Just Completed Disastrous Freshman Year - Please Help find a new school

[Anonymous]

I have an ADHD kid. If you want to stay public, you need to hire an advocate and get an IEP. That will provide him with a case manager to help watch over things, and require the school to be accountable with annual meetings and quarterly reports. Or, I would consider Commonwealth, which is probably the only school out of those named here that is going to teach your son good skills.

[Anonymous]

I think you will need to show some testing to get a child with a 1.57 accepted at most schools.

[Anonymous]

OP, this sounds a lot like my junior high and early high school experience. I have a serious mental illness. Seek help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you will need to show some testing to get a child with a 1.57 accepted at most schools.

Right. I'm wondering how you assume you'll be able to get your son accepted into any of the schools mentioned up thread. What are your public options? Rather than repeat the failed classes, I'd consider having him repeat 9th at a new school, especially if he happens to be young for his grade. Is he?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the advice.
Some more background on our situation.

DS had a neuropsych eval completed two years ago which resulted in the ADHD diagnosis. He is currently taken medication. No other LD's diagnosed.

He was an A/B student in middle school.

He is currently seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist. No depression diagnosis.

Not young for his grade, actually one of the older kids.

He is obsessed with being on his phone and the internet. We have monitored and restricted when possible but when we completely take away he becomes a whole new angry and miserable person to be around.

He has adjusted fine socially and has many friends. He also plays a sport at school and for a club team.

Everyone we speak with are at a loss to explain the complete lack of motivation to do the work and do well other than he has poor study habits. All his friends do well in school so it is not like he has surrounded himself with equally unmotivated students.

Also, he refuses to accept any help from us in assisting with homework or reviewing projects/essays before being submitted. We are just trying to help get him on the right path but he wants none of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you will need to show some testing to get a child with a 1.57 accepted at most schools.

Right. I'm wondering how you assume you'll be able to get your son accepted into any of the schools mentioned up thread. What are your public options? Rather than repeat the failed classes, I'd consider having him repeat 9th at a new school, especially if he happens to be young for his grade. Is he?

OP here - I never assumed he would be accepted anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I second the Blythe-Templeton recommendation.

[Anonymous]

I would contact Field as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you will need to show some testing to get a child with a 1.57 accepted at most schools.

Right. I'm wondering how you assume you'll be able to get your son accepted into any of the schools mentioned up thread. What are your public options? Rather than repeat the failed classes, I'd consider having him repeat 9th at a new school, especially if he happens to be young for his grade. Is he?

You would be surprised how many schools will accept you if you are full pay.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure he will be eligible t play sports in school with that grade point? Maybe that can be a carrot?

[Anonymous]

I would do a drug test.

Sports would also be off the table until grades come up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you will need to show some testing to get a child with a 1.57 accepted at most schools.

Right. I'm wondering how you assume you'll be able to get your son accepted into any of the schools mentioned up thread. What are your public options? Rather than repeat the failed classes, I'd consider having him repeat 9th at a new school, especially if he happens to be young for his grade. Is he?

NP here. Check your tone, PP. It's not particularly kind, especially as you haven't done your reading and OP never made any assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is obsessed with being on his phone and the internet. We have monitored and restricted when possible but when we completely take away he becomes a whole new angry and miserable person to be around.

OP, this is a symptom of withdrawal. For ADHD kids, being on the phone/internet is like a drug. And, yes, it can derail any interest in academics. If you need frequent dopamine hits, the motivation to work on things that give you none goes waaaay down. He may actually needs some psychiatric help to get him off the addiction.

Everyone we speak with are at a loss to explain the complete lack of motivation to do the work and do well other than he has poor study habits. All his friends do well in school so it is not like he has surrounded himself with equally unmotivated students.

The lack of motivation also demonstrates a complete unconcern for the future. Not surprising, the teenage brain is not good at this, but most kids have some understanding that they have to suffer in the now to get into college, become a grown up, etc. The fact that your son is unconcerned suggests something's going on with executive functioning and planning areas in his brain.

Also, he refuses to accept any help from us in assisting with homework or reviewing projects/essays before being submitted. We are just trying to help get him on the right path but he wants none of it.

As his parent, you still have some leverage. Given what's happened his freshman year, something needs to change. From what you've written, you are intimidated when he gets upset or angry, and fail to follow-through on disciplining him.

You and your spouse need help as well. Please get some counseling as a family, get some parent coaching support, and also look at a psychiatric evaluation for your son.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like the experience we had with my stepson. He has ADHD, along with my (layman's) diagnosis of ODD. He squeaked through and graduated from a MC high school, thanks mainly to his IEP. He usually put in the absolute minimal effort necessary.

He also was/is obsessed with his cell phone, but has matured and/or learned to manage his challenges and is at community college and looking at 4-year schools now. It was a bumpy ride, but somehow he made it. At the time, we considered the Chelsea School, but couldn't swing it. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

mclean, nora, chelsea school. Field too but need to be independent. Also maybe burke