Current students at Auburn SS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been at Auburn for a number of years. The program that we signed up for does not resemble what's happening in the classrooms today. We're stuck because there isn't another appropriate placement for us at this time. We're staying, but we're not happy about it. It feels like painfully expensive babysitting. On the best of days, there is no harm. On the bad days, I think about keeping him home because what is happening in the classroom is so out of control.


Also a current Auburn parent and I'm just fed up. When we came on board, there were supports in place. The staff seemed on top of things. Was it perfect? Far from it. But I felt like my child was better off at Auburn, flaws and all, than he would have been elsewhere. Now, it's a circus. No one knows what they're doing. The specialists who are left don't seem to know what they're doing. If they're doing anything at all. The curriculum doesn't seem to follow a coherent plan. I'm not sure if my son is actually learning anything. He went in there abover grade level, and recent testing showed that he's now far below grade level. The kids seem out of control all the time and no one seems to be inclined to do anything about it! My husband is so concerned he thinks we should homeschool, because he thinks there is more harm than good being done, and our son would be better off with a tutor, than with what they're doing. I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know how I can homeschool him and work. And I still think he needs to be around kids. But being around kids in all that chaos?

For how much I'm paying, it shouldn't be this stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've been at Auburn for a number of years. The program that we signed up for does not resemble what's happening in the classrooms today. We're stuck because there isn't another appropriate placement for us at this time. We're staying, but we're not happy about it. It feels like painfully expensive babysitting. On the best of days, there is no harm. On the bad days, I think about keeping him home because what is happening in the classroom is so out of control.


Also a current Auburn parent and I'm just fed up. When we came on board, there were supports in place. The staff seemed on top of things. Was it perfect? Far from it. But I felt like my child was better off at Auburn, flaws and all, than he would have been elsewhere. Now, it's a circus. No one knows what they're doing. The specialists who are left don't seem to know what they're doing. If they're doing anything at all. The curriculum doesn't seem to follow a coherent plan. I'm not sure if my son is actually learning anything. He went in there abover grade level, and recent testing showed that he's now far below grade level. The kids seem out of control all the time and no one seems to be inclined to do anything about it! My husband is so concerned he thinks we should homeschool, because he thinks there is more harm than good being done, and our son would be better off with a tutor, than with what they're doing. I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know how I can homeschool him and work. And I still think he needs to be around kids. But being around kids in all that chaos?

For how much I'm paying, it shouldn't be this stressful.

I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Hugs.

[Anonymous]

It's really terrible that there are no good options for autistic students who are more or less on grade level and behaviorally in control, but who need social and social/emotional support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's really terrible that there are no good options for autistic students who are more or less on grade level and behaviorally in control, but who need social and social/emotional support.

+1000 Could not agree more. Our DC fits this profile and needs work on building social skills and executive function. I'm open to private but not for private's sake. Especially because DC wanted to stay in public (MCPS Aspergers) so he could go to school where his NT friends were going. He's with them at lunch and some of the Gen Ed classes. We looked at Auburn SS a year or so ago. DH was intrigued; I was not. At all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's really terrible that there are no good options for autistic students who are more or less on grade level and behaviorally in control, but who need social and social/emotional support.

Kids like this will do fine at a mainstream private school. DS attended Auburn for a year but we pulled him out because the academics was subpar. It didn’t help that the English teacher appeared not to know English, his writing including progress reports and emails were full of grammatical errors.

The social emotional supports which is why we sent DS there weren’t so great either. In fact, the social dynamics in my son’s class actually made his behavior worse: the school was obsessed with banning certain YouTube channels when DS was there - even talking about it at school which was ridiculous.

DS with ASD/ADHD doesn’t need academic or executive functioning supports or accommodations. He just needs small class size so a mainstream private school with rigorous academics works much better and is a very better fit. DS’s social communication skills will never be great but academically he shines so better to focus on his strengths. Also, past elementary school most schools are not good at social/emotional support including Auburn.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any recent feedback? Are things same or different? Trying to figure out if this is right fit for son

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any recent feedback? Are things same or different? Trying to figure out if this is right fit for son

I heard some disturbing stories from our Ed Consultant. I don't know your son's profile but based on what I heard I would steer clear. The fees are too high to pay for a poorly trained ABA specialist, minimal OT and no SLP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any recent feedback? Are things same or different? Trying to figure out if this is right fit for son

If you have a kid with any sort of behaviors, don't even bother. I have heard the BS is terrible and does not know how to support beyond just making token boards.

[Anonymous]

Is this specifically about the silver spring campus?

[Anonymous]

Inadequate staffing, incompetent behavioral specialist, substandard academics. Terrible communication style with parents. Bullying is not properly addressed. Tuition increase for next year. Time to look at better options!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this specifically about the silver spring campus?

Previous poster. I have not heard great things about BS at VA campus but was talking about SS campus.

[Anonymous]

Current Auburn SS parent. I have hope. The school went through a hard time transitioning back to being in person. I believe they are turning things around. They really do have a great ES SL Specialist IMO. She was on maternity leave for awhile and then had to take time off for a family matter, but she still has done amazing things for my kid. You can tell that she is doing a job that she loves and that she cares about the kids. For a time the school didn't have an office manager and a director of admissions. I walked in one day to the SL Specialist coaching a student through a tough time, handling a pizza delivery, getting the student back to class, and then giving an admissions tour without skipping a beat. She is just one example of the resilient staff there. Of course there are problems and thinks that frustrate me, but there are staff who make the price worth it.

[Anonymous]

Yup, agree to the above poster. They are working hard to turn 5hings around, including fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any recent feedback? Are things same or different? Trying to figure out if this is right fit for son

Recent parent from Fairfax campus (which is not in Fairfax, but Chantilly) - company that bought the schools couldn't give a shit about educating students. They are sucking every cent out of the schools, putting the lowest paid, lowest credentialed people they can find in them, and teaching almost nothing. Whatever you do, I would not put your child in an Auburn School or in any school run by Full Bloom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current Auburn SS parent. I have hope. The school went through a hard time transitioning back to being in person. I believe they are turning things around. They really do have a great ES SL Specialist IMO. She was on maternity leave for awhile and then had to take time off for a family matter, but she still has done amazing things for my kid. You can tell that she is doing a job that she loves and that she cares about the kids. For a time the school didn't have an office manager and a director of admissions. I walked in one day to the SL Specialist coaching a student through a tough time, handling a pizza delivery, getting the student back to class, and then giving an admissions tour without skipping a beat. She is just one example of the resilient staff there. Of course there are problems and thinks that frustrate me, but there are staff who make the price worth it.

We are at SS campus. Social learning specialist is consistently mentioned as a bright spot at SS campus and we couldn't agree more. But sadly she alone is not enough to warrant this tuition when everything else is falling apart.