McLean School

[Anonymous]

People really need to understand that school's have their reasons for not accepting some students. They know who they can serve and accepting a student that they are not confident will be successful at their school doesn't help anyone. Having your child counseled out of a private is not fun.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been at McLean for 4 years and it's been an amazing environment. She has ADHD (inattentive), and challenges in math. The smaller classes, supportive teachers, and accommodations they just regularly give to all students have been life changing for her. Plus, she can get involved in a lot of activities and has a nice social circle of friends. She's happy going to school each day, is getting better all the time at advocating for her needs, and her self-esteem around math has been a total positive change. In regards to admission...while I know it's about the specific strengths and challenges of each applicant, it's also about bringing a new student into a class that's already established. My sense is sometimes a student who is a really great fit, just won't get in one year, b/c of the makeup of a particular grade. I've found the Admission Office warm and honest. I'm sorry other posters had negative experiences, but ours has been great.

[Anonymous]

I feel incredibly lucky and thrilled that DC was accepted to McLean- feels like the perfect place for my kid. With better student activities and sports than others considered. But, each kid and each family is different.

[Anonymous]

Applications have gone up tremendously- so lots more kids not getting in depending on the year.
No way 60% dyslexic - you may have misheard - maybe 60% with some sort of diagnosed LD.

[Anonymous]

I had a couple of people told me that Mclean's acceptance is very subjective. Cathy needs to like you, I guess. I didn't believe it but I do now. My friend told me that her kid was rejected for first grade and he later was in my son's class in another private school and was a pretty good student. My kid has mild ADHD, we thought there would not be a reason why they wouldn't accept him, other than we asked for scholarship. He was not accepted and no phone calls were returned. I guess if they had applicants that can pay vs applicants that ask for scholarship, we know now who they would choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a couple of people told me that Mclean's acceptance is very subjective. Cathy needs to like you, I guess. I didn't believe it but I do now. My friend told me that her kid was rejected for first grade and he later was in my son's class in another private school and was a pretty good student. My kid has mild ADHD, we thought there would not be a reason why they wouldn't accept him, other than we asked for scholarship. He was not accepted and no phone calls were returned. I guess if they had applicants that can pay vs applicants that ask for scholarship, we know now who they would choose.

McLean is so not worth the money. Be glad they rejected your DS. /s/ Former McLean parent.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

I was told by a teacher there that they take kids up to two grade levels behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told by a teacher there that they take kids up to two grade levels behind.

Yes, that's what we were also told by the admissions people.

[Anonymous]

Any sense of the learning profiles? The website says ADHD, dyslexia, EF, and anxiety. Is that “all”? For example, what about a kid with Social Communication Disorder or a “mild” ASD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any sense of the learning profiles? The website says ADHD, dyslexia, EF, and anxiety. Is that “all”? For example, what about a kid with Social Communication Disorder or a “mild” ASD?

My autistic child was there for a year. They had no idea how to support his social needs and no ideas to improve his reading comprehension beyond OG interventions, which is not what he needed. I would not recommend for autism.

[Anonymous]

Agree - my DS has ASD - high functioning, was told it would have been Aspergers in 2013. I thought the admissions office had an allergic reaction to the diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:good friend of mine applied and made her kid feel like he was getting in, he visited the campus, got really excited about attending, and then denied him with some BS reason and implied he should not apply again the following year. he was heartbroken. they definitely don't take kids they advertise that they take. they are scared of getting the LD-school label.

My DS goes there and has three LDs one of which is severe. We love it there and I don’t think this is accurate. From what the school has shared there has been much more demand due to COVID and learning loss. They simply can’t take everyone. It’s based on a number of factors, including disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a couple of people told me that Mclean's acceptance is very subjective. Cathy needs to like you, I guess. I didn't believe it but I do now. My friend told me that her kid was rejected for first grade and he later was in my son's class in another private school and was a pretty good student. My kid has mild ADHD, we thought there would not be a reason why they wouldn't accept him, other than we asked for scholarship. He was not accepted and no phone calls were returned. I guess if they had applicants that can pay vs applicants that ask for scholarship, we know now who they would choose.

McLean is so not worth the money. Be glad they rejected your DS. /s/ Former McLean parent.

We are there on financial assistance and my kiddo has very very mild ADHD and was two grade levels behind. We love the school and our kid is thriving. The teachers KNOW my kid and teach to what is needed. I couldn’t be happier. We get zero tears going to school - and that’s the way it should be. The kids are kind, sweet and diverse. I’m sorry your friend felt otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a couple of people told me that Mclean's acceptance is very subjective. Cathy needs to like you, I guess. I didn't believe it but I do now. My friend told me that her kid was rejected for first grade and he later was in my son's class in another private school and was a pretty good student. My kid has mild ADHD, we thought there would not be a reason why they wouldn't accept him, other than we asked for scholarship. He was not accepted and no phone calls were returned. I guess if they had applicants that can pay vs applicants that ask for scholarship, we know now who they would choose.

McLean is so not worth the money. Be glad they rejected your DS. /s/ Former McLean parent.

We are there on financial assistance and my kiddo has very very mild ADHD and was two grade levels behind. We love the school and our kid is thriving. The teachers KNOW my kid and teach to what is needed. I couldn’t be happier. We get zero tears going to school - and that’s the way it should be. The kids are kind, sweet and diverse. I’m sorry your friend felt otherwise.

I think this is the issue: their sweet spot is kids who are below grade level but don't have any specific learning disability that needs remediation -- this child exactly. And that's a great, important sweet spot. But they don't advertise that or it's not consistent with how their admissions office works and so they get kids who are not behind (and whose parents are then dissatisfied with the curriculum) or need specific instructional techniques (that they can't deliver as well as, say, Siena).