Help With School Decision

[ezcc]

My DS (7) will be starting his 3rd year in a sudbury school this fall, his sister (5) is planning to start as well. Just yesterday I got a call that he had been admitted to our local Montessori charter. This school is very hard to get in to, and we have entered the lottery for 3 years in a row. DD did not get a spot, but is now a priority to get something if/when it opens up. I am feeling very conflicted- there are a lot of things I like about Montessori, and I think this could be good opportunity but we are leaning towards turning it down. As a family, we have really come to appreciate all the freedom of a sudbury school- we take a yearly 2 week winter vacation with no problems, daily start and end times are flexible, ds is so joyful about school- he loves to play and run whenever he wants, adores his friends and the staff. We are afraid of dealing with the public school system and its rigid schedule, testing etc even though this school has a lot of autonomy it is part of this system. To add one more complication, we are contemplating a move out of this school district in a year or so. If this were to happen, DC could continue at the sudbury school (it is private so we can live where we want) but would have to leave if he was at the charter school. But, ds is extremely easy going and does have a good friend also starting at the montessori school this fall. I'm afraid I might regret if I turn it down. Wondering if anyone has made a similar transition- unschooling or sudbury to Montessori and how it went. Or, general thoughts positive or negative about Montessori.

[kathymuggle]

He loves the school he is in, you love it, assuming cost is not the issue, I would leave him there.

[P.J.]

I would say if it aint broke, don't fix it. Added to that the fact that DS may have to leave the charter school if you move...that would be a lot of school changes in a few years, which is just stress for him and you.

[ezcc]

Thanks to you both! That is what we have decided, I spoke with them yesterday and they felt DD would probably not get a slot this year- I was really looking forward to having them in the same school this year so we are proceeding as planned.