Kiddo struggling academically in HS, how to get into private…
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Anonymous
| Our 10th grader is struggling in a few subjects.. he failed two classes first semester of current year and hasn’t improved much this semester. He is smart and doing great socially. He actually did very well the first semester of 9th grade (he was very motivated at the point). However, we are pretty sure he has ADHD inattentive type and in a 3000 students HS has basically fallen through the cracks and everything is overwhelming to him. He has had EF coaches, tutors etc and are getting him formally evaluated in a few weeks. People sometimes say “have you considered transferring him to a private HS with smaller classes?” that sounds like it would be a good option but, what private HS would take him with that low of a GPA!? I do hear about kids being transferred to private in the middle of HS but how does that happen!? How to advocate for our kiddo in that regard? The public HS is massive and very few adults there (including the counselor) are truly making true connections with students, let alone with the quiet, shy, inattentive kids :/. Anyone has faced a similar situation and was able to get student into private? Thank you for any sensitive feedback. Cross posted |
Anonymous
|
By the high number you’re sharing I’m guessing this is Blair? If you name the high school people might be better able to point you to resources in the school.
BTW based on what you posted, I’m not sure if moving to private will solve the issue. And if he’s doing well socially, I’d be hesitant to yank him out of there. You need to do more root-cause analysis as to why he’s failing his classes. |
Anonymous
Thanks. Yes. Socially is great. He is very social and would likely adapt quickly (he has this tendency). The HS isn’t Blair. It’s one of the “Ws”. |
Anonymous
| Maybe a school like McLean that focuses on mild special needs. |
Anonymous
| Might do better posting on a private school forum. |
Anonymous
|
If it’s Wootton you’ve placed him in serious pressure cooker from the most intense first Gen folks in the DMV - think Hunger Games was challenging? Wootton is it. We left cluster in elementary - and never looked back.
Neuropsychology evaluation is first step. And fast given junior year is months away. |
Anonymous
| At this point you’d need a school that has rolling admissions - like Parkmont. But that would be very socially limiting. |
Anonymous
Or special needs. |
Anonymous
Is it worse than other W schools? -Not OP |
Anonymous
| You need to start with an evaluation and figure out what is going on. |
Anonymous
|
First thing get neuropsych testing and report. Then hire educational consultant to see if he qualifies for an IEP. If so, he will most likely be placed in mainstream classes where there are 2 teachers, one of which gives extra help to the IEP kids. He can also take a Connections class which is basically a study hall with support. My DC is in a W school and gets more support than they did at their prior private school.
McLean will not accept a student with poor grades for high school. |
Anonymous
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Is this WJ? They're great there, but you do have to be proactive because it is so large.
Switching schools for 11&12 is pretty hard on the kid. Are you planning retakes of the failed classes in summer school? We do know people who switched from WJ to Catholic high school after 9th because of similar issues |