How is SSSAS for kids with ADHD or mild LD's?

[Anonymous]

We are in Alexandria and DC, now in MS, has inattentive ADD and mild dyslexia. Generally gets B and B+ grades in current school. ANy thoughts on whether SSSAS would be an appropriate HS for a kid like that?

[Anonymous]

Our kid with similar issues and grades (with poor standardized testing) was not accepted there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. DC has pretty good test scores, but our concern is not about getting in, it's more about whether to bother to apply in the first place....

[Anonymous]

Don't bother, SSSAS doesn't accommodate LDs or ADHD.

[Anonymous]

If you are not expecting support for your kid, and your kid can do the work, apply.

[Anonymous]

Been there done that. Our DC's had stellar scores, great visits, and were both accepted and attended. A few years go by and we discover that both have ADHD and one has a dyslexia.

The school was not accommodating at all for the LD, which once we began outside tutoring, needed very minor accommodations. The ADHD was less of an issue once the kids were medicated, BUT the bigger issue is the culture of the school.

The school is accommodating to a fault for certain families, less so for others, and absolutely not at all for many families. We checked off managed to receive all the above treatment from the school. We ended up leaving for greener and happier pastures.

However, I will say that while we were at the school, we kind of knew/suspected some kids to be ADHD, especially when their behavior would suddenly improve, which we attributed to medication. We also knew of several children have to leave the school due to mild LD's, even faculty children.

Fast forward to us leaving the school and being on a slightly different schedule the following years and we start seeing several SSSAS kids at OT, speech language therapists, at the child psych office to get their ADHD scripts filled, and we also discovered many also use a service called Project SAFE, which is a counseling service for kids in need of impulse control, ADHD managment, etc! Who knew?!

Since we left, I have had several discussions with families that have kids with special needs who attend the school. I have listened to the stress they are under to make their special needs status quickly disappear. So, even though we no longer have children there, I do know that the same culture we suffered through is still alive and well at the school.

Yes, they have a new headmaster, but cultures don't change over night. You are so lucky to live in area with lots of school choices and this is a time that you need to go find a school that will welcome your kids with open arms and not a closed door.

[Anonymous]

The learning center in the upper school is terrific and works with many students with many different learning styles/needs/differences.

[Anonymous]

The curriculum and expectations are what they are and I think it would be quite a gamble to enroll a kid known challenges.

[Anonymous]

Our child has minor ADHD type problems. I have found SSSAS to be very accomodating to her and have worked to improve her focus and executive function without making her feel like she has a problem or is different in any way. She has thrived at SSSAS. If your child has mild issues SSSAS may be the warm and accomodating place you want. I can't speak to more severe problems.

[Anonymous]

Our child has minor ADHD type problems. I have found SSSAS to be very accomodating to her and have worked to improve her focus and executive function without making her feel like she has a problem or is different in any way. She has thrived at SSSAS. If your child has mild issues SSSAS may be the warm and accomodating place you want. I can't speak to more severe problems.

[Anonymous]

16:04, this has been our experience as well.

[Anonymous]

I don't think SSSAS will do much. Your child will need to seek out extra help. No one will offer it. The curriculum and assessment methods are very traditional.

[Anonymous]

Our DC with mild attention issues is at the HS and has had a terrific experience. The learning center is truly great and the general approach of teachers -- being accessible during free periods, lunch, after school -- works well for a student who might need to check in on an assignment. We have sent our kids to a number of different schools, depending on their needs. Couldn't be happier with SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been there done that. Our DC's had stellar scores, great visits, and were both accepted and attended. A few years go by and we discover that both have ADHD and one has a dyslexia.

The school was not accommodating at all for the LD, which once we began outside tutoring, needed very minor accommodations. The ADHD was less of an issue once the kids were medicated, BUT the bigger issue is the culture of the school.

The school is accommodating to a fault for certain families, less so for others, and absolutely not at all for many families. We checked off managed to receive all the above treatment from the school. We ended up leaving for greener and happier pastures.

However, I will say that while we were at the school, we kind of knew/suspected some kids to be ADHD, especially when their behavior would suddenly improve, which we attributed to medication. We also knew of several children have to leave the school due to mild LD's, even faculty children.

Fast forward to us leaving the school and being on a slightly different schedule the following years and we start seeing several SSSAS kids at OT, speech language therapists, at the child psych office to get their ADHD scripts filled, and we also discovered many also use a service called Project SAFE, which is a counseling service for kids in need of impulse control, ADHD managment, etc! Who knew?!

Since we left, I have had several discussions with families that have kids with special needs who attend the school. I have listened to the stress they are under to make their special needs status quickly disappear. So, even though we no longer have children there, I do know that the same culture we suffered through is still alive and well at the school.

Yes, they have a new headmaster, but cultures don't change over night. You are so lucky to live in area with lots of school choices and this is a time that you need to go find a school that will welcome your kids with open arms and not a closed door.

I believe this. I think it matters what kind of behaviors the kid has, how open the parents are to getting the kid help