Private schools for kids with dyslexia + ADHD?
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Anonymous
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Not looking for specialized schools like Lab or Siena. I’m interested in which mainstream private schools best support a kid with the following profile:
- Dyslexia - ADHD (hyperactivity type); mild 99th percentile IQ with particularly strong visual-spatial reasoning and math abilities Strong interest and aptitude in the arts We’re currently at a K-8, but I’m trying to get a sense of our options moving forward. |
Anonymous
| Are you looking for remediation at school or just accommodations? What accommodations are needed? |
Anonymous
| Boy or Girl? Would you consider single sex? |
Anonymous
Orton Gillingham tutoring (private tutoring with someone who comes into the school) Extra time on language arts tasks Access to software/technology tools to assist with absorbing written materials For the ADHD, it’s mostly about movement breaks |
Anonymous
Girl, lower ES age. Definitely think she’d be happy with single sex, though she enjoys her co-ed school. |
Anonymous
I think you should look at McLean School in Potomac. There are also "sporty" schools that have varying levels of tolerance for LDs like GP, Bullis, and some of the parochial schools. |
Anonymous
| Is it not even worth considering the more academically rigorous schools? It’s tough because her intellectual abilities are very strong. One of those tough 2E kids. |
Anonymous
The issue is that school gets harder and harder as the years go on. Maybe with remediation she’ll be able to handle a heavy workload, but it is not easy. You’ll have to see how it goes. |
Anonymous
| Every single school has at least some support for ADHD, particularly if your kid is in the 99% of IQ. If the dyslexia is under control and manageable with support, again, every single school supports this. |
Anonymous
| I have a 2E kid in an early grade at Siena and it's going great so far. But I respect if you've seen it in action and determined that it's not for your kid. |
Anonymous
| Linder is a possibility. All kids get OG, and she can take math classes above grade level. |
Anonymous
Remediate first, then switch to more rigor. It’s worked great for my 2e child, also dyslexia. Originally DC also had a mild ADHD (inattentive) diagnosis, but the results of the most recent retest (you have to retest every 4-5 years) no longer met the ADHD definition. Does have mild anxiety as well that we’re keeping an eye on; does not meet an official GAD diagnosis and we hope it never does. We did remediation in 1st-4th (O-G 3 or 4 times per week, at school), then switched to a k-8 with an excellent learning center that gave the support needed to build EF skills, study skills, and self-advocacy skills (but no further remediation needed at that point), and then switched to a HS that provides needed accommodations (just standard ones needed now—extra time, spelling doesn’t count on tests/in-class work, etc). DC had a scheduled time slot in the learning center as a freshman and now no longer even needs that, although the center is always available as a resource for any kid with accommodations at anytime during their 4 years in the HS. So yes, a traditional/mainstream school may be a great fit—the doc who did our testing even recommended *against* a specialized school for dyslexic students, because it wouldn’t provide enough academic challenge—but possibly not until late ES/MS, after further remediation. |
Anonymous
| Do you mind mentioning which K-8 had the good learning center? And then the HS that has one? Would be helpful to know for my DS. |
Anonymous
Congressional, but the learning center director who was there when DC went there left. I have heard good things about the new director but have no personal experience. Then to SSSAS. |
Anonymous
PP again, just to add—I know the hate that both of these schools get on this board, but they were/are *fantastic* for my kid and we wouldn’t change a thing. |