Schools for struggling kids?

[Anonymous]

Here's a better link to the smaller private schools:

http://www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com/About.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they need a small school, and that rules out the Catholic schools, whose special needs programs I suspect are inadequate (we've gone through this).

Look at the small schools on this list:

http://www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com/

I can't tell much about your kids, but I suggest you look at 1) The Nora School, and 2) Parkmont.

They may have openings as some plan on bringing kids in through the year.

+1 Nora and Parkmont are the places that focus on kids with the issues you describe. Lots of boys take awhile to mature, so don't despair.

[Anonymous]

Do check out Bullis - they have buses from VA. Your kids just might need a change of scenery and a balanced, whole-child approach that offers more support to turn things around and make them feel more motivated and successful. The right school (no matter which one it is) can make a world of difference.

[Anonymous]

Friends absolutely swear by the McLean school. If High School, O Connell and St. John's are great - PVI is not. Commonwealth, GW Community School, Oakwood are more

[Anonymous]

Look also at Howard Gardner school, not very far from you. Another small, supportive school. Commonwealth might be good, too.

Nora and Parkmont may well be a good fit but you are concerned about distance.

Your kids need more support than the Catholic school system can provide. We know from our own experience there. Aside from that, they'll get lost in a crowd of 1000+ students.

[Anonymous]

Another organization/executive function tutor.

http://anndolin.ectutoring.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Johns has a programfor kids with learning issues


Good Counsel does as well.

Landon does haev a learning specialist for both the MS and US. They will work with you on accomdations such as extra time for tests, specific needs in teh classroom etc.

Sandy Spring, Field School and Burke are also possibilties. Bullis has a learnibg center within th library that also works one on one with kids needs and allows tutorign to be done during school time.

I don't know about Good Counsel but I don't think any of these other schools will take kids with such bad grades. These are schools that provide some accommodations for kids with mild learning issues but they are not SN schools and they have limited openings and are unlikely to take a student with very poor grades. They will assume the needs are greater than what they can provide.

Look at schools like Commonwealth, McLean.

[Anonymous]

Hi Op. If this is to some large degree a motivation issue (particularly for the older kid who I think hasn't been tested yet?), I'm not sure what changing schools might accomplish. It's true that a change of scenery and friends might lead to a change of attitude-- but then again, motivation might easily stay the same or get worse.

If your kids simply don't enjoy books and studying math or english, then a lot is going to ride on whether the teachers are passionate and inspiring. You can find inspiring teachers in both public and private schools (we've had good and bad teachers in both places) and a lot depends on the luck of the draw each year. In any case, it's never a teacher's job, in either public or private school, to sit on your kid when he's at home in the evenings supposedly doing his homework, and that seems to be the real problem here. You're more likely to get a note from the private school teacher that your kid isn't turning in homework. Your safest bet, though, is to check Edline (or whatever your school uses) frequently to see whether homework is being turned in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Johns has a programfor kids with learning issues


Good Counsel does as well.

Landon does haev a learning specialist for both the MS and US. They will work with you on accomdations such as extra time for tests, specific needs in teh classroom etc.

Sandy Spring, Field School and Burke are also possibilties. Bullis has a learnibg center within th library that also works one on one with kids needs and allows tutorign to be done during school time.

I don't know about Good Counsel but I don't think any of these other schools will take kids with such bad grades. These are schools that provide some accommodations for kids with mild learning issues but they are not SN schools and they have limited openings and are unlikely to take a student with very poor grades. They will assume the needs are greater than what they can provide.

Look at schools like Commonwealth, McLean.

McLean takes traditional learners and kids with mild learning issues or different learning styles but it s not a SN school.

[Anonymous]

OP here--I've been off-line for the last couple of days, so I'm just catching up. This has been EXTREMELY helpful. To respond to a couple of questions: They're probably 95th, 96th percentile (less in math). Motivation is definitely an issue, but it's so tied up in the ADD/anxiety issue for one kid (and with the fact that his brother gets off the hook because of these issues for the other) that it's almost impossible to tell how much it's a factor.
We're off to the most promising start in school we've had in years. Our ADD-diagnosed kid now has a 504 plan in place, and they both just seem to have started out with a more positive attitude than I've seen in ages. This gives me some hope for this year and, in the meantime, I'm going to research these options so we can begin the process of transferring.

[Anonymous]

OP, I wish the best. Good to hear the school year is getting off to a promising start. I hope it continues.

[Anonymous]

FCPS?

[Anonymous]

OP -- Glad to hear things are starting off well so maybe no change will be needed. But if you do check out other schools, I would add St. Andrew's to your list. I am not sure why, but they have sort of a niche of taking a few very bright kids each year with motivation problems and turning them around. I've personally seen it done there several times, including even with some kids already half way through high school so you are right to be thinking about it now. With kids as bright as yours, you need them in a place that if they "turn it around" they can continue to be challenged without another switch. Some of the schools mentioned probably fit that mode more than others. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

How about you take away all screen time, phones, video games etc. until they finish their homework? A new school isn't going to make them do their homework. It isn't going to solve your problem. If you no they did zero homework they can stay at home or the library on the weekends and after school until they finish. Save money on private school and hire a tutor four days a week after school to help them do the homework if you can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- Glad to hear things are starting off well so maybe no change will be needed. But if you do check out other schools, I would add St. Andrew's to your list. I am not sure why, but they have sort of a niche of taking a few very bright kids each year with motivation problems and turning them around. I've personally seen it done there several times, including even with some kids already half way through high school so you are right to be thinking about it now. With kids as bright as yours, you need them in a place that if they "turn it around" they can continue to be challenged without another switch. Some of the schools mentioned probably fit that mode more than others. Good luck.

Great to hear, OP! Re St A's - I tried to get my child in there - a similar age and profile to OP's, with better grades and scores and they said DC was not a fit for the class due to DC's issues. I got the sense they are full up with kids with special issues right now. A friend who applied for her DC with similar issues had a similar response from St. A's. It may depend on the year you try, but I think mid-year/mid-program admissions to St A's were tough this past year for this current school year. Our DC is at another local independent and is thriving now in large part I think to the more relaxed schedule, frequent breaks/physical exercise, and more encouraging environment. It is not a "special" school - it is just a school without the intense testing pressure of the local publics.