Every year, a handful of students come to school already soaring past grade-level expectations each year. For these advanced students, questions may arise as to whether or not it would be beneficial for them to skip a grade so that they can be challenged academically. Around 80 years ago, skipping grades was a common way to help kids who weren't being challenged in school. However, skipping a grade is no longer the right way to help kids who are academically above their grade level. Students who are above average in their academic knowledge should not look to skipping a grade as a solution. Instead of having students skip a grade, the district and teachers should recommend and put the student in more advanced or accelerated classes.
Students looking to skip a grade might be advanced academically, but emotionally they may not have the maturity or social skills needed to socialize with older students. As a result, students may struggle with conversation or forming meaningful connections with their classmates due to their age gap. For example, group projects or collaborative activities could be challenging for younger students if their emotional response to feedback and stress differs from their classmates, making the experience feel like they are navigating a confusing maze. These emotional differences could further hinder students' ability to make friends and meet new people leaving them feeling isolated and alone.
Another thing to consider is whether the student is fully ready to skip a grade in all academic categories. For instance, maybe the student is outstanding at math, but not in other subjects. In this case, skipping a grade might create more problems than it solves. Having a strong educational foundation is necessary as it is key in helping students’ later learning and development as they progress throughout life.
In addition, while skipping a grade could provide students with more advanced content and classes, they might not be prepared for the increased workload. With harder classes comes more work and effort. Students who are used to breezing through class could struggle to acclimate to the fast-paced environment of a higher grade. Furthermore, students who are used to being at the top of their class may not stay there when transferred up a grade, which could negatively impact their confidence and self-esteem. The sudden change in where the student academically stands could leave the student with feelings of frustration and lack of motivation, causing burnout and leaving them in a worse situation than the one in which they started.
Moreover, students who are younger than their classmates by a large margin might be singled out by their classmates. Students may be bullied for being shorter or looking younger than their peers. Skipping a grade can feel like a thrilling experience, but between the new adjustments to skipping a grade, and being taunted or teased for being younger, students who skip a grade may feel overwhelmed or discouraged. This could negatively affect their mental health as well.
While it may occasionally be beneficial for students to skip a grade, this is rarely the best option. According to a 2016 study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, a substantial amount of students in the U.S. are performing above their current grade level. Instead of moving students up a grade, schools should be teaching and providing more challenging content through differentiated instruction. Additionally, for students who find themselves advanced in certain areas, taking outside courses or accelerated classes would be the best solution. This provides students with the opportunity to be challenged academically while still laughing, learning, and growing alongside their friends.
While every child has a unique set of needs, skipping a grade is not an ideal choice for students who find themselves academically advanced. Students may face many problems when they choose to skip a grade that can be easily avoided by using alternate methods of advancing students' learning material. In this respect, students would remain socially connected, as well as academically challenged.