Possible Changes at the Mclean School of MD

[Anonymous]

I am interested in applying to the Mclean school for my son( middle school). He has a mild case of ADHD and has not been supported at his current school. His current school claims to support students with ADHD, but they really don't. I have heard that the Mclean school maybe changing, due to the new head. My main question is---- Has the school changed its method of instruction?. Do you feel that the school has become more challenging?. Current parents please respond.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what changes you are talking about. My daughter is in 6th this year - loves it - have seen nothing but positive change. Know they are doing a lot to integrate mindfulness into program. I have to say - I have never.met more polite helpful kids & staff as McLean - truly refreshing. Daughter flourishing in leaps and bounds.

[Anonymous]

Thats great to hear. I guess I have listening to the rumor mill. I hope that it remains the same.

[Anonymous]

My DD is in her first year of MS at McLean. She has ADHD and a mild language based LD. I have found the program for DD to be both challenging and supportive. She has made great progress in her first year and is feeling more confident.

[Anonymous]

OP. 13:00 Please elaborate on the challenging aspect of the program. Is it alot of work and projects?. I don't want my child to feel overwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

NP here. OP, school should be challenging, in the sense that challenge helps children reach their full potential. I think virtually most parents want that, including parents of kids with learning differences. I'm not sure what you're asking here.

[Anonymous]

That is a loaded question and I think it depends on what you mean by a lot of work. Let me give you an example. My son is in the 5th grade at McLean and was at best a "C" student in Math at his prior school. He had a hard time with the homework and always needed help. At McLean they have taught him how to manage the work and advocate for himself if he does not grasp a concept right away. He is now a solid "A" student in Math. The other night he had a Math problems to do. I had only to ask him once when he was going to do it. As I was about to ask him, he was reaching for his homework binder. He took it in the kitchen and worked quietly for an hour. A couple of times I checked on him to ask how things were going to which he replied "Fine" and if he needed helped to which he responded "No". It took him an hour but he finished all the problems. This would have never happened at his old school. Somehow he has made a complete transformation at McLean and can handle the work. The Math problems weren't easy, to me, but he took his time and got it done. The Math teacher has shown me his quizzes and tests where he has gotten "A"s and she confirm DS knows what he is doing. All I have to say is "hallelujah"! But, back to your point, PP, McLean teaches the students how to handle the workload whether it is chunking the information or working with them on organization and study skills. My DS has ADHD and executive functioning issues and he is able to handle the work as I am sure your child would learn to as well.

[Anonymous]

14:08 again - meant "virtually all parents want that." Oops.

[Anonymous]

The rumor mill is particularly active when it comes to Mclean. You really need to visit and decide for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rumor mill is particularly active when it comes to Mclean. You really need to visit and decide for yourself.

What rumor mill? I agree anyone interested in a school should visit but it also looks like OP has gotten some feedback from current parents. So, not sure what you are implying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rumor mill is particularly active when it comes to Mclean. You really need to visit and decide for yourself.

What rumor mill? I agree anyone interested in a school should visit but it also looks like OP has gotten some feedback from current parents. So, not sure what you are implying.

I'm PP and I'm a Mclean parent. I've read all sorts of ridiculous things about McLean here on DCUM over the years. Thats what I meant.

[Anonymous]

Everyone we know who has a DC at McLean says it has transformed them to liking school and being a better student.

[Anonymous]

I am a former McLean parent and I wanted to comment on two issues raised here above. First, there has been a longstanding rumor mill about McLean over the course of many years, but the bulk of the negative experiences that people have reported there came under the previous head and her administration. I cannot speak to how it is now under the new head, but I definitely think that any prospective family needs to look at who and what is there now, and not judge based upon information culled in prior years. Second, I do think that people who have kids there who have come in from bad experiences in previous schools are the ones who are most positive and most impressed with the impact on their student. Many people who start out at McLean early on generally feel like maybe over time they want "more" for their kids, and they are often the ones with mixed levels of satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

We felt there was too much homework at the middleschool level and left - but that was before all the changes in administration.

[Anonymous]

When you say too much homework, what do you mean? I have a child that started in the MS school and I thought he had more homework in the public school or maybe he is able to handle it better now that he is at McLean so it does not seem like it. It would be helpful if you were more specific otherwise it just seems like your child could not handle homework at McLean or anywhere.