Originally Posted by Anonymous
pre1st is not just for summer birthdays as the poster suggests. It is most often simply an extra year that private schools encourage before starting first grade. Regardless of why it is done, and would agree it is not done for sports reasons, it does make kids up to a full year older then their counterparts . If they need to do it for academics and socialization, it is great. For sports they should remain in the grade that their age would dictate by that state's standards. Most holdbacks go to MIAA schools which after taking a pre-1st then gives them up to a 2 year age advantage.


Many children and parents at MIAA schools have no choice about prefirst. If their child is born in June,July,Aug they are strongly encouraged not to go on to first grade. Basically they couldn't take on the high academic standards of First grade or their kindergarten student wasn't mature to take on the rigors of first grade. This is prior to first grade. The class has its on grade and classroom called prefirst.

But any parent may have his child held back in kindergarten regardless of birthday. And many MIAA ( along with many other private schools) take advantage of this. If you think the only reason is maturity it isnt. Why have your child behind a bunch of older children. Many parents with high income see that, and hold their children back. I noticed that many children held back without summer birthdays were children of parents who had played sports at a high level.

There is so many children heldback at these schools there is NO STIGMA attached to it, Actually many prefirst kids are told that they will be the leaders in first grade by their teachers. Which they should be as they will be a year older than the rest. Some assimilate without a problem in lower grades but many look out of place at these young ages.Worst part to me is many of these children shouldnt have been held back.

It probably would have remained a private school thing except that it has now had some impact on youth lacrosse. and people are passionate about lacrosse in Balt.