I thought holdbacks weren't a thing on the island.....[/quote]
Define "holdback".... on LI it is done one of two ways. 1) Parents know the advantage of having an older kid in a grade and enter them into school late so that they are, on average, a year older. 2) kid will go from a public school 8th grade to a private school and repeat that grade. They may return to public school the following year or continue on with private school. This debate will never end and it is a legitimate concern when kids are younger and can get hurt by a bigger / stronger kid. By the time they are in HS it is moot. I am not saying that the older kids will not be stronger and bigger but most kids have grown and it is just unfortunate for the late bloomers.