Daughter dealing with mean girls

[u/That-Feeling-2753]

Hi, I guess I’m posting her for some advice, bear with me it’s a little long.

My 11 year old daughter has had the same group of friends since 3rd grade. It’s a group of 7 girls and around 4th grade I noticed a lot of mean girl behavior. They have one girl who is the group leader and when she decides to pick on someone she gets the whole group in on it, they all listen to her. Unfortunately, two of the girls get picked on the most and one of them happens to be my daughter. My daughter has come home crying and upset before and she completely stopped FaceTiming them after school because it would always end up in an argument. My daughter is a quiet kid, I wish she would stand up for herself more but she doesn’t. We have had multiple conversations about it and she has expressed wanting to leave the friend group, however she always ends up staying with them because she doesn’t think she can make other friends. she’s also afraid they will spread rumors and talk about her to other kids in the school. It’s a little frustrating to me that she continues to be friends with them but I don’t want to push her into doing something is doesn’t want to even though I think it would be best for her.

My daughter will be starting middle school next year and our home school will be the same school her group of friends will go to as well. We have an option of putting her in a different middle school, within our school district. My daughter does not want to go to another school because she’s said she won’t know anyone. I feel like she won’t leave her friend group if she stays in the same school as them and that’s why I want to move her to a different school. I want her to have the opportunity to make new friends and I don’t think she will if she’s around her current friends. What would you do in this situation? I know middle school is already difficult and I don’t want to make it worse by moving her but at the same time I know her group of friends are going to continue to pick on her if she stays with them. Give me some advice, please!