McLean vs Maddux

[Anonymous]

I am interested in finding out people's thoughts on sending a rising 1st grader to Maddux vs McLean. I toured both schools and really like them both. DD has MERLD. Maddux seemed perfect for helping her with her speech-language and McLean, with its pullouts, seems capable of doing the same but also has more available in terms of its science center, computer center, etc.

[Anonymous]

I toured an applied to both for my child with MERLD. I think it really depends on your chid's other challenges, if you want a school that lasts longer term vs Maddux etc. I can say i was impressed that McLean, and the speech path there, actually knew what MERLD is -- you don't alwasy find it. My sense is that Maddux is a bit more tolerant of a child's special needs, but I may be wrong. Maddux also seems to a have a strong emphasis on social skills.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we applied to both too. She doesn't really have many other challenges. I think working memory may show up as she gets more into academics but the processing speed scores were fine. What grade is your child going into?

[Anonymous]

This is in the past. We wound up at neither

[Anonymous]

I've never visited McLean, but can speak to Maddux.

For us, the biggest pull for Maddux was its emphasis on teaching social skills and managing behavior and anxiety in positive ways. The academic teaching has been excellent but I don't think that different from other schools that teach in small groups (3 kids in a group for reading and math instruction). I like that the OT and SLP work is done in groups, in the classroom, rather than pull-out.

Maddux also does a good job of working with its relatively few girls, including a weekly all-grades girls group. I don't know what McLean's gender breakdown is, but when we entered Maddux this was one of our concerns. It has not been a problem.

We don't miss having a computer lab or science lab, although I thought we really would miss the science. They still "do science" (in a little-kids way, of course) in the classroom, and, for us, anyway, the social skills instruction is far more important than a science lab.

Good luck with your choice!

[Anonymous]

I've toured both and I know what you mean, I love the science room. (I don't think having a computer room is particularly important.)

Maddux ends in 2nd, so McLean is always there for afterwards.

[Anonymous]

I agree, the facilities at McLean are very impressive, including the library and art room.

I remember on my tour of McLean, the art director asked me what my child's favorite "medium'' is. Um, tape? And scissors?

[Anonymous]

The ratio of girls to boys is a concern to me (OP here). The current kindergarten has 3 boys and 1 girl. The social skills are really aren't a concern, although they might become a concern if she were the only girl or one of two girls in the class. I LOVED Maddux's girls group. Especially after touring McLean and seeing the ratio. For those who have gone to either and your child had speech therapy prior to going to school, were you able to stop the therapy because of what either school offered, or did you need to continue?

[Anonymous]

They offer different levels of support. At Maddux I believe the teachers all have "special education" backgrounds, whereas at McLean they don't. At Maddux ST and OT are woven into the program. At McLean these are outside services you pay extra for because not every student needs these services. Maddux weaves social skills quite a bit in a more intensive way than McLean, but at McLean you find more kids who are there for reasons other than social skills such as dyslexia, attention issues or just not performing up to ability level. McLean goes up through highschool and as others mentioned Maddux ends in 2nd. My impression visiting both is that they are both great schools.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Maddux for the early years, to get that intensive level of support, and then a move to McLean?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes that is the direction I think we might go. Thanks everyone for the input.

[Anonymous]

Maddux teachers have a much better background and experience in special ed. Mclean does not consider itself a special ed school. We did Maddux and could not have been hsppier, art was fine. Science could be better but st thst age, s science room doesn't help when there sre other issues to overcome.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the typing above. It is hard to type on the ipad!

[Anonymous]

OP, have you been accepted to either of the schools yet?

The reality is Maddux has very few slots available for all the qualified people who want to go there. So some of this may be moot. Hopefully you will get in to both and will have a chance to make the choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maddux teachers have a much better background and experience in special ed. Mclean does not consider itself a special ed school. We did Maddux and could not have been hsppier, art was fine. Science could be better but st thst age, s science room doesn't help when there sre other issues to overcome.

This is very true. Maddux is much stronger in terms of special education services. It's all a matter of how much help your child needs. Also, how are the social skills? It seemed like there were more kids with neurotypical social skills at McLean who had learning issues that did not impact social. This is not to say those kids aren't at Maddux too. It's just my impression.