All girls HS for ADHD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would really consider the schedules at the schools as they vary quite a bit and one might be better for your daughter than others. Holton has seven 50 minute periods a day (not a block schedule—you will have classes multiple days in a row and homework assigned one day due the next). NCS has a block schedule (longer classes every other day so no homework assigned one day due the next). Madeira has a module schedule where you take 4 classes every 5 weeks then change (so big focus on those subjects for 5 weeks in a row then a change to different subjects). Holton has an easy sports requirement that can be entirely completed during the day—afterschool sports are optional. Few students hang out ar Holton after school unless they have a specific activity. NCS requires 10 of 12 seasons of a sport (so generally a later after school commitment). Madeira is somewhere in the middle, but due to boarders tends to have more afternoon/early evening activities.

This isn't quite right. There are 3 academic blocks per mod and one athletics/activity block. One of the seven mods each year is dedicated to co-curriculum (i.e., an internship), with no academic classes. Our daughter plays sports in fall and spring and does fitness in winter. Other kids do equestrian or something like newspaper or drama.

[Anonymous]

OP here: following up to see for HS, if she takes school seriously and wants to put in the work but also busy week nights….Not that she would want to be slammed all weekend, but she legitimately has much more time on the weekends for tutors, projects and studying ahead. I think she would need a collaborative school that would not have super last minute assignments and impossible nights of homework regularly. Ideally a blend of school spirit and school leadership involvement with solid academics but not so much of a pressure cooker where I may be doing more harm than good at this age. I worry a school would not be willing to help organize ahead assignments so she can work with a weekend tutor and organize her time to be more successful during the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be applying for upper school in the fall.

We are most interested in NCS Holton and Stone Ridge, maybe Madeira. (Searched websites and this board). We know a couple girls at SR and NCS but no one at Madeira and one at Holton but not close with any.

Coming from public, our daughter has had mild ADHD (inattentive type) with medication since elementary school and a full neuropsych report mostly recommends extended time on tests.

I would love any first hand advice from any parents of ADHD girls at these schools and if you would recommend or avoid any of them. Open to another all-girls option we could consider.

She is happy, active/athlete, loves math, science, and social studies. She is less motivated in classes she doesn’t like, but she does the work. She is very social. She likes volunteering and taking on leadership roles. We hope for a place that balances work and fun in a school community where she will find friendly students. We want a partnership with the school that’s focused on well-being and preparing strong girls for college and the world.

Honestly, it’s hard to say which school stands out. I know to wait for the application and tours to give me a feel and ultimately it will be her choice, assuming she get into more than one. But I would love some real talk on this anonymous board!!!!!

You know couple girls? What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: following up to see for HS, if she takes school seriously and wants to put in the work but also busy week nights….Not that she would want to be slammed all weekend, but she legitimately has much more time on the weekends for tutors, projects and studying ahead. I think she would need a collaborative school that would not have super last minute assignments and impossible nights of homework regularly. Ideally a blend of school spirit and school leadership involvement with solid academics but not so much of a pressure cooker where I may be doing more harm than good at this age. I worry a school would not be willing to help organize ahead assignments so she can work with a weekend tutor and organize her time to be more successful during the week.

Madeira is a good fit for this.

[Anonymous]

Holy Child also has very good accommodations for ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: following up to see for HS, if she takes school seriously and wants to put in the work but also busy week nights….Not that she would want to be slammed all weekend, but she legitimately has much more time on the weekends for tutors, projects and studying ahead. I think she would need a collaborative school that would not have super last minute assignments and impossible nights of homework regularly. Ideally a blend of school spirit and school leadership involvement with solid academics but not so much of a pressure cooker where I may be doing more harm than good at this age. I worry a school would not be willing to help organize ahead assignments so she can work with a weekend tutor and organize her time to be more successful during the week.

Your child will not be able to complete all her Holton homework on the weekend--there will be weekday homework assigned one day and due the next in addition to homework to be done over the weekend. It's a heavy homework school as is NCS. I don't honestly see either Holton or NCS working with your daughter to allow her to mainly do homework on the weekend when she has a tutor because she's busy during the week. I'm not sure Madeira or Stone Ridge really would either, but they may be less of a pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: following up to see for HS, if she takes school seriously and wants to put in the work but also busy week nights….Not that she would want to be slammed all weekend, but she legitimately has much more time on the weekends for tutors, projects and studying ahead. I think she would need a collaborative school that would not have super last minute assignments and impossible nights of homework regularly. Ideally a blend of school spirit and school leadership involvement with solid academics but not so much of a pressure cooker where I may be doing more harm than good at this age. I worry a school would not be willing to help organize ahead assignments so she can work with a weekend tutor and organize her time to be more successful during the week.

Your child will not be able to complete all her Holton homework on the weekend--there will be weekday homework assigned one day and due the next in addition to homework to be done over the weekend. It's a heavy homework school as is NCS. I don't honestly see either Holton or NCS working with your daughter to allow her to mainly do homework on the weekend when she has a tutor because she's busy during the week. I'm not sure Madeira or Stone Ridge really would either, but they may be less of a pressure cooker.

100% agree with this response regarding Holton.

[Anonymous]

Holy Child sounds like what you are looking for. Maybe Madeira. All of those other schools are great schools but they are pressure cookers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: following up to see for HS, if she takes school seriously and wants to put in the work but also busy week nights….Not that she would want to be slammed all weekend, but she legitimately has much more time on the weekends for tutors, projects and studying ahead. I think she would need a collaborative school that would not have super last minute assignments and impossible nights of homework regularly. Ideally a blend of school spirit and school leadership involvement with solid academics but not so much of a pressure cooker where I may be doing more harm than good at this age. I worry a school would not be willing to help organize ahead assignments so she can work with a weekend tutor and organize her time to be more successful during the week.

Your child will not be able to complete all her Holton homework on the weekend--there will be weekday homework assigned one day and due the next in addition to homework to be done over the weekend. It's a heavy homework school as is NCS. I don't honestly see either Holton or NCS working with your daughter to allow her to mainly do homework on the weekend when she has a tutor because she's busy during the week. I'm not sure Madeira or Stone Ridge really would either, but they may be less of a pressure cooker.

100% agree with this response regarding Holton.

My DD has ADHD and finds the workload at Holton completely manageable. No issues with homework on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be applying for upper school in the fall.

We are most interested in NCS Holton and Stone Ridge, maybe Madeira. (Searched websites and this board). We know a couple girls at SR and NCS but no one at Madeira and one at Holton but not close with any.

Coming from public, our daughter has had mild ADHD (inattentive type) with medication since elementary school and a full neuropsych report mostly recommends extended time on tests.

I would love any first hand advice from any parents of ADHD girls at these schools and if you would recommend or avoid any of them. Open to another all-girls option we could consider.

She is happy, active/athlete, loves math, science, and social studies. She is less motivated in classes she doesn’t like, but she does the work. She is very social. She likes volunteering and taking on leadership roles. We hope for a place that balances work and fun in a school community where she will find friendly students. We want a partnership with the school that’s focused on well-being and preparing strong girls for college and the world.

Honestly, it’s hard to say which school stands out. I know to wait for the application and tours to give me a feel and ultimately it will be her choice, assuming she get into more than one. But I would love some real talk on this anonymous board!!!!!

You know couple girls? What?

What is confusing about OP knowing some students at NCS and SR?

[Anonymous]

Is Madeira a pressure cooker?

[Anonymous]

We have a DD with ADHD at SR. It isn't a pressure cooker, but if your kid is taking a lot of high level classes, the volume of work is a lot. It can be miserable. But I wouldn't say any more so than any other top girls school. Also the teachers are great and the environment is supportive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Madeira a pressure cooker?

I wouldn’t describe it that way. It’s a very supportive environment. But the schedule is very different from other schools and can feel intense, and it doesn’t work well for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Holy Child in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Child in Potomac.

+1