New student mid-year who knows frighteningly little about…anything really

We had a kid shadow at our school in December, in the 5th grade. He told us he would probably be coming here next school year, in 6th grade. Found out last week that surprise! He’s starting on Monday. Okay, fine.

After talking to him, my coworkers and I are kind of baffled by him. We were just trying to gauge the reason for switching schools mid-year. We asked what school he came from, he didn’t know. Asked if he moved from out of state, he had no idea. Asked what they’d covered in 5th grade at his old school, he had no idea. Asked if he’s sure he’s in 5th grade? No idea. Asked when his birthday is, he had no idea, but he “thinks it’s sometime in the winter.”

Then I talked to the 2nd grade teacher who now has his brother, she said much the same. Actually she said it’s really bad, he doesn’t even know what numbers are. As in, can’t tell 1 from 2, etc.

Another teacher asked our principal what she knew about this kid, and she told us he used to go to a charter school that has since closed, and ever since he’s done online school for the last 3 years, so has his brother. Which I think is looking more like “learned nothing and was never held accountable for anything for the last three years.”

Ugh, getting a new student mid-year is almost always bad news. I guess the bright side is..he seems really nice and doesn’t seem like he would cause trouble? Maybe.