What middle / high school would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Moving from out of state for work next year and looking for middle/high school for daughter who will be going into 7th. She is 2e and has ADHD and anxiety but has done very well in school since 3rd grade or so. Early elementary was a real struggle. Definitely still struggles socially but does have a little group of good friends so that is the saddest part of the move is leaving behind her friends. She loves all forms of art particularly drawing, painting, and ceramics. She also really likes math and science and has excelled in both. Has expressed an interest in robotics. Loves books and reading when she is in complete control of the pace and subject matter, but is not a great student there - so a humanities focus would probably not be the right fit. She's not especially sporty - team sports aren't her thing. She's a decent swimmer though and might take to something like track if given an opportunity. Likely going to live in NW DC or close in MD suburbs. What schools should I be looking at? I know it will be very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving from out of state for work next year and looking for middle/high school for daughter who will be going into 7th. She is 2e and has ADHD and anxiety but has done very well in school since 3rd grade or so. Early elementary was a real struggle. Definitely still struggles socially but does have a little group of good friends so that is the saddest part of the move is leaving behind her friends. She loves all forms of art particularly drawing, painting, and ceramics. She also really likes math and science and has excelled in both. Has expressed an interest in robotics. Loves books and reading when she is in complete control of the pace and subject matter, but is not a great student there - so a humanities focus would probably not be the right fit. She's not especially sporty - team sports aren't her thing. She's a decent swimmer though and might take to something like track if given an opportunity. Likely going to live in NW DC or close in MD suburbs. What schools should I be looking at? I know it will be very competitive.

Definitely look at Edmund Burke, very convenient location and 7th is an expansion year. Visual arts are amazing. There is a significant reading and writing focus, but in a way that I think would be beneficial and not overwhelming if you start in the middle school.

[Anonymous]

By “next year,” do you mean you are looking to start a 7th grade placement for Fall 2025, or Fall 2026? If fall 2025, you are after the regular admissions cycle, so your best bet is to start reaching out to schools to see which still have space.

[Anonymous]

Burke, Field or GDS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke, Field or GDS

Burke is a good choice. Very nice, supportive school. Has much of what GDS has, but in a much more low key way, and far easier to get in.

GDS is crazily, ridiculously hard to get into. And while it has a very nice group of nice kids and a supportive environment, it is an academically and socially very engaged experience. Kids really have to be fully on.

Field is still a chaotic mess. People on here keeo recommending it for neurodivergent kids, but it doesn't have the support system in place, and they have admitted so many students in need of support, that the classrooms are full of distracted kids distracting others.

Check out Lab School. It may be more than your daughter needs, but excellent support for kids.

[Anonymous]

I would check out Burke.

Math, science, the arts... all good indicators that Burke could be a good option. And everyone is welcome to try out different sports. My kid was there for middle school and it was a solid, supportive experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would check out Burke.

Math, science, the arts... all good indicators that Burke could be a good option. And everyone is welcome to try out different sports. My kid was there for middle school and it was a solid, supportive experience.

Burke says it's a progressive school, though, and frequently this style is not a good match for either ADHD or anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would check out Burke.

Math, science, the arts... all good indicators that Burke could be a good option. And everyone is welcome to try out different sports. My kid was there for middle school and it was a solid, supportive experience.

Burke says it's a progressive school, though, and frequently this style is not a good match for either ADHD or anxiety.

Huh? You're not making sense.

[Anonymous]

I agree about Burke. Great learning environment where kids are challenged and nurtured. It’s progressive but still pretty structured. Great visual and performing arts, caring teachers, smart and kind students. My 2E kid has had a great experience and we’re so grateful for the Burke community!

[Anonymous]

Come to Annapolis. Indian Creek School.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for fall 2025 or fall 2026?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By “next year,” do you mean you are looking to start a 7th grade placement for Fall 2025, or Fall 2026? If fall 2025, you are after the regular admissions cycle, so your best bet is to start reaching out to schools to see which still have space.

I mean fall 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke, Field or GDS

GDS is a heavy reading/writing school so maybe not a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge is a very nurturing all-girls school. It also has a great visual arts department with classes covering drawing, painting, and ceramics. The MS arts teacher is amazing - she teaches them high level drawing. SR has their own swimming pool, and swimming is great there. For MS, all students that wants can participate on the swim team. They also have options to try other sports each quarter (tennis, volleyball, basketball, track, lacrosse, yoga, etc.). Academics are good, not a pressure cooker but above average pace. Be prepared for about 1.5 hours of homework in 7th and 8th grades. To me that good, it prepares the kids for the amount of homework and responsibilities in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stone Ridge is a very nurturing all-girls school. It also has a great visual arts department with classes covering drawing, painting, and ceramics. The MS arts teacher is amazing - she teaches them high level drawing. SR has their own swimming pool, and swimming is great there. For MS, all students that wants can participate on the swim team. They also have options to try other sports each quarter (tennis, volleyball, basketball, track, lacrosse, yoga, etc.). Academics are good, not a pressure cooker but above average pace. Be prepared for about 1.5 hours of homework in 7th and 8th grades. To me that good, it prepares the kids for the amount of homework and responsibilities in high school.

They don’t need 2 years to prepare for high school. I have a 7th grader at a private and she gets about 2 hours per week approx of homework.
She’s also got adhd. After staying focused ( or trying to) at school all day, having to spend another hour and a half every night on homework is too much for an adhd kid.