Harbor School for child with dev delays?

[Anonymous]

A few friends have mentioned the Harbor School to me as a potential good fit for my son, so I am hoping for feedback from parents who have sent a child there.

My son is 5.5 and in a PEP collaboration class (inclusion model). He is doing very well and is slated to be mainstreamed with an IEP and some therapy support for next year. Our home school is Wood Acres, with its 25:1 student:teacher ratio, and I am very worried about his chances of success there. Off the record, both his spec ed teacher and the parent educator at his school have advised us to look into private alternatives because they fear the rapid academics and huge classrooms will overwhelm him.

His dx are apraxia, developmental delays, and low tone. He is also extremely shy and with his enormous communication issues, has a lot of trouble with casual social interactions with peers. He is VERY talkative with adults and with children he knows well and knows they will understand him, but he is shy in a large group. In a morning preschool class (mainstream class) he has made nice friends, but they are all 3-4 yrs old, so a good 1-2 yrs younger than he (they are his developmental peers). In short, he is a sweet child, just very very young.

Harbor's website suggests that it is a place that values personal growth and creativity as much as academic preparation and emphasizes maturity as well as citizenship in the school. I like what I read, and if I am reading correctly between the lines, it sounds like a good place for my son. Does anyone have personal experience with the school who can provide feedback on it? Is the school open to a child with challenges like my son's but no real behavioral challenges? I should add that he apparently is smart (not outstanding but smart enough) and knows his letters and numbers and all that. We're much less concerned about him getting an academic preparation aqt this point and much more concerned about not throwing him in way over his head into a mainstream K class in MCPS.

Thanks for any feedback anyone may have,

[Anonymous]

We looked at Harbor for our child with mild-moderate needs. In the end of the process, they decided my child was not a good fit for the school because of the number of transitions during the day (there are many, with many different teachers). If your child does not require much transistion support or redirection, no OT issues, and is somewhat independent, I think it would be fine. I actually loved the school and the very warm, small environment. I think it just depends on your child and what support he really needs. If its just the small classroom environment you are after and nurturing teachers/atmosphere - it may be a good fit and definitely worth a look.

It is my understanding that they can have the SLP come in as needed (for a fee), they do not have an OT on staff or on a consulting basis, like the SLP (or they did not when we looked), nor did they have a social worker. If those are things you think you would want -be sure to ask.

The other piece that was a little hard on my child was that they wanted my DC there for an entire day for the playdate as opposed to an hour or two. That was very difficult - esp. with the communication issues that sound a lot like your child - being around new children not particularly easy for kids with such difficulties. Just something to be aware of.

We also looked at Lowell but did not get a spot. If you want more info and feel comfortable posting your email - feel free to post.
Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'd love to hear more about where you ended up. My email address is [e-mail].

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I don't think you have anything to lose by talking with Val and Steven (Head and Assistant Head) about it. They are very approachable. Our DC has some challenges, and we've worked together on how best to address those challenges and keep moving forward. The school is warm and welcoming, and we were struck with how unpretentious it is, especially after visiting so many other schools that reeked with self-importance. The small class sizes, personal attention, and focus on the young child can't be beat. Can you tell that we're very happy there?!

[Anonymous]

OP -- You should consider Maddux School. It's FANTASTIC!! It only goes through 1st, but will go thru 2nd

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiosity, are there a lot of children with SN at Harbor School? Also, in 1st and 2nd grade, is there a higher percentage of SN kids than there are in the lower grades? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

No, that's not our impression.

[Anonymous]

Re Maddux. It is not fantastic anymore. We are there and not enrolling for next year. The teachers have no special ed or dev delay backgrounds and made it a regimented program without accomodations and sensory breaks. The founders were good but they are NOT the teachers so be careful about choosing Maddux.

[Anonymous]

to the maddux poster -- i am a current parent, too, and we are having a FANTASTIC year. what class is your child in?

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you should start a separate Maddux post?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Please keep the Maddux conversation going!!

I've received a few off-list emails from folks (thanks!), several of which have encouraged us to look at Maddux, so I'd love to hear from anyone who has feedback on the place as well.

And for others - if not Harbor or Maddux, then where else? We are coming late to the game here. We had assumed we'd do Woodacres, but the private conversations with the teacher and parent educator at our son's school have completely thrown us.

Finally - it's hysterical how many of us who are taking part in this conversation actually know each other from other venues...judging from the emails I've received from people off-list.

[Anonymous]

I've heard Children's Learning Center in Rockville is inclusive but I rarely hear it discussed as an option (I started a thread about it this week).

[Anonymous]

Maddux is great (new poster). We are very happy. All of our kids are different so it may not be the best place for all kids but you should check it out and make a decision based on your child's needs. I think there is an open house coming up or you could just call and ask to see it. I know new kids have been accepted for next year but there might still be space but I would get on it quick if you are serious. We looked at Harbor last year for our child but we did not think it was right for him at the time. I am sure it's a nice school and many kids are successful there but it would not have been the best choice for my child. Don't know much about CLC but it's far for me and was not interested in driving there each day. Not sure how old your child is but there are also schools in DC that might work for your child. Lab, Kingsbury Day, Chlesea school (they start in 3rd I think). Good luck!