Will DC privates take my kid with ADHD?

[Anonymous]

oP, your kid needs a lot of attention and redirection from the teacher. That is going to be true whether your kid has 28 kids in the class or 18. There aren't many slots for second grade at any private school to begin with, why would they take a kid with behavior problems? It isn't fair to the other kids in the class or the teacher. Your chances of getting him to a mainstream private school without him being medicated for second grade are slim to none.

[Anonymous]

There are kids with ADHD at all the privates, but many off them were admitted before they had diagnoses. Realistically your chances of getting him into a competitive private are low. They are looking for kids who don't need extra attention/redirection from teachers.

His chances of being admitted may go up in future years once his behavioral stuff is under control, he's on medication (if needed), and he has strong test scores/academics and other qualities that make him attractive to the school. But in early elementary classroom behavior is going to be weighed heavily, and it won't help him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are kids with ADHD at all the privates, but many off them were admitted before they had diagnoses. Realistically your chances of getting him into a competitive private are low. They are looking for kids who don't need extra attention/redirection from teachers.

His chances of being admitted may go up in future years once his behavioral stuff is under control, he's on medication (if needed), and he has strong test scores/academics and other qualities that make him attractive to the school. But in early elementary classroom behavior is going to be weighed heavily, and it won't help him.

This. And publics, as far as I know, provide more supports and accommodations, if only because they are legally required to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's 6 years old, not in 6th grade.

Based on my experience, he may be able to get into a school if his behavior is good. I'm not sure what the best approach would be for telling them of the diagnosis though. Regardless, around 3rd grade you'll most likely have to start medicating him if there are any behavior issues at all to remain in the school.

Honesty works really well. I was up front with admissions about my kids dx. I sent in the neuropsych and gave them authorization to speak directly to the previous years teachers. No matter what the outcome was---everyone was on the same page. Why would you want to send your child to a school that is not prepared to support them? They can't support the child if they are unaware of the need for support. Sending a child that needs support into an environment that doesn't provide it and is unaware of the need to do so is a recipe for disaster for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 6 years old, not in 6th grade.

Based on my experience, he may be able to get into a school if his behavior is good. I'm not sure what the best approach would be for telling them of the diagnosis though. Regardless, around 3rd grade you'll most likely have to start medicating him if there are any behavior issues at all to remain in the school.

Honesty works really well. I was up front with admissions about my kids dx. I sent in the neuropsych and gave them authorization to speak directly to the previous years teachers. No matter what the outcome was---everyone was on the same page. Why would you want to send your child to a school that is not prepared to support them? They can't support the child if they are unaware of the need for support. Sending a child that needs support into an environment that doesn't provide it and is unaware of the need to do so is a recipe for disaster for everyone.

You know, there are lots of kids with ADHD that don't use or need supports from the schools, other than extended time on standardized testing. If that's the case, why would you tell them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back again. DS is not on meds. We haven't had to go there as yet- and he's still very young.

Would you suggest a school like GDS or Maret where the classes are really small?

I would not recommend GDS. GDS is relatively unstructured, which is really good for many kids, but would be a disaster for my kid with ADHD -- he needs small classes, yes, but even more than that, he needs a predictable schedule where he knows exactly what is expected of him at any given moment. I don't know anything about Maret.

Getting into these schools can be a crapshoot for anyone, but especially for someone whose recommendation is going to say that he needs lots of redirection. Apply to as big a pool of schools as possible, knowing that the school that is a good fit now, at age 6, might not be the best fit school forever. I know people whose kids have pretty significant ADHD who are happy at WES, St. Andrews, and McLean.

ADHD is a huge spectrum -- different kids need different things and different school settings, even with the same diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 6 years old, not in 6th grade.

Based on my experience, he may be able to get into a school if his behavior is good. I'm not sure what the best approach would be for telling them of the diagnosis though. Regardless, around 3rd grade you'll most likely have to start medicating him if there are any behavior issues at all to remain in the school.

Honesty works really well. I was up front with admissions about my kids dx. I sent in the neuropsych and gave them authorization to speak directly to the previous years teachers. No matter what the outcome was---everyone was on the same page. Why would you want to send your child to a school that is not prepared to support them? They can't support the child if they are unaware of the need for support. Sending a child that needs support into an environment that doesn't provide it and is unaware of the need to do so is a recipe for disaster for everyone.

You know, there are lots of kids with ADHD that don't use or need supports from the schools, other than extended time on standardized testing. If that's the case, why would you tell them?

How are you going to get extended time on a test if you don't share the dx with the school?

[Anonymous]

If he needs redirection and attention unless they know about it he will not get it. An example would be the kids they do know about will get preferential seating and the teachers watch for them. Your son could be seated in the back of the room-where he won't get any redirection so he could be missing large chunks of the lesson. The if he is not doing well the school will then approach you about testing. What are you going to say oops he has a diagnosis I didn't tell you about it. Additionally, entering in 2nd grade they are going to want recommendations from his current school and teachers.

Be upfront it is the only way-you want your child to succeed and not fail. If they don't know they can't support him and as previously stated if the don't want to support him then it is not a good fit. Good luck from parent with a ADHD child in private