MCPS high school options for slightly 2e kid

[Anonymous]

We have a rising 8th grader who tests as slightly 2e. He has moderate inattentive ADHD (definitely not mild!). His most recent psycho-educational evaluation did not give him a dyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia diagnosis but he has a history of receiving those diagnoses previously. GAI of 120 but lower FSIQ (brought down by low working memory and slow processing speed). He is highly intellectual, STEM/robotics/engineering specialist, wonderful artist and gifted musician, and is VERY inattentive in class. Highly emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and manipulative. He hates school and claims it is 'prison'. Still, he gets decent grades so far because he hates disappointing his teachers.

He has been in a small Catholic K-8 but we are looking at MCPS high schools. Any thoughts on what we should consider? Should we try to get an IEP for him? Should we try to get him to apply into one of the special MCPS programs? He would be interested in the art program at Einstein, the aviation program at Magruder, any STEM program, or the ACES program at Walter Johnson (likely home school).

[Anonymous]

So in MCPS, you don't really get to shop around for a program. You go to your home school. It sounds like with a mild diagnosis, your child might benefit from a 504 plan, but would not qualify for a specialized program.

WJ has a lot of positives, and does have some supports available if you were somehow able to qualify for an IEP (doubtful with how you described your child), but overall, he would need to be fine with large classes and little support or guidance.

With that profile, I would strongly encourage you to continue in private school, where he might get his needs met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a rising 8th grader who tests as slightly 2e. He has moderate inattentive ADHD (definitely not mild!). His most recent psycho-educational evaluation did not give him a dyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia diagnosis but he has a history of receiving those diagnoses previously. GAI of 120 but lower FSIQ (brought down by low working memory and slow processing speed). He is highly intellectual, STEM/robotics/engineering specialist, wonderful artist and gifted musician, and is VERY inattentive in class. Highly emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and manipulative. He hates school and claims it is 'prison'. Still, he gets decent grades so far because he hates disappointing his teachers.

He has been in a small Catholic K-8 but we are looking at MCPS high schools. Any thoughts on what we should consider? Should we try to get an IEP for him? Should we try to get him to apply into one of the special MCPS programs? He would be interested in the art program at Einstein, the aviation program at Magruder, any STEM program, or the ACES program at Walter Johnson (likely home school).

I would keep him at WJ.

[Anonymous]

MCPS has 2e programs at the following high schools - Walter Johnson (your home school), Northwood (currently up the road at Woodward) or Watkins Mill High Schools.

Since you have a psycho educational profile, ask to talk to the school counselor and say that you want an IEP conference. You may have to settle for a 504 but ask for an IEP.

[Anonymous]

WJ. The cohort in the ACES program is really good.

[Anonymous]

A child with moderate ADHD with decent grades is not getting an IEP in MCPS. Maybe a 504, but that will not help the child access special programs and supports.

[Anonymous]

What about connections at Quince Orchard?

[Anonymous]

My somewhat more affected kid with severe ADHD, mild autism, a vanishing diagnosis of dyscalculia and dysgraphia, plus low processing speed and a high IQ, did well at Walter Johnson in the GT/LD program: gifted and learning disabled. He had access to all the advanced classes he wanted, but also had a resource class instead of one elective, and a case manager who managed his IEP and any issues (of which there were very few). He was on Adderall as well during his high school years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about connections at Quince Orchard?

Can you tell me more about this program? I just looked it up online but am not sure how it corresponds to his profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My somewhat more affected kid with severe ADHD, mild autism, a vanishing diagnosis of dyscalculia and dysgraphia, plus low processing speed and a high IQ, did well at Walter Johnson in the GT/LD program: gifted and learning disabled. He had access to all the advanced classes he wanted, but also had a resource class instead of one elective, and a case manager who managed his IEP and any issues (of which there were very few). He was on Adderall as well during his high school years]

Thanks! I think this program would be good for him. He has VERY low processing speed which makes school difficult. Do you think he can get into it or does his IQ need to be higher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A child with moderate ADHD with decent grades is not getting an IEP in MCPS. Maybe a 504, but that will not help the child access special programs and supports.

To be fair, his ADHD is only moderate with medication which he takes every day including testing days. He may have tested more severely on the ADHD scale without medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My somewhat more affected kid with severe ADHD, mild autism, a vanishing diagnosis of dyscalculia and dysgraphia, plus low processing speed and a high IQ, did well at Walter Johnson in the GT/LD program: gifted and learning disabled. He had access to all the advanced classes he wanted, but also had a resource class instead of one elective, and a case manager who managed his IEP and any issues (of which there were very few). He was on Adderall as well during his high school years]

Thanks! I think this program would be good for him. He has VERY low processing speed which makes school difficult. Do you think he can get into it or does his IQ need to be higher?

The aviation program would he bard with low processing. Einstein doesn't have a lot of supports and it depends on the administrator and counselor you get, some are great and some are not.

[Anonymous]

You should go through the IEP process and see if your child qualifies. MCPS gatekeeps all of their programs, especially Connections and GT/LD. Your child would need to first qualify for an IEP AND get the central office to agree that their needs cannot be met in their homeschool. This is very unlikely without first failing out of the original school.

But the whole process starts with getting an IEP. Even though your child has a year prior to starting MCPS, I would still encourage you to go through the process. This will give you enough time to look at placement next summer (if needed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should go through the IEP process and see if your child qualifies. MCPS gatekeeps all of their programs, especially Connections and GT/LD. Your child would need to first qualify for an IEP AND get the central office to agree that their needs cannot be met in their homeschool. This is very unlikely without first failing out of the original school.

But the whole process starts with getting an IEP. Even though your child has a year prior to starting MCPS, I would still encourage you to go through the process. This will give you enough time to look at placement next summer (if needed).

How does one get into connections?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My somewhat more affected kid with severe ADHD, mild autism, a vanishing diagnosis of dyscalculia and dysgraphia, plus low processing speed and a high IQ, did well at Walter Johnson in the GT/LD program: gifted and learning disabled. He had access to all the advanced classes he wanted, but also had a resource class instead of one elective, and a case manager who managed his IEP and any issues (of which there were very few). He was on Adderall as well during his high school years]

Thanks! I think this program would be good for him. He has VERY low processing speed which makes school difficult. Do you think he can get into it or does his IQ need to be higher?

The criteria are pretty loose, I think. You need to call and get the GT/LD coordinator on the phone, because detailed information is very hard to find on the MCPS website. My son's processing speed was measured at the 4th percentile, so I hear you. He had a typing accommodation and double time on all school assignments, APs and the ACT exam... which came with its own set of problems, because a six hour, instead of a 3 hour, AP exam is exhausting. But at least MCPS, the College Board and ACT were all very accommodating. We had a watertight neuropsych done by Dr. Henderson at Stixrud.