Recommend a school for 2e 11 yo DD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP are you willing to say what school you're in now? Your DD sounds a lot like my DS.

Ugh I would, but it’s small enough that it would out me - I want to try to continue to try to make things work only because I may not find other options!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look into Sycamore School in Arlington as an option.

My child goes there and while there is at least one profoundly gifted child there, there is group work and I"m not sure how challenging it is to the profoundly gifted. It's a good middle-school stopping off point before a child can go to a mainstream high school will truly challenging classes.

OP: As much as I love TSS, I'm not sure it's right for your kid. Basis McLean, however, might be worth a look. I know a kid with a similar profile (great at sports, not so social at school) who is gifted and thrives at Basis McLean. It's got detractors on here though. In fairness to them, this kid is new to the school.

Thank you so much for this - i considered Basis a while ago but we have close friends w a DD (that we met in social skills class and similar profile) and it was a disaster socially for them. The impression they shared is that you really need to follow the exact program at all moments or else the school is calling. My DD definitely is going to have moments where she’s frustrated or needs reminders and our friends found that this wasn’t tolerated. Sycamore was on our list to visit and your feedback has been extremely helpful.

This has been the kindest and most helpful thread - I’ve been sourcing others as well - thoughts on: Linder or Commonwealth?

[Anonymous]

^^ I'm the TSS poster. Looked into Linder. It is brand, spankin' new. I also felt like, when I spoke with the head of school, I was being sold on some dream. That said, the school in Alexandria looks pretty darn nice.

I'm checking on commonwealth for my second gifted kid with ADHD. TSS isn't right for them either.

[Anonymous]

New School of Northern Virginia. It has been a godsend for my kid with the same profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very advanced academic DD struggles with social skills and group work. ADHD diagnosis … no ASD diagnosis as of now, but definitely see social issues and some low frustration tolerance (which manifests as moodiness when it strikes). Pretty far ahead in math (also reads incessantly and loves science and robotics). Anyway - current private frustrated by the issues w peers and group work. We’ve visited some of the special needs schools in the past, but none of them could meet her academic need. Willing to consider off the beaten path schools, willing to drive, just want to find a place that accepts her (and her struggle w group work and occasional irritability) while we continue to help her grow w therapy etc.

Your DD sounds like a good fit at Ideaventions in Reston.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend it. They do not understand 2e and the concept of ADHD terrifies them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very advanced academic DD struggles with social skills and group work. ADHD diagnosis … no ASD diagnosis as of now, but definitely see social issues and some low frustration tolerance (which manifests as moodiness when it strikes). Pretty far ahead in math (also reads incessantly and loves science and robotics). Anyway - current private frustrated by the issues w peers and group work. We’ve visited some of the special needs schools in the past, but none of them could meet her academic need. Willing to consider off the beaten path schools, willing to drive, just want to find a place that accepts her (and her struggle w group work and occasional irritability) while we continue to help her grow w therapy etc.

Your DD sounds like a good fit at Ideaventions in Reston.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend it. They do not understand 2e and the concept of ADHD terrifies them.

OP here - ugh I researched them today and was hoping it might be a fit especially with their emphasis on gifted education plus outdoor time … could you explain anymore what about the adhd terrified them? It seems so small that I have to believe a lot of the kids are adhd based on the way they present themselves?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very advanced academic DD struggles with social skills and group work. ADHD diagnosis … no ASD diagnosis as of now, but definitely see social issues and some low frustration tolerance (which manifests as moodiness when it strikes). Pretty far ahead in math (also reads incessantly and loves science and robotics). Anyway - current private frustrated by the issues w peers and group work. We’ve visited some of the special needs schools in the past, but none of them could meet her academic need. Willing to consider off the beaten path schools, willing to drive, just want to find a place that accepts her (and her struggle w group work and occasional irritability) while we continue to help her grow w therapy etc.

Your DD sounds like a good fit at Ideaventions in Reston.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend it. They do not understand 2e and the concept of ADHD terrifies them.

OP here - ugh I researched them today and was hoping it might be a fit especially with their emphasis on gifted education plus outdoor time … could you explain anymore what about the adhd terrified them? It seems so small that I have to believe a lot of the kids are adhd based on the way they present themselves?!

I can tell you about my personal experience -we applied, they met my kid, were very excited, and and everything seemed to be going great... until we disclosed our child's ADHD. Then they did a complete 180, started stammering about how they are not a special needs school, started prefacing everything they said with... "but the ADHD" and basically told us this is not the place for us. From what I was able to lean anecdotally, they had what they viewed as a bad experience with a kid with ADHD not too long beforehand. The way I see it, we dodged a bullet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very advanced academic DD struggles with social skills and group work. ADHD diagnosis … no ASD diagnosis as of now, but definitely see social issues and some low frustration tolerance (which manifests as moodiness when it strikes). Pretty far ahead in math (also reads incessantly and loves science and robotics). Anyway - current private frustrated by the issues w peers and group work. We’ve visited some of the special needs schools in the past, but none of them could meet her academic need. Willing to consider off the beaten path schools, willing to drive, just want to find a place that accepts her (and her struggle w group work and occasional irritability) while we continue to help her grow w therapy etc.

Your DD sounds like a good fit at Ideaventions in Reston.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend it. They do not understand 2e and the concept of ADHD terrifies them.

OP here - ugh I researched them today and was hoping it might be a fit especially with their emphasis on gifted education plus outdoor time … could you explain anymore what about the adhd terrified them? It seems so small that I have to believe a lot of the kids are adhd based on the way they present themselves?!

I can tell you about my personal experience -we applied, they met my kid, were very excited, and and everything seemed to be going great... until we disclosed our child's ADHD. Then they did a complete 180, started stammering about how they are not a special needs school, started prefacing everything they said with... "but the ADHD" and basically told us this is not the place for us. From what I was able to lean anecdotally, they had what they viewed as a bad experience with a kid with ADHD not too long beforehand. The way I see it, we dodged a bullet.

Yikes…. Was that this year? I had emailed them this afternoon, but maybe won’t hear from them now what school did you end up at if you don’t mind sharing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very advanced academic DD struggles with social skills and group work. ADHD diagnosis … no ASD diagnosis as of now, but definitely see social issues and some low frustration tolerance (which manifests as moodiness when it strikes). Pretty far ahead in math (also reads incessantly and loves science and robotics). Anyway - current private frustrated by the issues w peers and group work. We’ve visited some of the special needs schools in the past, but none of them could meet her academic need. Willing to consider off the beaten path schools, willing to drive, just want to find a place that accepts her (and her struggle w group work and occasional irritability) while we continue to help her grow w therapy etc.

Your DD sounds like a good fit at Ideaventions in Reston.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend it. They do not understand 2e and the concept of ADHD terrifies them.

OP here - ugh I researched them today and was hoping it might be a fit especially with their emphasis on gifted education plus outdoor time … could you explain anymore what about the adhd terrified them? It seems so small that I have to believe a lot of the kids are adhd based on the way they present themselves?!

I can tell you about my personal experience -we applied, they met my kid, were very excited, and and everything seemed to be going great... until we disclosed our child's ADHD. Then they did a complete 180, started stammering about how they are not a special needs school, started prefacing everything they said with... "but the ADHD" and basically told us this is not the place for us. From what I was able to lean anecdotally, they had what they viewed as a bad experience with a kid with ADHD not too long beforehand. The way I see it, we dodged a bullet.

Yikes…. Was that this year? I had emailed them this afternoon, but maybe won’t hear from them now what school did you end up at if you don’t mind sharing?

Actually looks like I didn’t send it - so maybe I’ll pass. Would love to hear where you ended up though

[Anonymous]

Would you ever consider homeschooling, at least for the middle school years? It can actually work out as a reasonable option for highly gifted children, especially at this age. There are many resources in the DC area for homeschoolers -- if you're anywhere near Herndon, the Compass center is a great resource for extra classes, activities, and socialization. On FB check out the Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers group (specifically the MS & HS subgroup) and even the Johns Hopkins CTY parent page on FB as there are actually a good number of families on there who homeschool (if your daughter isn't in CTY, that is something you might want to look into, as they have really nice classes, summer camps, etc. for gifted children). I would also recommend reading the Well-Trained Mind. This might not be the answer you're looking for, but just some thoughts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you ever consider homeschooling, at least for the middle school years? It can actually work out as a reasonable option for highly gifted children, especially at this age. There are many resources in the DC area for homeschoolers -- if you're anywhere near Herndon, the Compass center is a great resource for extra classes, activities, and socialization. On FB check out the Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers group (specifically the MS & HS subgroup) and even the Johns Hopkins CTY parent page on FB as there are actually a good number of families on there who homeschool (if your daughter isn't in CTY, that is something you might want to look into, as they have really nice classes, summer camps, etc. for gifted children). I would also recommend reading the Well-Trained Mind. This might not be the answer you're looking for, but just some thoughts!

It’s definitely something we are now considering though if you’d told me that five years ago I would have said you were out of your mind. It would need to be structured home school pieced together from various places like you described versus my husband and/or me reaching our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you willing to say what school you're in now? Your DD sounds a lot like my DS.

Ugh I would, but it’s small enough that it would out me - I want to try to continue to try to make things work only because I may not find other options!!

I don't want to completely out ourselves - will tell you our experience was fairly was recent. We ended up it at the New School of Northern Virginia - the above post about it was mine as well.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at any of the online options like Stanford Online HS or Davidson Institute? Both of them start in 7th grade. I know Stanford has a lot of reading and writing for their classes but no group work. They also have a fantastic robotics team.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at Newton (it's K thru 8, though)? Finding a school that can work on the social vs tolerate it has been very helpful...

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you again. I will look at Davidson and Stanford. It would be a massive change to our life to do online school, but I don't want to say no to anything that might be a fit. We did look at Newton but the academics weren't strong enough (she's too far ahead in a few areas), but the school is amazing.