School for kid and who’s not that smart?

[Anonymous]

What about somewhere like Field or Burke? They’re mainstream and offer the same general accommodations as other schools but use a progressive education model so generally try to meet kids where they are. I imagine your current school can provide some suggestions for outplacement. I think SSSAS could also work but there is less hand-holding and a heavier workload so it could be a struggle depending on your student’s exact profile and needs.

Also, have you considered the possibility of dyscalculia? It’s a specific math learning disability that’s as common as dyslexia but much less understood and under diagnosed. We had specific testing for it in 9th grade after years of math struggles. Just a thought!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Kid is currently at a private tnat primarily serves kids with learning differences—Commonwealth, Lab, Linder, that sort of thing. We moved there during the pandemic bc kid was socially a mess and not learning in public. Kid is really interested in a more mainstream school. I’d love to try that, but standardized test scores on math will be way below grade level, and language arts will be mediocre at best—kid always struggles on standardized tests. And in addition to not being athletic, her interests skew young. So I worry she can’t get in anywhere. Also don’t want to set up my kid for failure. But I understand the desire for a more traditional high school experience.

Have you looked at McLean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about somewhere like Field or Burke? They’re mainstream and offer the same general accommodations as other schools but use a progressive education model so generally try to meet kids where they are. I imagine your current school can provide some suggestions for outplacement. I think SSSAS could also work but there is less hand-holding and a heavier workload so it could be a struggle depending on your student’s exact profile and needs.

Also, have you considered the possibility of dyscalculia? It’s a specific math learning disability that’s as common as dyslexia but much less understood and under diagnosed. We had specific testing for it in 9th grade after years of math struggles. Just a thought!

+1 to all of this.

[Anonymous]

OP back here. Genuine question—she has an IEP for math (although the only accommodation is use of a calculator); what else does a dyscalculia diagnosis get us?
And I’m not trying to get anyone to sell their school short, but the problem isn’t going to be fixed with better teachers or different motivation, which I think some parents suggest when they say they have a B/C student. Happy to have my kid boost the curve for others!
And, finally, I’d love it if Burke would work. I just worry about sending her to a bunch of school visits if she honestly has no shot.

[Anonymous]

Ideally, dyscalculia would get more intensive math instruction with hands on methods (manipulating cubes for place value for example). You would probably be best served by a school for kids with learning differences that can address this. It's really a shame that your current school isn't.

If you're in the DC area, Chelsea teaches kids with dyscalculia (and other learning differences) but it's small. Not sure about Lab. McLean lists dyscalculia as something they address, and they're bigger than other special needs schools, but no personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But with no other info, it doesn’t hurt to apply broadly to schools a tier below the top. Look at FH, SSSAS, Ireton, O’Connell for example. All solid schools.

I agree that you should look at these four schools. They all serve a wide range of learners from very bright, high achieving students to average students, including those with learning differences. They all offer some extra support. They also all offer a pretty typical HS experience. While I don’t know how competitive some of them are, we know a B/C middle school student with low HSPTs who was accepted at Ireton, so she probably has a chance of getting into at least one of them.

[Anonymous]

McLean.

St John's College High School's Benilde program.

St Generic Enormous Catholic HS.

I would be wary of Burke. Progressive + learning disabilities can turn out badly.

[Anonymous]

For a variety of reasons mostly addressed thus far, I think McLean, Field, and Burke are worth looking at. McLean, from what I hear, specializes the most in working with a child like yours. I say Field because my kid had terrific scaffolding and support there. Bolstered by some outside tutoring, my kid did well and went on to a good university. Burke because I hear people say really nice things about the school and it’s probably not the hardest of the three to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean.

St John's College High School's Benilde program.

St Generic Enormous Catholic HS.

I would be wary of Burke. Progressive + learning disabilities can turn out badly.

SJC’s Benilde program is for kids with documented learning differences who are still smart/motivated, they just need extra support. A lot of Benilde kids are also in honors classes. OP’s situation sounds different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a variety of reasons mostly addressed thus far, I think McLean, Field, and Burke are worth looking at. McLean, from what I hear, specializes the most in working with a child like yours. I say Field because my kid had terrific scaffolding and support there. Bolstered by some outside tutoring, my kid did well and went on to a good university. Burke because I hear people say really nice things about the school and it’s probably not the hardest of the three to get into.

I think these are good options, but McLean or Lab (or say, Benilde at St John's) are a different category than Field, Burke, St. Andrew's, Bullis, SSSAS, etc. Do you want a school designed to address learning needs OR a mainstream school, but one that leans more supportive/welcoming/less pressure cooker? Both can be excellent, but that's basically two different search processes. And while the mainstream schools above aren't super competitive, they absolutely are selective, especially for high school admissions. (This board can tend to underestimate with schools that aren't Sidwell and the like ...)

[Anonymous]

What about St John Paul the Great High School in Woodbridge? There is a bus from Alexandria (St Louis school, I think?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a variety of reasons mostly addressed thus far, I think McLean, Field, and Burke are worth looking at. McLean, from what I hear, specializes the most in working with a child like yours. I say Field because my kid had terrific scaffolding and support there. Bolstered by some outside tutoring, my kid did well and went on to a good university. Burke because I hear people say really nice things about the school and it’s probably not the hardest of the three to get into.

I think these are good options, but McLean or Lab (or say, Benilde at St John's) are a different category than Field, Burke, St. Andrew's, Bullis, SSSAS, etc. Do you want a school designed to address learning needs OR a mainstream school, but one that leans more supportive/welcoming/less pressure cooker? Both can be excellent, but that's basically two different search processes. And while the mainstream schools above aren't super competitive, they absolutely are selective, especially for high school admissions. (This board can tend to underestimate with schools that aren't Sidwell and the like ...)

Definitely the latter. We have the former, so only switching for the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about St John Paul the Great High School in Woodbridge? There is a bus from Alexandria (St Louis school, I think?).

Can you tell me anything more about this school?

[Anonymous]

Good Counsel also offers multisensory math instruction through its Ryken program

Siena School also provides this type of math instruction too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re looking for a private high school for our kid who struggles in math but does adequately at other subjects. No major LDs or other diagnoses. We’re trying to figure out whether there are any schools who would take a kid who would likely be a B/C student and is not an athlete. We live in Alexandria.

Not thrilled with your description of your kid as not that smart. That is problematic. He could be smart but just does not excel at school. Hope you don't say these things in their presence.