what is the best school system in the DC metro area for very HFA - elementary?

[Anonymous]

Long story short is that we are at DCPS in K. We are in the Early Stages IEP process and are pretty sure our DS is headed for a diagnosis of HFA. We are just renting but our lease is up in June. We both work out of the home and travel some, so commute to work is not an issue. We want to move next to the school district with the best services. If you could live in any of the districts, where would you live to get the best education and services?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of turnover in special ed so it's hard to say definitively this school is better, but I would definitely assume FCPS and MCPS are better than DCPS when it comes to services based on what I have read here.

That said, my child is at FCPS and some teachers rock and others don't. I've had to do a lot of basic educating because many seasoned teachers even aren't trained in how to deal with basic issues related to HFA and they take an easy situation and push the kid to the point of tears and frustration.

[Anonymous]

The school districts are too large and too diverse to make a district recommendation. What is your budget and which airport do you fly out the most?

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it at all, I'd look for an apartment in the Bethesda Elementary district. (Actually Bethesda Elementary, not just any elementary in Bethesda), that particular school puts more resources into inclusion than any other.

[Anonymous]

The riskiest but possibly the one with the greatest returns: lottery into a charter in DC. Then you will be able to attmpt an OSSE placement at a private- MAP Ivymount is wonderful! But you need to tender this with your child's disposition. It might take 3-5 months to go through the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The riskiest but possibly the one with the greatest returns: lottery into a charter in DC. Then you will be able to attmpt an OSSE placement at a private- MAP Ivymount is wonderful! But you need to tender this with your child's disposition. It might take 3-5 months to go through the process.

It does not work that way. Most of the charters popular on DCUM will try working with kids on the spectrum first. If it turns out that the child needs a private placement after exhausting EVERYTHING possible, they may get a placement at Ivymount MAP, which is a very selective program to get into. There is no guarantee that they will take your kid.

Our charter usually tries mainstreaming for at least two yrs not 3-5 months. I know of exactly one placement at Ivymount MAP from our charter in the five yrs we've been there. Every other kid with HFA that I know of is mainstreamed.

[Anonymous]

She said daughter, so her chance of placement in an autism program goes up multi-fold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riskiest but possibly the one with the greatest returns: lottery into a charter in DC. Then you will be able to attmpt an OSSE placement at a private- MAP Ivymount is wonderful! But you need to tender this with your child's disposition. It might take 3-5 months to go through the process.

It does not work that way. Most of the charters popular on DCUM will try working with kids on the spectrum first. If it turns out that the child needs a private placement after exhausting EVERYTHING possible, they may get a placement at Ivymount MAP, which is a very selective program to get into. There is no guarantee that they will take your kid.

Our charter usually tries mainstreaming for at least two yrs not 3-5 months. I know of exactly one placement at Ivymount MAP from our charter in the five yrs we've been there. Every other kid with HFA that I know of is mainstreamed.

A popular charter could still be a good bet, though! We are happy with our charter and the IEP. If you can get in!

How does PP know about all other kids and placements at her school though, when such info is confidential. Ok maybe not hr private placement but the other stuff!

[Anonymous]

I know people very happy with the MoCo HFA (formerly Asperger's) program.

In DC, MAP runs a very small self-contained asperger's program at Francis-Stevens.

Neither of those programs start in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long story short is that we are at DCPS in K. We are in the Early Stages IEP process and are pretty sure our DS is headed for a diagnosis of HFA. We are just renting but our lease is up in June. We both work out of the home and travel some, so commute to work is not an issue. We want to move next to the school district with the best services. If you could live in any of the districts, where would you live to get the best education and services?

Thank you

I have the same exact question, though my DCPS K-grade kiddo already has the diagnosis and IEP. In fact, we've just forked over a ton of money to hire an educational consultant to help us figure out our best options.

I'll be curious to see how the consultant's suggestions match up with what's posted here.

[Anonymous]

HFA can mean a lot of things from PP saying Aspergers to a quirky child who barely fits on the spectrum. A public is better for Aspergers or what was HFA, but if its really mild and you can afford it, I'd find a small private that will be accepting and supportive. We did that and its been wonderful. The school isn't perfect but they really try. We don't have an IEP but everyone basically has the same concerns, some teachers get it more than others, but its fine either way. Just be warned most privates are not too welcoming from what we found.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long story short is that we are at DCPS in K. We are in the Early Stages IEP process and are pretty sure our DS is headed for a diagnosis of HFA. We are just renting but our lease is up in June. We both work out of the home and travel some, so commute to work is not an issue. We want to move next to the school district with the best services. If you could live in any of the districts, where would you live to get the best education and services?

Thank you

I have the same exact question, though my DCPS K-grade kiddo already has the diagnosis and IEP. In fact, we've just forked over a ton of money to hire an educational consultant to help us figure out our best options.

I'll be curious to see how the consultant's suggestions match up with what's posted here.

I was actually going to suggest to OP that she get a consultant. Did you find it worthwhile, PP?

OP, even if you're looking for public, you may want to go by the Exceptional Schools Fair:
http://www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com

[Anonymous]

MCPS has a good program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riskiest but possibly the one with the greatest returns: lottery into a charter in DC. Then you will be able to attmpt an OSSE placement at a private- MAP Ivymount is wonderful! But you need to tender this with your child's disposition. It might take 3-5 months to go through the process.

It does not work that way. Most of the charters popular on DCUM will try working with kids on the spectrum first. If it turns out that the child needs a private placement after exhausting EVERYTHING possible, they may get a placement at Ivymount MAP, which is a very selective program to get into. There is no guarantee that they will take your kid.

Our charter usually tries mainstreaming for at least two yrs not 3-5 months. I know of exactly one placement at Ivymount MAP from our charter in the five yrs we've been there. Every other kid with HFA that I know of is mainstreamed.

A popular charter could still be a good bet, though! We are happy with our charter and the IEP. If you can get in!

How does PP know about all other kids and placements at her school though, when such info is confidential. Ok maybe not hr private placement but the other stuff!

How many kids a charter has at SN schools with public funding is a matter of public record at least in DC. As long as they don't ID the individual kid, it's legal. The link has even been posted on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The riskiest but possibly the one with the greatest returns: lottery into a charter in DC. Then you will be able to attmpt an OSSE placement at a private- MAP Ivymount is wonderful! But you need to tender this with your child's disposition. It might take 3-5 months to go through the process.

It does not work that way. Most of the charters popular on DCUM will try working with kids on the spectrum first. If it turns out that the child needs a private placement after exhausting EVERYTHING possible, they may get a placement at Ivymount MAP, which is a very selective program to get into. There is no guarantee that they will take your kid.

Our charter usually tries mainstreaming for at least two yrs not 3-5 months. I know of exactly one placement at Ivymount MAP from our charter in the five yrs we've been there. Every other kid with HFA that I know of is mainstreamed.

A popular charter could still be a good bet, though! We are happy with our charter and the IEP. If you can get in!

How does PP know about all other kids and placements at her school though, when such info is confidential. Ok maybe not hr private placement but the other stuff!

How many kids a charter has at SN schools with public funding is a matter of public record at least in DC. As long as they don't ID the individual kid, it's legal. The link has even been posted on DCUM.

HFA is not generally going to get you a private school placement.