Private Middle Schools

[Anonymous]

I am compiling a list of private middle school programs for rising 8th DS with intent that he would attend 8-12. The main requirements are that there are small classes, differentiation and that they embrace my very social, very disorganized, visual learner. He needs his sports-basketball and lacrosse. I need a bus from northern VA. The list so far is McLean of MD, St. Andrews in Potomac, Bullis and Flint Hill. Will you comment on these and/or provide other suggestion? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I had a good experience with son at the McLean School for middle school. And, yes, at least at that time they ran a bus from No. Va. I am, however, much more impressed with the Commonwealth Academy in No. Alexandria. Would comment more, but, alas, no bus.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- I forgot where I was posting so realize I can provide dx: ADHD, slow exec functioning speed, written expression disorder.

[Anonymous]

OP - what is "written expression disorder". That's a new one for me. One of my kids has Aspergers and has difficulty composing essays, so I suppose she has "written expression disorder". But I would like to know more.

[Anonymous]

18:28 I am going to explain this all wrong I am sure but the way I understand written expression disorder is that DS has an issue encoding his thoughts (he is an excellent reader which is a decoding activity). The short term solution is dictating his essays into dragon software which captures some creative thinking and good vocab, even a literary device or two in a good day, but he cannot sit down a write a well-organized essay. Generally he does his thinking, writing or math, in his head rather than on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - what is "written expression disorder". That's a new one for me. One of my kids has Aspergers and has difficulty composing essays, so I suppose she has "written expression disorder". But I would like to know more.

It's dysgraphia: http://www.ldonline.org/article/12770/

I would add Lab School your list. They have shuttles to VA, basketball, not sure about LAX, definitely engage creative learners, small class size and can work with the visual learner who might have issues with organization.

Siena & Kingsbury might also be of consideration. I don't know about the schedules to VA.

If the school you choose doesn't have everything, like LAX, maybe he could play on a club team:
http://www.nextlevelathletes.net/1/Lacrosse/123/Next-Level-Club-Teams/15/Boy_s-Teams/94/High-School-Teams/

[Anonymous]

I have a similar son and we are looking at Bullis. They have the small class size, they do very little lecture, they have a learning center that is open from 6-7 am and 3-6 pm. They have a full time person in the learning center that helps with writing. They have student tutors. They allow outside tutors in the school. They have advisory.

I have not looked at St. Andrew but a friend of mine has and she says they have the same.

On another thread in the private school forum I found out that Landon has the same.

Also, if you don't mind Catholic, Paul VI, I was told has the best support system for kids with mild LD's in the ADW. I have not checked it out due to location. St. Johns has a program called Binilde for kids with minor LDs.

All these schools have LAX in varying degrees. For example, it is extremely hard to make the Landon LAX team. St. Andrews lacrosse is less competitive but a really great teacher and coach from Landon will be there next year. (my son loves this coach)

Bullis, Paul Vi, st. Johns are co-Ed.

[Anonymous]

OP here and thanks so much. The learning center approach is really interesting and I am going to visit each.

[Anonymous]

Good Counsel also has a program with kids that have learning issues. They also have LAX but not as hard as Landon to make.

[Anonymous]

Sorry-Good Counsel is HS only.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like McLean may be appropriate.

[Anonymous]

A lot of privates, maybe all, have learning centers but they really vary in quality. There are schools where the teachers themselves are poorly equipped for kids who need supports and fob it all onto the learning centers. So you are right to be careful.

I have a DS at McLean and love the school. I think it would provide everything that you need. You should know that sports aren't its strong suit. They do have lacrosse and basketball teams (and their high school basketball team just won its division). You might want to speak with the head of the PE department, Bobby Meyers, about whether it would be a good fit for your DS.

[Anonymous]

You could look at Burke. On the Metro red line. A number of kids take Metro from VA. No lacrosse however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of privates, maybe all, have learning centers but they really vary in quality. There are schools where the teachers themselves are poorly equipped for kids who need supports and fob it all onto the learning centers. So you are right to be careful.

I have a DS at McLean and love the school. I think it would provide everything that you need. You should know that sports aren't its strong suit. They do have lacrosse and basketball teams (and their high school basketball team just won its division). You might want to speak with the head of the PE department, Bobby Meyers, about whether it would be a good fit for your DS.

I was going to say the same thing about McLean-great school, but sports aren't their strength, but they certainly have teams. Flint Hill tends to have better sports teams overall, but they don't offer as much academic support as McLean. Not sure if Lab has sports teams. I think St Andrews has the combo of a great program and good sports teams.

[Anonymous]

Beware the McLean School. It is supposed to be the perfect school for the kind of child you describe (other than the sports angle. HS basketball is great, not so sure about LAX, but a sports Mecca it is not. From an academic standpoint,the HS is considered the jewel in the crown of the three divisions there and I do know that the vast majority of HS families there have generally been happy with the HS and the college counseling and placement. I will say up front that the vast majority are placed with colleges that are especially capable of accommodating learning issues, so go into the HS with your eyes wide open that your DS will not likely be heading toward one of the big-name schools because that is not where McLean has its strongest relationships. To the credit of the college counseling and HS staff, the families and kids who graduate are generally very happy with their results, just be comfortable with what your expectations are for your child. Don't go in expecting to be walking out on your way to Princeton. The middle school, however, is a rough spot to say the least and while you are only looking at one year, go in after doing your homework on the reality of that particular division. It is widely known, even within the school community itself, to be the vastly weakest link in the school. They claim to do everything you might expect, differentiation, accommodation, assist with organization. They are generally incapable. I cannot speak personally about grade 8, and I encourage you to look very, very carefully at that specific grade. Perhaps grade 8 is completely different than 5, 6 and 7. But in those lower MS grades, they are horrible. Their academic standards are a joke and in the broader academic community it is well known that McLean's academics are sub-par. McLean defenders will leap to say that I am a basher but I am not. The McLean of a time past had a very different reputation than what is there now and it used to be a well-respected school for students like your DS. Vast numbers of middle school families are wholly dissatisfied with the low academics, incompetent administrators, range of very weak teachers with some good ones interspersed. There is a lot of change coming in, new head of school, new head of middle school, new head of admissions, and hopefully that turns this mess around. But go in very carefully and look beyond the surface sales of the place into the reality before you make your decision.