All girls HS for ADHD

[Anonymous]

We are going to be applying for upper school in the fall.

We are most interested in NCS Holton and Stone Ridge, maybe Madeira. (Searched websites and this board). We know a couple girls at SR and NCS but no one at Madeira and one at Holton but not close with any.

Coming from public, our daughter has had mild ADHD (inattentive type) with medication since elementary school and a full neuropsych report mostly recommends extended time on tests.

I would love any first hand advice from any parents of ADHD girls at these schools and if you would recommend or avoid any of them. Open to another all-girls option we could consider.

She is happy, active/athlete, loves math, science, and social studies. She is less motivated in classes she doesn’t like, but she does the work. She is very social. She likes volunteering and taking on leadership roles. We hope for a place that balances work and fun in a school community where she will find friendly students. We want a partnership with the school that’s focused on well-being and preparing strong girls for college and the world.

Honestly, it’s hard to say which school stands out. I know to wait for the application and tours to give me a feel and ultimately it will be her choice, assuming she get into more than one. But I would love some real talk on this anonymous board!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think if the school is otherwise a good fit, any of them will be fine and able to accommodate a mild, medicated distraction-type ADHD. They are all strong academically. NCS is definitely the most pressure cooker type of the bunch, Madeira’s mod schedule is very different and not right for everyone but has some great benefits if it’s a good fit, and SR is Catholic with the extra elements of a Catholic education (which could be a pro or con or irrelevant, depending on your own beliefs and preferences). There are significant differences among them, so I really think it’s a case of visiting and seeing what you and your daughter like best—but also all of them are competitive admits, so it’s worth figuring out if any just won’t work and applying to the rest to see where she gets in.

[Anonymous]

Recommend asking to speak with the learning specialist and see how they will support her.

[Anonymous]

SR family. My daughter has severe ADHD, also medicated. They do a great job of providing the accommodations needed, which for my daughter, are extra time on tests and occasionally small group testing. There are other accommodations in place that she uses infrequently. These accommodations were provided based on our neuropsych report and with no coaxing from us. It was a seamless process.

Having been through the process with my younger child in public elementary and middle school, I can say SR (and perhaps other private schools) are much more willing to give your student what they need for success.

I will add, however, that SR is not a cakewalk, so your daughter should be a somewhat serious student. My daughter is a hard worker and spends hours doing homework each evening, and has seen much success.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My daughter has ADHD and is thriving at Holton. She is medicated and gets extended time. The course and homework loads have not been an issue.

[Anonymous]

Madeira has been a godsend for my ADHD daughter. The mod scheduling allows her to not be overwhelmed with too many classes at a time. The girls there are really supportive of their peers.

[Anonymous]

We're pulling out our ADHD girl from NCS for high school. She's medicated and has accommodations but those only help so much when you also have to get through the massive amount of homework, inflexibility and frankly the lack of grace at the school.

She is our second girl at the school so we know very well what we are facing. Our older daughter does not have ADHD and is a top student.

There are just many easier paths for schooling for any girl, let alone a girl who has learning differences. We have good friends with girls at both NCS AND either Stone Ridge or Holton (so they know of what they speak) and they both confirm that those schools are just far easier (literally--high grades are much easier to come by), flexible and kinder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Madeira has been a godsend for my ADHD daughter. The mod scheduling allows her to not be overwhelmed with too many classes at a time. The girls there are really supportive of their peers.

Agree. Only having homework for 3 classes a night is a big help because figuring out how to even get started on 7 would be really overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're pulling out our ADHD girl from NCS for high school. She's medicated and has accommodations but those only help so much when you also have to get through the massive amount of homework, inflexibility and frankly the lack of grace at the school.

She is our second girl at the school so we know very well what we are facing. Our older daughter does not have ADHD and is a top student.

There are just many easier paths for schooling for any girl, let alone a girl who has learning differences. We have good friends with girls at both NCS AND either Stone Ridge or Holton (so they know of what they speak) and they both confirm that those schools are just far easier (literally--high grades are much easier to come by), flexible and kinder.

I’m sorry your second daughter has had a hard time. My hs daughter at NCS is thriving. She has an accommodation for extra time and it’s never been an issue. She has found her teachers highly flexible when needed, and incredibly supportive. The homework is not unreasonable and she is taking advanced classes when available. She has become a master at managing her time for the week.

OP, please ask to speak with the learning specialist at any school you are considering.

[Anonymous]

I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

This is a good post. I have heard that NCS girls can do some kind of night personal fitness with less of a commitment, instead of a team sport, but not 100% sure about the details. Worth asking the school if that is important to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

This is a good post. I have heard that NCS girls can do some kind of night personal fitness with less of a commitment, instead of a team sport, but not 100% sure about the details. Worth asking the school if that is important to you.

These are really good posts. I have a daughter at Madeira with ADHD and it has been a wonderful experience for her. She plays sports and has had a rigorous and balanced academic experience. I have been highly impressed by the quality of her instruction. To clarify PP, a 5 week mod is typically 3 academic classes and then a required after school activity (A,B,C blocks are classes, D block is activity).

I have another child at a high school frequently discussed on this board and much prefer Madeira overall. The other school is more rigid and frankly less innovative and interactive in its teaching and curriculum overall. Madeira is really fantastic at assessing where students are and offering a lot of pathways for growth and challenge.

For example, DD's K-8 education was weak in phonics and overall grammar and writing instruction IMO. She never really diagramed a sentence like I had to do in middle school.

DD is fortunately a beautiful writer but is prone to spelling, punctuation, and other detailed mistakes, which of course is especially common with ADHD students. Madeira assessed all the sophomores in English 10 and offered a grammar-focused track for 5 weeks (one of the three English 10 mods) for those who could improve writing precision. DD bombed the assessment, so she was in the grammar track. It was helpful and there was no drama or angst about being in the grammar-focused class. I was delighted that someone finally taught her some of these skills. She is a tighter writer now.

Madeira is also really flexible in supporting various levels in math and foreign language.

I'll add that I think social fit is really important to consider. DD is happy and has found her people, across many groups. The culture of the school is kind and inclusive in her experience.

Still, it absolutely would not be a wonderful fit for girls who want a coed (or strong brother school) type of experience. But my DD doesn't care much about experiencing Friday night football games etc. so the school environment works for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

Stone Ridge also has a block schedule. My daughter, who struggles with transitions, loves it because it involves less switching during the day and homework due each day is only for three or four classes vs seven classes. It gives more flexibility for planning her workload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're pulling out our ADHD girl from NCS for high school. She's medicated and has accommodations but those only help so much when you also have to get through the massive amount of homework, inflexibility and frankly the lack of grace at the school.

She is our second girl at the school so we know very well what we are facing. Our older daughter does not have ADHD and is a top student.

There are just many easier paths for schooling for any girl, let alone a girl who has learning differences. We have good friends with girls at both NCS AND either Stone Ridge or Holton (so they know of what they speak) and they both confirm that those schools are just far easier (literally--high grades are much easier to come by), flexible and kinder.

I’m sorry your second daughter has had a hard time. My hs daughter at NCS is thriving. She has an accommodation for extra time and it’s never been an issue. She has found her teachers highly flexible when needed, and incredibly supportive. The homework is not unreasonable and she is taking advanced classes when available. She has become a master at managing her time for the week.

OP, please ask to speak with the learning specialist at any school you are considering.

I think what it comes down to is adhd is such a spectrum. Some kids with adhd have high IQ and can compensate for their deficiencies and still manage to do well academically, whereas other kids may struggle more academically. I think this is true regardless of the school and is very kid dependent. Best thing to do is really try to figure out where your kid needs the most support and find a school and/or outside coaches/tutors to help them with those specific issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

This is a good post. I have heard that NCS girls can do some kind of night personal fitness with less of a commitment, instead of a team sport, but not 100% sure about the details. Worth asking the school if that is important to you.

These are really good posts. I have a daughter at Madeira with ADHD and it has been a wonderful experience for her. She plays sports and has had a rigorous and balanced academic experience. I have been highly impressed by the quality of her instruction. To clarify PP, a 5 week mod is typically 3 academic classes and then a required after school activity (A,B,C blocks are classes, D block is activity).

I have another child at a high school frequently discussed on this board and much prefer Madeira overall. The other school is more rigid and frankly less innovative and interactive in its teaching and curriculum overall. Madeira is really fantastic at assessing where students are and offering a lot of pathways for growth and challenge.

For example, DD's K-8 education was weak in phonics and overall grammar and writing instruction IMO. She never really diagramed a sentence like I had to do in middle school.

DD is fortunately a beautiful writer but is prone to spelling, punctuation, and other detailed mistakes, which of course is especially common with ADHD students. Madeira assessed all the sophomores in English 10 and offered a grammar-focused track for 5 weeks (one of the three English 10 mods) for those who could improve writing precision. DD bombed the assessment, so she was in the grammar track. It was helpful and there was no drama or angst about being in the grammar-focused class. I was delighted that someone finally taught her some of these skills. She is a tighter writer now.

Madeira is also really flexible in supporting various levels in math and foreign language.

I'll add that I think social fit is really important to consider. DD is happy and has found her people, across many groups. The culture of the school is kind and inclusive in her experience.

Still, it absolutely would not be a wonderful fit for girls who want a coed (or strong brother school) type of experience. But my DD doesn't care much about experiencing Friday night football games etc. so the school environment works for her.

This is super helpful thanks!!