Dyslexia and Private Schools' Learning Supports
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Anonymous
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Middle school DD has high IQ, mild dyslexia and ADHD. Lab and McLean each seem amazing, but not the right fit for DC (who is socially good). Does anyone have experience with Bullis or Maret for a child whose academic profile is like this? DD needs a small classroom, and still needs reading supports (i.e., reads slower than average yet after a ton of work is now able to decode). I have never posted on DC Urban... I'm sure I said something that probably doesn't sound right to someone. Please be kind. |
Anonymous
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My DD with a similar profile attended Bullis grades 3-12 then attended a very selective and challenging university. Bullis was the perfect fit for her and our family. She received support as needed, learned to be a strong self-advocate aND really hit her stride in Upper School.. The arts and athletic programs were areas she excelled in and the confidence carried over to academics. We supplemented with an individual tutor during middle school to help her refine her organizational and study skills.
You should visit schools and be up front about your daughter's profile so you can have a conversation about her and your potential fit for each school. |
Anonymous
| Also visit Commonwealth Academy in N.Alexandria. It handles gifted ADHD kids and dyslexia. |
Anonymous
Do you mean the kids who go to these schools are "socially bad"? I wasn't sure what to make of your statement, OP. Poor choice of words. |
Anonymous
I assume the OP meant her DD did not have any social issues, which, to be fair, some LD kids in mainstream schools do have. My DC was bullied a bit in middle school because of LDs. For kids like that being in a school like Lab can be freeing because you don't have to hide your differences. It sounds like OPs DD is not having those issues. |
Anonymous
| St Andrew's always has a number of kids with dyslexia and mild ADD. Like tha above poster who had a child at Bullis, many of theses SAES kids have grown and done extremely well. Other than extra time, I do not know whether there are any other specific school supports for these kids, but the school culture is warm and emotionally very supportive, and I imagine that helps. That said, if your child is just decoding approaching middle school, you should probably ask some very pointed questions of each school as to how that likely would work out for your DD. While I know SAES dyslexic /mild ADD kids have been stars in the high school , I don't know where they were skills-wise in 6th grade. Good luck. |
Anonymous
I interpreted it as her kid didn't help with social skills. OP, was the evaluation of your DD's LDs and ADHD done relatively recently? Did the psychologist offer any relevant feedback or suggested accommodations in the report? That information might be helpful when assessing a good fit for schools and something you may want to run by an admissions person early on, so you don't end up wasting your time applying at certain schools. |
Anonymous
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OP here. I meant the my child doesn't have social issues, and I should have said that somewhere else in the paragraph.
I am sorry if I offended. I absolutely didn't mean the implication that I see could have been read into by that. |
Anonymous
You were called out on that on your earlier post...and yet you did it again!! |
Anonymous
| McLean doesn't actually deal with social issues, so the fact that OPs daughter doesn't need help with social issues in fact makes McLean a good fit! |
Anonymous
| Your kid would probably not get into Maret. |
Anonymous
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Does anyone know how Bullis/McLean/St Andrews handle kids who need extra support due to ADD or mild LDs?
My DD is in the same boat as OPs. At her current school, accomodations are strictly informal: if she didn't finish a test, for instance, she can finish at lunchtime, but accommodations are not integrated into the classroom and there is no "pullout" individual or small group tutoring. Kids who need tutoring must get it at home with private tutors, and teachers vary in the degree to which they seem clued in or sympathetic to DD's issues. (Some totally get it and work hard to help; others are uninterested and make no changes). Overall she has done pretty well, but would probably do better in a school where learning support is not such an alien concept. But wondering if Bullis/McClean/St A's are schools that are seen as good for kids like this just because they are small and warm, or if they have more specific programs or interventions to support kids with LDs...? |
Anonymous
| McLean has a lot of supports, and works with children on developing stronger executive function skills. It also works with students on stress management and typical ADHD type emotional impulsivity. |
Anonymous
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A school like Bullis or St. Andrew's might be a very nice environment for your child, but I would ask really specific questions about what in-classroom supports they offer kids with LDs like dyslexia. Some families find their kids need more support than those schools can offer. Maret is very difficult to get into and, again, won't offer instruction specific to kids with dyslexia.
I would actually recommend McLean for a socially well-adjusted kid with dyslexia and/or ADHD. I know a lot of kids there who fit that profile. |