of the cut off date for birthdays. In Ontario, it's the calendar year. Academically my son is well ahead of the standards here. The school board and staff were attentive and very willing to discuss his needs.

The high school proved to be more challenging in switching from one system to the other. The school here works under a 'traditional system'...same classes all year whereas the one in Ontario was semesters. She completed her first semester then moved at the beginning of Feb. here. There was no testing but because she had already missed the first 4 weeks of the second term here, my daughter was placed in grade 9 and 10 math as the principal believed she would not be prepared for the Junior year math here. Within a few weeks she has since proven she is far beyond the standards here and has been allowed to 'clip' out of some courses, obtain the credits and advance in grade. They have accepted the credits she attained in Canada and in fact will probably graduate with more credits then that are required.

Moving into a small town have made my children somewhat of a novelty to their friends...the pronounciation of some words, idioms...Imperial vs. Metric etc etc.

[Peggy 1]

Your lucky then.

Thats good to hear

[wally 0]

yes we did get lucky. I'm sure it's symptomatic of living in a small town and my previous job was in education so I knew where and when to lean on the school board here.

[Cristy 4]

Ohhhhh I did not even think of the imperial metric thing. I had thought of the Fahrenheit Celsius and we are working on that. Lots to learn!

[Peggy 1]

Yup, totally different then in Canada.

[daisy16 0]

This is from an Ontario HS teacher/guidance counsellor who has worked with kids moving to the US and moving to Canada, and trying to get hired in the NY public school system as well as attend post secondary education. I'm afraid I have not much good to say and many cautions. My comments below are based on my experiences only.

- here in US, it is assumed that the education system is superior to EVERY OTHER country in the world

- actually, many US students are BEHIND, think 2 years difference

- do NOT put up with BS - have them TEST your child for math and English Language (reading, writing) skills. Many states have grade by grade level testing now (NY does) the conversions for math are no big deal

- kids who are too "SMART" for the grade they are in WILL be bored which will result in behaviour problems, perhaps dropping out, hating school, etc

- do NOT put up with the school board ignoring you, it is easier for them to do that, but you HAVE to do what's best for your kids - school has such an important influence on them, especially when they move, and you want it to be a good one

- document, document, document - educators pay attention to paper - know who you spoke to when, for how long and what you discussed

This situation is one that frustrates me greatly on many levels since I'm dealing with it in several contexts.

If you need specific info, please PM me.

Edited March 5, 2006 by daisy16

[KarenCee 3]

This is from an Ontario HS teacher/guidance counsellor who has worked with kids moving to the US and moving to Canada, and trying to get hired in the NY public school system as well as attend post secondary education. I'm afraid I have not much good to say and many cautions. My comments below are based on my experiences only.

- here in US, it is assumed that the education system is superior to EVERY OTHER country in the world

- actually, many US students are BEHIND, think 2 years difference

- do NOT put up with BS - have them TEST your child for math and English Language (reading, writing) skills. Many states have grade by grade level testing now (NY does) the conversions for math are no big deal

- kids who are too "SMART" for the grade they are in WILL be bored which will result in behaviour problems, perhaps dropping out, hating school, etc

- do NOT put up with the school board ignoring you, it is easier for them to do that, but you HAVE to do what's best for your kids - school has such an important influence on them, especially when they move, and you want it to be a good one

- document, document, document - educators pay attention to paper - know who you spoke to when, for how long and what you discussed

This situation is one that frustrates me greatly on many levels since I'm dealing with it in several contexts.

If you need specific info, please PM me.

I agree! I teach in the same system that my daughter attends...and I've had to be on top of things where her education is concerned. Granted we have a great school system, but you still have the occasional teacher that you have to stay on top of. My daughter is in special education classes and that's where I have to stay on top of things. No school system is perfect and certainly NOT here in the US (regardless of what the masses think!) Parents have to be proactive in their kids education. When administration doesn't listen, document. When the teacher won't listen, document. Like Daisy....document, document, document. Paper speaks very loud sometimes Write down dates and names when you talk to anyone within the school system.

Good luck Cristy