answer:I moved when I was starting the 5th grade. The move was actually more upsetting than starting at a new school. Leaving my friends made me sad. Once in my new house, and becoming familar with my new environment the school change was secondary. It helped that I had over a month before school started. Elementary is very different than higher grades though. Kids who are older, especially for girls, I would want to get an idea of what girls are wearing (if there is no uniform) and visit the school to get the lay out since they will be changing classes. If the move happens when the child would be changing schools anyway, like starting jr high or starting high school, then I would point that out to then so it does not feel like it is many more changes than what would have been happening where they lived before. I think so much of it depends on the personality of the particular child, and how they fit in at school. A very popular girl in high school might be very discombobulated at first when nobody knows her at the new school. A child who was hating school previously because they were being bullied or teased might be thrilled with the new school (I have seen this happen more than once).