McLean school for GT/ADHD

[Anonymous]

I am a current McLean parent. My kid started in middle school because he needed extra support and would have been lost in a public MS. We never intended to stay for HS. In fact, most families I know whose kids are able to function in a traditional private, parochial or public school leave McLean by HS. The HS is half the size of the MS and I assume that is the reason. PP's experiences with her kids may be different but I believe he/she is in the minority in terms of experiences at McLean. The new leadership is focused on marketing and glossy brochures and presentations. They make a big deal out of being voted one of the best private schools by the Bethesda magazine. That is because they hound families to vote for McLean, which is all it is based on. Then they can advertise that during open houses and parent meetings. The annual tuition increases are insane. Two years in a row, they have had close to 9% tuition increases. It is difficult for regular wage earners to keep pace with it. So, it has become a school of the wealthy or those families who live on trust funds. And, you start to ask, where does the money go? It is not going to the facilities because there is no room for expansion unlike Lab School which just opened a new high school. So, they can justify tuition increases. The curriculum is all over the place and it is difficult to know if it is aligned to the MCPS standards because they do not give standardized tests. I am expecting my DS to be behind when he leaves for another high school in the Fall. I am anticipating having to hire tutors. But, I felt he needed the nurturing environment of McLean for MS. However, HS is another matter and I need him to be prepared for college. All I have to say is all that glitters is not gold. And, think twice before you fork over the $40K+ for MS and HS. Know the tuition will continue to increase each year. It is now higher than the Big 3 private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current McLean parent. My kid started in middle school because he needed extra support and would have been lost in a public MS. We never intended to stay for HS. In fact, most families I know whose kids are able to function in a traditional private, parochial or public school leave McLean by HS. The HS is half the size of the MS and I assume that is the reason. PP's experiences with her kids may be different but I believe he/she is in the minority in terms of experiences at McLean. The new leadership is focused on marketing and glossy brochures and presentations. They make a big deal out of being voted one of the best private schools by the Bethesda magazine. That is because they hound families to vote for McLean, which is all it is based on. Then they can advertise that during open houses and parent meetings. The annual tuition increases are insane. Two years in a row, they have had close to 9% tuition increases. It is difficult for regular wage earners to keep pace with it. So, it has become a school of the wealthy or those families who live on trust funds. And, you start to ask, where does the money go? It is not going to the facilities because there is no room for expansion unlike Lab School which just opened a new high school. So, they can justify tuition increases. The curriculum is all over the place and it is difficult to know if it is aligned to the MCPS standards because they do not give standardized tests. I am expecting my DS to be behind when he leaves for another high school in the Fall. I am anticipating having to hire tutors. But, I felt he needed the nurturing environment of McLean for MS. However, HS is another matter and I need him to be prepared for college. All I have to say is all that glitters is not gold. And, think twice before you fork over the $40K+ for MS and HS. Know the tuition will continue to increase each year. It is now higher than the Big 3 private schools.

+1. Sooner or later McLean is going to implode. The business model, whatever it is, is unsustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a current and alumni McLean parent for over 15 years of 3 students, I am quite bothered by this thread. All 3 of my boys are GT/LD and have thrived and excelled at McLean, always working at or above grade level. My current 7th grader is accelerated in Math (working 2 years ahead). McLean meets students where they are at all levels. They recognize that everyone learns differently so they teach in ways that everyone can learn. My older boys are both McLean and college graduates attending graduate school. They were very well prepared for college. In fact, college counselors often commented on the excellent writing skills of McLean students, adding that they would have no issues in college.

I will tell you that over our many years at McLean, they have gone above and beyond to accommodate my children, ensuring successes and instilling self worth and independence.

I would encourage the original writer to revisit and make a decision based on what is best for their child. Attending an Independent School is about fit and every school is not a good fit for every child.

There could be a whole support group of families extremely disappointed by the McLean school. There are too many ex families that have had the same experiences both when they were at the school and when they leave. Your current 7th grader may be 2 years ahead in the Mclean program but there is no way that he is working 2 years ahead according to the MCPS curriculum. It's great that your older graduates did well but Mclean is a much different school now.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback on my question about the HS!

[Anonymous]

As a current McLean High School parent I have to encourage anyone looking for placement for their child to consider McLean. My two daughters are thriving!! My 11th grader began in 3rd grade and my 9th grader in 5th. One has severe learning issues and the other has none. McLean is meeting both of their needs offering a challenging curriculum. I am currently deep into the college process and McLeans college counselor is amazing and has mafforded me not to have to pay for this service outside of school. This years senior class have gotten into amazing schools with several getting into University of Maryland. I feel very confident my 11th grader will be well prepared for college, not only academically but as a lover of learning and self advocate. The college preparedness workshops they have already begun to have are priceless!! Both girls are taking honor classes and AP classes are available. McLean also has a partnership with AU for students to take classes on campus if that is the level they are on. I respect others opinions of their experiences but I strongly incourage everyone to look for themselves. Do your own research and ask questions! Nobody I have recommended McLean to has regretted it.

[Anonymous]

Another addition- it was stated in an earlier post that the high school at The McLean Scool is half the size of the middle school. This is incorrect. They are very close in size with each class entering grade nine bigger then the last. Retention at McLean has been amazing from 8th to 9th grade the last few years! The current 7th and 8th grades are amoung the largest in the school so the High School should only be growing!!

[Anonymous]

^^Please stop. My kid is in 8th and there has been a lot of attrition in the 4 years of MS. And, there are more kids leaving for other high schools. At least 6 that I know of currently. You must be a plant from admissions.

[Anonymous]

I know a couple of families whose kids have gone to the middle school and high school. The problem is that neither of the kids were able to finish college (in both cases dropped out freshman year). That may not be McLean's fault, but in both instances these were kids who were "stars" in the HS and got into decent colleges but were not able to get through the first year.

[Anonymous]

to 18:48....I think you're on to something with the "plant" theory. That post was waaaay too sugary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple of families whose kids have gone to the middle school and high school. The problem is that neither of the kids were able to finish college (in both cases dropped out freshman year). That may not be McLean's fault, but in both instances these were kids who were "stars" in the HS and got into decent colleges but were not able to get through the first year.

I was told this is a hidden secret that McLean administrators do not want parents to know. The head of school loves to get in front of parents and prospective families and talk about all the fine colleges at which McLean students are accepted but there is no information on tracking the graduation or non-graduation rate of students. So much of it is a sales pitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple of families whose kids have gone to the middle school and high school. The problem is that neither of the kids were able to finish college (in both cases dropped out freshman year). That may not be McLean's fault, but in both instances these were kids who were "stars" in the HS and got into decent colleges but were not able to get through the first year.

I was told this is a hidden secret that McLean administrators do not want parents to know. The head of school loves to get in front of parents and prospective families and talk about all the fine colleges at which McLean students are accepted but there is no information on tracking the graduation or non-graduation rate of students. So much of it is a sales pitch.

I'm the McLean parent who has a child in the middle school and another child who does not attend McLean because it was not academically right for her. I get the feeling, from what I have seen of the upper school so far that there is still some handholding going on. It may be that the kids who could not handle college needed more help in the areas of time management and executive function. I know that even though those things are part of the curriculum, we use an outside tutor for our child because he really needs it (and I see him needing it through high school). I can see my own child having those issues in college and I wonder how much DH and I will still be helping him through. I am not arguing with the posters who have expressed their displeasure with the school (heck, we left one we thought did a disservice to our child, and I know many people who loved it for their child). Bottom line---It's all about best fit.

[Anonymous]

I've had two children at both McLean and at Commonwealth Academy. No contest, especially if you are searching for Gifted with ADHD. McLean was a disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a current and alumni McLean parent for over 15 years of 3 students, I am quite bothered by this thread. All 3 of my boys are GT/LD and have thrived and excelled at McLean, always working at or above grade level. My current 7th grader is accelerated in Math (working 2 years ahead). McLean meets students where they are at all levels. They recognize that everyone learns differently so they teach in ways that everyone can learn. My older boys are both McLean and college graduates attending graduate school. They were very well prepared for college. In fact, college counselors often commented on the excellent writing skills of McLean students, adding that they would have no issues in college.

I will tell you that over our many years at McLean, they have gone above and beyond to accommodate my children, ensuring successes and instilling self worth and independence.

I would encourage the original writer to revisit and make a decision based on what is best for their child. Attending an Independent School is about fit and every school is not a good fit for every child.

Why are you bothered by a thread where people post about experiences that are different from yours? Like you said, not every school will be a good fit for every student. That doesn't make other people's experiences less valid than yours.

Well said PP. I would want varying experiences too if I were seeking a school for my child. Often easier said than done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current McLean parent. My kid started in middle school because he needed extra support and would have been lost in a public MS. We never intended to stay for HS. In fact, most families I know whose kids are able to function in a traditional private, parochial or public school leave McLean by HS. The HS is half the size of the MS and I assume that is the reason. PP's experiences with her kids may be different but I believe he/she is in the minority in terms of experiences at McLean. The new leadership is focused on marketing and glossy brochures and presentations. They make a big deal out of being voted one of the best private schools by the Bethesda magazine. That is because they hound families to vote for McLean, which is all it is based on. Then they can advertise that during open houses and parent meetings. The annual tuition increases are insane. Two years in a row, they have had close to 9% tuition increases. It is difficult for regular wage earners to keep pace with it. So, it has become a school of the wealthy or those families who live on trust funds. And, you start to ask, where does the money go? It is not going to the facilities because there is no room for expansion unlike Lab School which just opened a new high school. So, they can justify tuition increases. The curriculum is all over the place and it is difficult to know if it is aligned to the MCPS standards because they do not give standardized tests. I am expecting my DS to be behind when he leaves for another high school in the Fall. I am anticipating having to hire tutors. But, I felt he needed the nurturing environment of McLean for MS. However, HS is another matter and I need him to be prepared for college. All I have to say is all that glitters is not gold. And, think twice before you fork over the $40K+ for MS and HS. Know the tuition will continue to increase each year. It is now higher than the Big 3 private schools.

. I understand from a current parent that tuition just reached $50,000. The school is very administrative heavy. There are people sitting in offices seemingly doing much of nothing. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: As a current McLean High School parent I have to encourage anyone looking for placement for their child to consider McLean. My two daughters are thriving!! My 11th grader began in 3rd grade and my 9th grader in 5th. One has severe learning issues and the other has none. McLean is meeting both of their needs offering a challenging curriculum. I am currently deep into the college process and McLeans college counselor is amazing and has mafforded me not to have to pay for this service outside of school. This years senior class have gotten into amazing schools with several getting into University of Maryland. I feel very confident my 11th grader will be well prepared for college, not only academically but as a lover of learning and self advocate. The college preparedness workshops they have already begun to have are priceless!! Both girls are taking honor classes and AP classes are available. McLean also has a partnership with AU for students to take classes on campus if that is the level they are on. I respect others opinions of their experiences but I strongly incourage everyone to look for themselves. Do your own research and ask questions! Nobody I have recommended McLean to has regretted it.

. Propoganda