Application Season has begin - Public vs. Private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have a tough time finding a mainstream private school that will work with an IEP. And since they're legally required to, well, you can do the math on admissions chances.

Private schools are not required to honor IEPs. But I agree admissions may be hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

What kind of services are you referring to? In general private schools refer you to outside tutors/therapists if they feel those are needed and provide zero services. The smaller class sizes might help but also keep in mind there will be other kids with higher than average needs on the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

If you're applying to a mainstream competitive private with your child's profile you shouldn't disclose any of the issues you mentioned if you want a chance at your child getting in. It is true that many will provide support once your child is in but it's difficult getting in in the first place if your child is already having issues. Repeating preK won't be an issue if you have a good explanation like the child is young for the grade and good recommendations. I would be cautious with this strategy as a friend of ours did this for Landon and her child really struggled. They did have a learning specialist who helped and the mother is in the special needs field but it wasn't enough and it was really hard for him.

This just isn’t true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

What kind of services are you referring to? In general private schools refer you to outside tutors/therapists if they feel those are needed and provide zero services. The smaller class sizes might help but also keep in mind there will be other kids with higher than average needs on the class.

This does not match at all with my experience pulling a child out of public to private. It seems very off, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

What kind of services are you referring to? In general private schools refer you to outside tutors/therapists if they feel those are needed and provide zero services. The smaller class sizes might help but also keep in mind there will be other kids with higher than average needs on the class.

This does not match at all with my experience pulling a child out of public to private. It seems very off, actually.

Experiences vary, but this is mine and it’s pretty common from other people I’ve talked to. A lot of families like op’s start to consider private school because their kid is a little needier than average and they want smaller classes and more attention. In practice, at some of the more inclusive schools, you can end up with a class of 15 kids in which eight of the kids have ADHD (one of my kid’s classes was like this.) it’s hard for a teacher to handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

What kind of services are you referring to? In general private schools refer you to outside tutors/therapists if they feel those are needed and provide zero services. The smaller class sizes might help but also keep in mind there will be other kids with higher than average needs on the class.

This does not match at all with my experience pulling a child out of public to private. It seems very off, actually.

Experiences vary, but this is mine and it’s pretty common from other people I’ve talked to. A lot of families like op’s start to consider private school because their kid is a little needier than average and they want smaller classes and more attention. In practice, at some of the more inclusive schools, you can end up with a class of 15 kids in which eight of the kids have ADHD (one of my kid’s classes was like this.) it’s hard for a teacher to handle.

I guess my real point is that small class sizes don’t solve as many issues as you might think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would need to continue with your outside providers either way—private schools might have a learning support teacher but they will still expect you to provide tutoring, therapy, and other services outside of school.

I think if it is a toss up you should try public first. Sometimes kids like this do well with the structure of public school. If it doesn’t work out, the small progressive privates will still be there—for some kids they work and for some they don’t.

Good points

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

What kind of services are you referring to? In general private schools refer you to outside tutors/therapists if they feel those are needed and provide zero services. The smaller class sizes might help but also keep in mind there will be other kids with higher than average needs on the class.

This does not match at all with my experience pulling a child out of public to private. It seems very off, actually.

Experiences vary, but this is mine and it’s pretty common from other people I’ve talked to. A lot of families like op’s start to consider private school because their kid is a little needier than average and they want smaller classes and more attention. In practice, at some of the more inclusive schools, you can end up with a class of 15 kids in which eight of the kids have ADHD (one of my kid’s classes was like this.) it’s hard for a teacher to handle.

I guess my real point is that small class sizes don’t solve as many issues as you might think.

This. Everyone's coming in with the expectation of more! And some are in denial of special needs.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like almost everyone has a different experience, and some disclose, some don't and depending on the child and their needs - it can all vary...I hear some families just go with their gut, relationship to the community, any religious leanings, etc., that all make a school a school community. That's ultimately what we are all after I suppose, an inclusive school community who supports your Childs learning.

Our challenge is that the initial assessments at 3 years old, vary so much now that our DC is entering K and there's so much variability with what will happen "in the future" that I don't want that confusing the schools - children are evolving and growing constantly, so sometimes I wonder if we are oversharing?

[Anonymous]

Whether you share the history / past evaluation or not (for the record I think you should), the school is highly likely to pick up on anything a little out of the ordinary going on with your kid. This is why they have play dates for applicants. Also, they will have a recommendation from the preschool teacher which will convey your kid’s profile. So it’s likely they will have some idea and I think you’re better off saying, “X had a little trouble with y so we had an evaluation but it wasn’t conclusive,” rather than pretending you’re oblivious. Schools want families who are going to be good partners, and they want to admit kids who will be successful at the school. If they meet your kid and conclude he wouldn’t be a good fit, it’s probably for the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

If you're applying to a mainstream competitive private with your child's profile you shouldn't disclose any of the issues you mentioned if you want a chance at your child getting in. It is true that many will provide support once your child is in but it's difficult getting in in the first place if your child is already having issues. Repeating preK won't be an issue if you have a good explanation like the child is young for the grade and good recommendations. I would be cautious with this strategy as a friend of ours did this for Landon and her child really struggled. They did have a learning specialist who helped and the mother is in the special needs field but it wasn't enough and it was really hard for him.

This just isn’t true.

Sorry but this is true for most applicants and most competitive schools. I really dislike it when people come on here and make blanket statements about something when they know that their child is the exception to what is an accepted and known practice.

[Anonymous]

Here’s my advice and my kid is in HS now- enroll in the most convenient school for you for K and early elementary if you are continuing private therapy anyway. See where you can drive to easily with your work schedules and what you can afford. Try public school since it’s free. You can always change later.

Mine started in private, switched went to public for the majority of years and now is in a drastically different type of private. Kids change. You don’t know what school works and what doesn’t until they try it.

I originally thought very small classes in a private school were the best and those were the worst for my kid, public or private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have a tough time finding a mainstream private school that will work with an IEP. And since they're legally required to, well, you can do the math on admissions chances.

? No private schools done have to do anything with an IEP. They don’t use them or make them.

[Anonymous]

Strongly recommend being as forthcoming as you can about child’s strengths and challenges, and don’t be vague as others have suggested, as a way to increase admissions chances to private schools.

If you feel the professionals at the school can’t handle or understand the nuances of your child’s developmental profile, then they are not likely qualified to care for your child.

We have a similar kid, now later elementary, who fits easily into a mainstream classroom (working at or above grade level in all areas) but needs an IEP. We tried private K, and school swore up and down that the “small classes, personal attention” would be just what DC needed. This was not the case, all we got was complaints about how “difficult” DC was to educate and confusion and fights over the most basic accommodations.

A strong public elementary in FCPS was a much better fit, DC got needed accommodations and support from qualified professionals without a fuss. Now doing very well.

It’s certainly not true that public is always better than private or vice versa, but it is important to recognize that private school teachers often don’t have the professional expertise or knowledge base to support children with even slightly atypical developmental profiles. Our experience was also that “they don’t know what they don’t know,” so it’s important as a parent to bring a critical eye to the admission process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

If you're applying to a mainstream competitive private with your child's profile you shouldn't disclose any of the issues you mentioned if you want a chance at your child getting in. It is true that many will provide support once your child is in but it's difficult getting in in the first place if your child is already having issues. Repeating preK won't be an issue if you have a good explanation like the child is young for the grade and good recommendations. I would be cautious with this strategy as a friend of ours did this for Landon and her child really struggled. They did have a learning specialist who helped and the mother is in the special needs field but it wasn't enough and it was really hard for him.

This just isn’t true.

Sorry but this is true for most applicants and most competitive schools. I really dislike it when people come on here and make blanket statements about something when they know that their child is the exception to what is an accepted and known practice.

Look, it’s true that disclosing tends to get you rejected, but it’s still a good idea to do it. Getting in is only the beginning.