Has Field changed and become less supportive of kids with learning differences?

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard that Field has become more rigorous and less nurturing of students with learning differences in the past couple of years. Is this true? Has support for these kids eroded?

[Anonymous]

We toured Field and came to this conclusion. They explained that they have a universal accommodation system. My take was, they chose to offer breadth (mild accommodations for all) instead of depth (deeper support for some students). Maybe someone with current students could tell you more.

[Anonymous]

Trying to be everything to everyone is a Pandora’s box. Field was never truly equipped to handle deep learning differences like McLean and Lab. But nonetheless they used to end up with kids with more severe learning issues because they were accepting kids that had been rejected elsewhere. The last few years, they have taken control of their admissions and project a clear sense of identity as a warm and caring progressive school with great scaffolding. But they aren’t misrepresenting what they can offer.

[Anonymous]

Last two posts are accurate, from a current parent. It is a caring and supportive environment for all the kids, but they do not provide any special support for learning differences.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 children with inattentive ADHD. One in public and one at Field. Inherently, Field is better equipped to help kids with executive functioning needs due to the advisory model. My kid is kept on track and not due to a special class/support program. Additionally no teacher has objected to help my kid with "chunking" projects as suggested by our neruopsych and in fact they do that more often than not just in the course of teaching. My point is, the way Field manages classes and advisory is built in exec fx help.

[Anonymous]

Stay away from Field. Inexperienced and ill prepared teachers are unable to support students.

[Anonymous]

Field is an excellent school with excellent teachers. They were exceptionally supportive of my kids who are both in very good colleges now, despite moderate adhd and some manageable learning issues. If you’re asking here because you’ve been accepted, and you want reassurance, you should call Field to speak with the learning specialist. Field seems to have become quite selective so I doubt they’d offer a spot to someone that shouldn’t be there. If you think your kid has more severe learning issues and they’ve also been accepted to a school like McLean, yes, give that serious consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from Field. Inexperienced and ill prepared teachers are unable to support students.

Four years in, this is not our experience at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Field is an excellent school with excellent teachers. They were exceptionally supportive of my kids who are both in very good colleges now, despite moderate adhd and some manageable learning issues. If you’re asking here because you’ve been accepted, and you want reassurance, you should call Field to speak with the learning specialist. Field seems to have become quite selective so I doubt they’d offer a spot to someone that shouldn’t be there. If you think your kid has more severe learning issues and they’ve also been accepted to a school like McLean, yes, give that serious consideration.

This. Current parent and NP. I made a point to discuss DC's specific learning differences and learning profile with admissions after being accepted but before accepting the spot. They also had DC's learning profile (full neuropsych testing) in the application. I was assured that the fit was there.

DC responds extremely well to one on one reinforcement which is exactly what they are getting from the teachers this year. It took a while to get the habit down of meeting with teachers consistently, but in 10th grade, the support is really kicking in. And, as a PP said, they chunk out assignments for everyone - and this approach looks the same across all classes. There has basically never been a late night with an assignment that crept up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from Field. Inexperienced and ill prepared teachers are unable to support students.

Four years in, this is not our experience at all.

The inexperienced teacher thing was definitely real but seems like that faded before and during COVID.

[Anonymous]

Field was so woke that we didn't even apply

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Field was so woke that we didn't even apply

Probably best for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Field was so woke that we didn't even apply

Thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from Field. Inexperienced and ill prepared teachers are unable to support students.

Four years in, this is not our experience at all.

The inexperienced teacher thing was definitely real but seems like that faded before and during COVID.

So you're commenting on the environment from 6 years ago with no current knowledge, for people asking about RIGHT now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from Field. Inexperienced and ill prepared teachers are unable to support students.

Four years in, this is not our experience at all.

The inexperienced teacher thing was definitely real but seems like that faded before and during COVID.

So you're commenting on the environment from 6 years ago with no current knowledge, for people asking about RIGHT now?

To be fair, that poster was rebuking somebody else’s asinine comment about Field having young teachers. The truth is the teachers are now mostly mid-career, and have been really terrific. This HoS made it her mission to fill the school with more experienced teachers that have masters degrees in teaching or another subject.