Best private schools for kids with autism and ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Hi - My son is in second grade in Arlington Public Schools and we are worried it's not the best fit for next year. He has autism and ADHD. Classes at his elementary school are too big (he's currently one of 28) and he needs more/different supports: he has slow processing skills, needs executive functioning help, and has social challenges (needs help with social skills, making friends, and is easily influenced by peers to sometimes do the wrong thing).

Do some of these private schools still have Covid precautions in place? Can my husband and I tour campuses?

And any advice on which schools to look into as well? Ok with traveling to DC, MD and elsewhere in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

The main schools specializing in autism are Auburn, Ivymount, and maybe Katherine Thomas. But you'd have to tour to see if they are a good fit for your child. Are you planning on paying tuition yourself or suing for public funding?

[Anonymous]

I recently heard great things about th e Newtown school in Sterling, VA. We are considering for our 1st grader in APS with similar concers you mentioned for your DC. We had our DS in social skills group through our OT and ST clinic, and there were a couple of families form Newton that praised it. Their children got along well with my DS and also seemed pretty HFA with slightly better social skills than my DS. I think they had a bus service pre Covid also.

[Anonymous]

OP, similar profile DS. Attended Ivymount MAP years ago. Very good experience both social-emotional and academic. Cannot speak to current team; call and tour if you can. We are in MD, so not familiar with VA schools.

[Anonymous]

Hi, OP here. Thanks so much for the helpful responses! We will likely pay for tuition ourselves. (Not easily as we may have to move.) We've heard it's extremely difficult to hold Arlington accountable.

Does anyone have any recent Auburn experience? We read a few older posts and found some of them concerning.

[Anonymous]

I would look at Diener.

[Anonymous]

And The Linder Academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And The Linder Academy.

Any specific experience on Linder? NP here and have a child who is gifted, but ADHD and social communication issues.