McLean School in Potomac for Child without LD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at McLean. For one kid, it's a perfect fit. They just needed a smaller learning environment and a little individualized instruction to get the boost they needed and build confidence. My other kid has a mild learning disability and needs more support, one on one and a bit more structure. In the beginning grades of middle school (5th and 6th), it's great. But, by 7th and 8th, there really is no support or strategies. It's almost like the rug is pulled from under kids who still need some support. I also believe the new head is trying to get away from McLean being a school that helps kids with mild to moderate learning differences to really a mainstream school with smaller classes. The middle school learning specialist is pretty worthless, basically a conduit for outside tutors and support, which makes you wonder why your child is at McLean if you need outside tutors on top of the $37K price tag. So, visit and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

So you're saying it's better for kids with less significant needs. We know kids at other schools that are just as expensive who have to hire outside tutors. Nothing unique to McLean.

Right, except McLean claims to support "non-traditional" learners, but doesn't have any "non-traditional" strategies.

[Anonymous]

But, McLean represents itself as having cutting edge strategies to teach kids how they learn and with different learning styles. In actuality, the teachers don't have any meaningful strategies and the middle school learning specialist, in particular, is not useful.

[Anonymous]

Mclean tries to serve a particular niche --kids who need extra attention and support but not with significant needs. They aren't a SN school, more of a hybrid. Parents of kids with more significant needs are often frustrated and let down but its just not a school thats for everyone. For the kids for whom it is the right fit the parents are extremely happy because that particular fit is difficult to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is McLean's largest program. It thins out significantly in high school. A lot of families leave for other high schools as we probably will too. As PP said, socially limiting, blah blah academics and an abysmal athletics department. The new athletic director came from Stone Ridge but he's done absolutely nothing to build the athletic program.

+1 Couldn't agree with the statement more. We left after 6th grade and really saw how poor the academics were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is McLean's largest program. It thins out significantly in high school. A lot of families leave for other high schools as we probably will too. As PP said, socially limiting, blah blah academics and an abysmal athletics department. The new athletic director came from Stone Ridge but he's done absolutely nothing to build the athletic program.

+1 Couldn't agree with the statement more. We left after 6th grade and really saw how poor the academics were.

Recently? I can't imagine this was under Mike Saxenian and David Roth.

[Anonymous]

Can you give more concrete examples of what the problems were with the academics? Is this elementary ed? We're coming from MCPS, and it's not lie the academics there are so astounding. It seems to me that jus the opportunity for differentiation and some hands-on learning would themselves be a major improvement over MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you give more concrete examples of what the problems were with the academics? Is this elementary ed? We're coming from MCPS, and it's not lie the academics there are so astounding. It seems to me that jus the opportunity for differentiation and some hands-on learning would themselves be a major improvement over MCPS.

Hands on without challenging or any rigor. Kids at party in LS overheard complaining about "baby work" that they find insulting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at McLean. For one kid, it's a perfect fit. They just needed a smaller learning environment and a little individualized instruction to get the boost they needed and build confidence. My other kid has a mild learning disability and needs more support, one on one and a bit more structure. In the beginning grades of middle school (5th and 6th), it's great. But, by 7th and 8th, there really is no support or strategies. It's almost like the rug is pulled from under kids who still need some support. I also believe the new head is trying to get away from McLean being a school that helps kids with mild to moderate learning differences to really a mainstream school with smaller classes. The middle school learning specialist is pretty worthless, basically a conduit for outside tutors and support, which makes you wonder why your child is at McLean if you need outside tutors on top of the $37K price tag. So, visit and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

So you're saying it's better for kids with less significant needs. We know kids at other schools that are just as expensive who have to hire outside tutors. Nothing unique to McLean.

Right, except McLean claims to support "non-traditional" learners, but doesn't have any "non-traditional" strategies.

True! McLean had math, reading, speech, OT and other specialists. Many kids still either bring in or go to additional outside support. Reading specialist told one parent she would only help w one part of reading and not another. Things you aren't told before you arrive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at McLean. For one kid, it's a perfect fit. They just needed a smaller learning environment and a little individualized instruction to get the boost they needed and build confidence. My other kid has a mild learning disability and needs more support, one on one and a bit more structure. In the beginning grades of middle school (5th and 6th), it's great. But, by 7th and 8th, there really is no support or strategies. It's almost like the rug is pulled from under kids who still need some support. I also believe the new head is trying to get away from McLean being a school that helps kids with mild to moderate learning differences to really a mainstream school with smaller classes. The middle school learning specialist is pretty worthless, basically a conduit for outside tutors and support, which makes you wonder why your child is at McLean if you need outside tutors on top of the $37K price tag. So, visit and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

So you're saying it's better for kids with less significant needs. We know kids at other schools that are just as expensive who have to hire outside tutors. Nothing unique to McLean.

Right, except McLean claims to support "non-traditional" learners, but doesn't have any "non-traditional" strategies.

True! McLean had math, reading, speech, OT and other specialists. Many kids still either bring in or go to additional outside support. Reading specialist told one parent she would only help w one part of reading and not another. Things you aren't told before you arrive!

We were told by a consultant that kids with more significant needs should consider Lab, Siena, or Commonwealth. What were you told?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at McLean. For one kid, it's a perfect fit. They just needed a smaller learning environment and a little individualized instruction to get the boost they needed and build confidence. My other kid has a mild learning disability and needs more support, one on one and a bit more structure. In the beginning grades of middle school (5th and 6th), it's great. But, by 7th and 8th, there really is no support or strategies. It's almost like the rug is pulled from under kids who still need some support. I also believe the new head is trying to get away from McLean being a school that helps kids with mild to moderate learning differences to really a mainstream school with smaller classes. The middle school learning specialist is pretty worthless, basically a conduit for outside tutors and support, which makes you wonder why your child is at McLean if you need outside tutors on top of the $37K price tag. So, visit and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

So you're saying it's better for kids with less significant needs. We know kids at other schools that are just as expensive who have to hire outside tutors. Nothing unique to McLean.

Right, except McLean claims to support "non-traditional" learners, but doesn't have any "non-traditional" strategies.

True! McLean had math, reading, speech, OT and other specialists. Many kids still either bring in or go to additional outside support. Reading specialist told one parent she would only help w one part of reading and not another. Things you aren't told before you arrive!

We were told by a consultant that kids with more significant needs should consider Lab, Siena, or Commonwealth. What were you told?

I'm the other parent referenced above. My kid does not have significant needs -- he is in the top academic groups at McLean. Indeed, McLean accepted him after reviewing his extensive history, including a neuropsych. Despite not having "significant" needs, he does need some support, which is why we are at McLean. Reading specialist had only one tool in her toolbox and when that one tool wasn't appropriate, she threw up her hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at McLean. For one kid, it's a perfect fit. They just needed a smaller learning environment and a little individualized instruction to get the boost they needed and build confidence. My other kid has a mild learning disability and needs more support, one on one and a bit more structure. In the beginning grades of middle school (5th and 6th), it's great. But, by 7th and 8th, there really is no support or strategies. It's almost like the rug is pulled from under kids who still need some support. I also believe the new head is trying to get away from McLean being a school that helps kids with mild to moderate learning differences to really a mainstream school with smaller classes. The middle school learning specialist is pretty worthless, basically a conduit for outside tutors and support, which makes you wonder why your child is at McLean if you need outside tutors on top of the $37K price tag. So, visit and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

So you're saying it's better for kids with less significant needs. We know kids at other schools that are just as expensive who have to hire outside tutors. Nothing unique to McLean.

Right, except McLean claims to support "non-traditional" learners, but doesn't have any "non-traditional" strategies.

True! McLean had math, reading, speech, OT and other specialists. Many kids still either bring in or go to additional outside support. Reading specialist told one parent she would only help w one part of reading and not another. Things you aren't told before you arrive!

We were told by a consultant that kids with more significant needs should consider Lab, Siena, or Commonwealth. What were you told?

I'm the other parent referenced above. My kid does not have significant needs -- he is in the top academic groups at McLean. Indeed, McLean accepted him after reviewing his extensive history, including a neuropsych. Despite not having "significant" needs, he does need some support, which is why we are at McLean. Reading specialist had only one tool in her toolbox and when that one tool wasn't appropriate, she threw up her hands.

So you're saying he gets no support? I'm sorry to be so dense. I didn't have the impression that they provide one-on-one support there.

[Anonymous]

My child struggled in math in 8th grade and McLean basically had nothing to offer him and suggested a math tutor. So, apparently the math specialist doesn't do anything. I am now paying an expensive outside tutor for him on top of the $37,000 price tag at McLean. They pretty much go silent on you when they have nothing to offer like a call into the wilderness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is McLean's largest program. It thins out significantly in high school. A lot of families leave for other high schools as we probably will too. As PP said, socially limiting, blah blah academics and an abysmal athletics department. The new athletic director came from Stone Ridge but he's done absolutely nothing to build the athletic program.

+1 Couldn't agree with the statement more. We left after 6th grade and really saw how poor the academics were.

Recently? I can't imagine this was under Mike Saxenian and David Roth.

Another poster said David Roth is terrible. I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school is McLean's largest program. It thins out significantly in high school. A lot of families leave for other high schools as we probably will too. As PP said, socially limiting, blah blah academics and an abysmal athletics department. The new athletic director came from Stone Ridge but he's done absolutely nothing to build the athletic program.

+1 Couldn't agree with the statement more. We left after 6th grade and really saw how poor the academics were.

Recently? I can't imagine this was under Mike Saxenian and David Roth.

Another poster said David Roth is terrible. I agree.

so is Saxsenien. Head in the sand, butt in the air. Same w LS head. Figure heads who look good on paper. Nothing more.

[Anonymous]

^^I thought it was just me. You can add the athletic director to the pile of duds too.