Looking for recs on mainstream privates that are inclusive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re applying to K for DS for 2019. We’re very close-in NOVA. DS has ASD Level 1 provisional diagnosis. Preschool says he probably would not qualify for IEP. He has above average IQ and strong verbal skills. Socially a little awkward. Has some mild anxiety. Thoughts on placement based on your past experience or others’ that you know personally? Thank you.

I would not go based on the preschool teachers. Plenty of people I know have been told IEPs are just for severe kids and they were able to get them. I would see a developmental ped. My child has a an above average IQ as well and many strengths and has an IEP. I know plenty of gifted kids with IEP-twice exceptional.

[Anonymous]

I’m out of the area but at a Friends school in a city probably over served by private schools (ie, lots of schools that are becoming more flexible/open minded in their admissions). You could try schools with a reputation for progressive education or treating each child as an individual, if you know of any. Upside of ours is small, nurturing environment and typical peers, downside is that teachers, while kind, haven’t always known how to teach my child or understand him, and typical peers, while (usually) kind, get more sophisticated with each year and the social gulf grows. It’s been ok, because I don’t think there was a better option, but it has been stressful: for years I thought they might counsel him out, and we’ve had to pay for therapy, specialists, etc on top of school.

[Anonymous]

I would look for a school that also has pre-K or younger kids in addition to kindergarteners. They tend to be more accepting.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone! We’re doing our homework, but also very interested in what others have experienced.

[Anonymous]

Call the private that you are interested in. We found the small/no name that are not as competitive welcoming. We found one that my child went to for a few years before aging out and it was the best possible situation for him. Many were not welcoming but some were. It really depends on your child's needs. Someone here can say, hey my child is similar and didn't do well, but similar is not the same. My child did great at a school where it got bad reviews online for some special needs. They went out of his way to help and he thrived. (I'd no longer recommend due to staff changes)

[Anonymous]

I think the closest you’ll get w mainstream privates are basis and Nysmith. There is a high enough percentage of super bright and quirky kids that as long as their aren’t behavior problems your child would be fine. They aren’t going to offer social support or growth in that area. We have friends at newton for Similar diagnosis and it’s been amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the private that you are interested in. We found the small/no name that are not as competitive welcoming. We found one that my child went to for a few years before aging out and it was the best possible situation for him. Many were not welcoming but some were. It really depends on your child's needs. Someone here can say, hey my child is similar and didn't do well, but similar is not the same. My child did great at a school where it got bad reviews online for some special needs. They went out of his way to help and he thrived. (I'd no longer recommend due to staff changes)

Thank you! Good advice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. All. We’re getting somewhere. This will help me, but possibly others who reference this string in the near future!

[Anonymous]

I've heard from friends that the following schools might be inclusive. Any experiences out there?

Green Hedges
Green Acres
ACDS
C/A (provided there's also an ADD primary diagnosis)
Field (beginning in 6th grade)
Congressional

[Anonymous]

Add Lowell to your list. They are very inclusove and have many kiddos with different learning needs, including social. Maddux is the best at this age, however!

[Anonymous]

Maybe try an educational consultant?

[Anonymous]

You need an educational consultant. As
Social demands increase so do kids like this appear more autistic. And OP, my gosh, of course you disclose the diagnois. The applications ask. What would you do, lie? That’s honestly wild to me. I can’t imagine doing that to my child.

If your kid ness supports you need a good iep or a special needs school. There may be one offs etc. but why not just go with the best known fit? Just so you can say it’s a monsteram private? I’d explore that carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need an educational consultant. As
Social demands increase so do kids like this appear more autistic. And OP, my gosh, of course you disclose the diagnois. The applications ask. What would you do, lie? That’s honestly wild to me. I can’t imagine doing that to my child.

If your kid ness supports you need a good iep or a special needs school. There may be one offs etc. but why not just go with the best known fit? Just so you can say it’s a monsteram private? I’d explore that carefully.

Thanks. She said her child had been admittted so I asked if she disclosed. I wanted to know whether the school admitted knowing the kids status. That’s all. Pleas don’t read more into my question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need an educational consultant. As
Social demands increase so do kids like this appear more autistic. And OP, my gosh, of course you disclose the diagnois. The applications ask. What would you do, lie? That’s honestly wild to me. I can’t imagine doing that to my child.

If your kid ness supports you need a good iep or a special needs school. There may be one offs etc. but why not just go with the best known fit? Just so you can say it’s a monsteram private? I’d explore that carefully.

Thanks. She said her child had been admittted so I asked if she disclosed. I wanted to know whether the school admitted knowing the kids status. That’s all. Pleas don’t read more into my question.

You could try ACDS in Alexandria. I would never send a kid with an asd diagnosis at this young, so clearly impacted, to a mainstream private. But your mileage may vary.

[Anonymous]

To avoid confusion, let me offer the following additional info.

We have a consultant and a neuropsychologist helping us. We’re doing additional testing too. We want the school to know exactly what they’re getting. We are not zoned for a good school and there is not a good transfer option. We’ve already looked into the options w the school district. We didn’t qualify for services from Child Find back when we tried. The person at the preschool has some idea what she’s talking about re IEP eligibility because she was heavily involved in the public school IEP process for our district for kids this age in her prior job. Child is very bright - been tested for that already and will be again.

We have four high-quality SN schools on our list — toured some of them already — but they are each one hell of a drive to get to. We would prefer not having kiddo spend 1.5 hours in the car each day and instead on the playground or in social skills classes, etc.

I’m on DCUM wanting to hear from folks who have real-world experience w mainstream schools that can speak positively or negatively and specifically, preferably w names of schools. Consultants etc are great but I’d like to hear from parents too — in fact, parents recs mean a lot!

Hope that helps. TIA for any info you can provide.