All I can say is that my child was adamant about staying on at a school that was a bad fit for him because he was amongst "friends" - a small group of kids that he was trying desperately to fit into so that fitting in with those "friends" became all important to him. He is also very affectionate and loyal to his teachers and felt upset that leaving that school might not be the "right thing" to do to his teachers whom he loved. We waited out the school year and transfered him to a new school that was academically rigorous. He now says that he "did not know" that there were such other options available and that he is very happy in this new school and asks me why I did not move him to this school sooner!
So, your child's point of view might be very restricted and driven by emotions and she may not even be aware of what she is gaining or missing by choosing either option. As a parent, it is up to us to sense what our child's needs are and ensure that they are met. Friendships develop in all kinds of schools, and in all the schools we have been to, the kids are split up and moved to different classrooms every year. So, they hardly stick with the same "friends" for more than a year.
Choose the option that you think is the best fit for your child.
