9th grader with recent ADHD diagnosis, looking for a new school

[Anonymous]

Very bright boy with a relatively recent ADHD diagnosis. He's in 9th grade and his small private school isn't giving him the support he needs, even though we have tried to work with them. We're considering moving him for 10th grade if we can find him a slot at a place that would be supportive. Preference for Maryland or DC but Virginia for the right place. Dematha looks like it could be a good option, also potentially Sandy Spring Friends or St. John's. (Again, not sure if it is possible to transfer into these places in 10th grade). Could people please make suggestions for me to look?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

What type of support does your son need?

[Anonymous]

Yes it's possible. Have you looked at Field or Burke?

[Anonymous]

It is absolutely possible to transfer into SSFS in 10th (and 11th, and 12th). My DC doesn't have ADHD, but has needed some extra support through some medical issues, and the teachers have been really fantastic about making sure that they have what they need to succeed. There are also learning specialists that would probably be more help with an ADHD diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

What supports does he need that he's not getting?

Our experience has been that all the mainstream private schools offer pretty much the same accommodations, although their expectations for everyone are different, which means you might not need the same accommodations at a school with lower expectations. Commonwealth or McLean offer more executive function skills teaching (as opposed to just accommodations).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What supports does he need that he's not getting?

Our experience has been that all the mainstream private schools offer pretty much the same accommodations, although their expectations for everyone are different, which means you might not need the same accommodations at a school with lower expectations. Commonwealth or McLean offer more executive function skills teaching (as opposed to just accommodations).

Eh, not all schools do. Potomac does not want any neurodiversity for example. They are not interested in accommodating.

OP, I’m in VA so I don’t have good insights for MD/DC schools, but did you cross-post on the special needs board? They will have a lot more familiarity and insights to share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very bright boy with a relatively recent ADHD diagnosis. He's in 9th grade and his small private school isn't giving him the support he needs, even though we have tried to work with them. We're considering moving him for 10th grade if we can find him a slot at a place that would be supportive. Preference for Maryland or DC but Virginia for the right place. Dematha looks like it could be a good option, also potentially Sandy Spring Friends or St. John's. (Again, not sure if it is possible to transfer into these places in 10th grade). Could people please make suggestions for me to look?

Thank you.

We are happy with Fusion Academy - highly customized one on one teaching. It has campuses in NW DC, Rockville, and Tysons. For socialization, they have homework cafes where students hang out plus field trips on Fridays or weekends. However, it is expensive. It is not for everyone but worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Dematha? That's a big catholic high school. Not sure how that would be more supportive than the other private.

Lab School.

[Anonymous]

Schools to consider

Public - GTLD program in MC, need testing that clearly indicates student is gifted (top 5%) in some areas while challenged in others, and not able to fully achieve potential in mainstream settings. This is often the case with very bright students with ADHD.

Private -
Fusion Academy (campuses in all three parts of DMV)
Commonwealth, NoVa.
MacClean School, Potomac
Nora School, Silver Spring
Sienna, (campuses in Silver Spring and NoVa some where now)
Sandy Spring Friends School
Field School
Edmund Burke (they will say they have limited supports and are not a therapeutic school)

Probably more in our area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What supports does he need that he's not getting?

Our experience has been that all the mainstream private schools offer pretty much the same accommodations, although their expectations for everyone are different, which means you might not need the same accommodations at a school with lower expectations. Commonwealth or McLean offer more executive function skills teaching (as opposed to just accommodations).

Eh, not all schools do. Potomac does not want any neurodiversity for example. They are not interested in accommodating.

OP, I’m in VA so I don’t have good insights for MD/DC schools, but did you cross-post on the special needs board? They will have a lot more familiarity and insights to share.

They all have to offer things like 150% time for exams, but I agree with you that schools' attitudes vary widely.

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth in Alexandria but that might be further than you want to go. Also take a look at McLean School in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools to consider

Public - GTLD program in MC, need testing that clearly indicates student is gifted (top 5%) in some areas while challenged in others, and not able to fully achieve potential in mainstream settings. This is often the case with very bright students with ADHD.

Private -
Fusion Academy (campuses in all three parts of DMV)
Commonwealth, NoVa.
MacClean School, Potomac
Nora School, Silver Spring
Sienna, (campuses in Silver Spring and NoVa some where now)
Sandy Spring Friends School
Field School
Edmund Burke (they will say they have limited supports and are not a therapeutic school)

Probably more in our area.

Also Good Counsel in Olney has a special multi sensory program for bright students with learning differences. I think yiu have to be admitted in grade 9 though but not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools to consider

Public - GTLD program in MC, need testing that clearly indicates student is gifted (top 5%) in some areas while challenged in others, and not able to fully achieve potential in mainstream settings. This is often the case with very bright students with ADHD.

Private -
Fusion Academy (campuses in all three parts of DMV)
Commonwealth, NoVa.
MacClean School, Potomac
Nora School, Silver Spring
Sienna, (campuses in Silver Spring and NoVa some where now)
Sandy Spring Friends School
Field School
Edmund Burke (they will say they have limited supports and are not a therapeutic school)

Probably more in our area.

Also Good Counsel in Olney has a special multi sensory program for bright students with learning differences. I think yiu have to be admitted in grade 9 though but not sure.

We were told for the Ryken and Benilde programs at Good Counsel and St. John’s that you had to begin there in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What supports does he need that he's not getting?

Our experience has been that all the mainstream private schools offer pretty much the same accommodations, although their expectations for everyone are different, which means you might not need the same accommodations at a school with lower expectations. Commonwealth or McLean offer more executive function skills teaching (as opposed to just accommodations).

Eh, not all schools do. Potomac does not want any neurodiversity for example. They are not interested in accommodating.

OP, I’m in VA so I don’t have good insights for MD/DC schools, but did you cross-post on the special needs board? They will have a lot more familiarity and insights to share.

They all have to offer things like 150% time for exams, but I agree with you that schools' attitudes vary widely.

Not necessarily. Private schools are subject to ADA laws but a lot of learning-based issues like dyslexia and ADD can fall under Section 504 (in public school, ADA accommodations would have an IEP, and other things have a 504 Plan). Private schools that receive no federal funding are not subject to Section 504. So if the school refused to accommodate, you’d have to prove that ADA applies and not just Section 504.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools to consider

Public - GTLD program in MC, need testing that clearly indicates student is gifted (top 5%) in some areas while challenged in others, and not able to fully achieve potential in mainstream settings. This is often the case with very bright students with ADHD.

Private -
Fusion Academy (campuses in all three parts of DMV)
Commonwealth, NoVa.
MacClean School, Potomac
Nora School, Silver Spring
Sienna, (campuses in Silver Spring and NoVa some where now)
Sandy Spring Friends School
Field School
Edmund Burke (they will say they have limited supports and are not a therapeutic school)

Probably more in our area.

Siena definitely, definitely not! They only take kids with language-based learning differences. They do NOT take ADHD cases unless they are both very mild and accompanied by a language-based learning difference.