Arlington middle school experience for kids with learning differences (behind in reading/writing/math)?

[Anonymous]

Hi all —

In elementary school, our child has benefited from pull-out support and small-group remediation. I’m trying to understand how that translates to Arlington middle school, based on ACTUAL experience you've had:

A few specific questions:

* Do Arlington middle schools offer anything similar to pull-outs or small-group remediation, or is it mostly a push-in/support model?
* How did your child generally do in middle school when they haven’t fully closed the gap with peers yet but received these supports-- are they able to keep up with the pace/volume of work, or does it become overwhelming?
* Any experiences (positive or negative) with specific middle schools would be really helpful, as we are open to moving within Arlington

We’re trying to understand whether APS middle school can continue to support progress, or if the model changes in a way that makes it harder for kids who still need remediation.

Appreciate any firsthand experiences — thank you!

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding it will be either pull in co-taught or self-contained. Unless your child has intellectual disability do not go with self-contained force the school hand to beef up the accommodations in co-taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding it will be either pull in co-taught or self-contained. Unless your child has intellectual disability do not go with self-contained force the school hand to beef up the accommodations in co-taught.

If they are really behind in math or reading, co-taught is not going to catch them up. They need a small remedial class at their level.

[Anonymous]

For my first, I opted out of APS MS b/c the fully-loaded IEP in ES was not going to be honored, at all, at our local MS even though kid was still two years behind in reading, writing, spelling, ect.

Kid 2 was very well remediated (earlier) at APS ES and so was in a different space when they started MS so this is based on kid 2 with less severe differences:

* Do Arlington middle schools offer anything similar to pull-outs or small-group remediation, or is it mostly a push-in/support model?

Duel-taught classes with one calls, Instruction Studies, to help with homework and keeping up with classes and 1:1 remediation.

* How did your child generally do in middle school when they haven’t fully closed the gap with peers yet but received these supports-- are they able to keep up with the pace/volume of work, or does it become overwhelming?

Has accommodations so that it doesn't become overwhelming, but still does. Even with a strong IEP and supports, they force "independence" when my child is not intellectually ready (current struggle).

* Any experiences (positive or negative) with specific middle schools would be really helpful, as we are open to moving within Arlington

Don't want to out myself. so no for last question.

Good luck and I mean that. MS is hard and the options are expensive.

[Anonymous]

If I could do it over I would run away from APS middle school which did nothing to assist my kid's growth or catch up to peers. You will not find the level of care or coordination for support that ES can offer. Run.