Landon and ADD/ADHD

[Anonymous]

Does Landon accept many kids with ADD/ADHD? Curious the acceptance rate and success. We are interested in Landon, and suspect DS may have ADD/ADHD, although the assessment has not yet been made (in process). Interested in your thoughts. Thanks

[Anonymous]

No answer here, but NP who would be interested in responses on this question, too. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

How would they know unless you told them, and you don't even have a real DX yet?

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there are many boys at Landon, as at St. Albans and Sidwell, etc., who have symptoms of ADD or perhaps have had a formal diagnosis. The vast majority and perhaps nearly all are on medication. In getting the testing done, make clear to the tester whether you are seeking a formal ADD diagnosis (so you can get special treatment in school, more time for tests, etc. -- mostly for people who aren't on medication or for whom the meds don't work) or whether you want a report that indicates whether some ADD symptoms exist, so you can get a meds prescription, but not a formal ADD diagnosis. I think the latter symptoms-only report is what most people seek. The meds immensely help the child and improve your day to day life at home as well - seen it happen over and over again with kids and families - home chaos to relative calm; school difficulties and struggles to school success and focus; sports mediocrity to sports focus and success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure there are many boys at Landon, as at St. Albans and Sidwell, etc., who have symptoms of ADD or perhaps have had a formal diagnosis. The vast majority and perhaps nearly all are on medication. In getting the testing done, make clear to the tester whether you are seeking a formal ADD diagnosis (so you can get special treatment in school, more time for tests, etc. -- mostly for people who aren't on medication or for whom the meds don't work) or whether you want a report that indicates whether some ADD symptoms exist, so you can get a meds prescription, but not a formal ADD diagnosis. I think the latter symptoms-only report is what most people seek. The meds immensely help the child and improve your day to day life at home as well - seen it happen over and over again with kids and families - home chaos to relative calm; school difficulties and struggles to school success and focus; sports mediocrity to sports focus and success.

This strategy will only work if your DC really is on the borderline. If s/he clearly has or does not have ADHD, a good tester will not write the report to order. And the schools are savvy enough to know that what they need to examine is the actual behavior of the child, not what the diagnosis is.

I would add that even kids on meds need accommodations - medicine helps control symptoms but doesn't eliminate all differences.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at Langley or Norwood? I hear both are really great with boys like you DS. Norwood might be ideal if you are looking in that neighborhood.

I know 2 boys at 4th grade Big 3 with ADD diagnosis. So they can get in. But in both cases parents were REALLY upfront about issues and had full support plan already in place for those boys - meds, tutor, exec function coach etc. Both are very bright boys and can handle the work but they need extra steps and most k-12 are not interested in providing all the extra help. They need the parents to show they understand the situation and they are on top of it.

Fair warning about the "extra measures" the school says it will support... Like untimed tests, modified test questions etc etc. I have heard so many stories from all Big 8 schools where promises were made by admin (or school learning specialists) to allow those measures for kids but when it actually came to tests the teachers feel differently and don't allow those measure. And the teachers were not forced to do so when parents call it out. Just throwing this out that the K-8s are known to be much more nurturing and supportive of the ADD kids. Might want to think about it.

[Anonymous]

Quick answer is no. If you just have an active boy who needs to run off steam to focus then it's a great match! If it is true attention issues then no. There are better matches out there

[Anonymous]

This is the second thread today where a poster suggested Norwood for an ADD/ADHD student. Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

I think all schools now are learning to deal more with ADD and other issues in the mix. Landon certainly gets this as does Norwood and many other schools in the area. We have experience with both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the second thread today where a poster suggested Norwood for an ADD/ADHD student. Am I missing something?

No, it's just a school that prides itself on understanding kids and working with them as individually as possible, so an ADD student is not outside their abilities to educate. It's also a very nurturing, warm school. Former Norwood parent with an ADD child. They've also improved their learning specialists in recent years.

[Anonymous]

Certainly there is a scattering of ADD/ADHD-probably just borderline though-in privates such as Landon, but it's not the norm. The publics are much better equipped to handle learning differences.

[Anonymous]

Executive function coach?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at Langley or Norwood? I hear both are really great with boys like you DS. Norwood might be ideal if you are looking in that neighborhood.

I know 2 boys at 4th grade Big 3 with ADD diagnosis. So they can get in. But in both cases parents were REALLY upfront about issues and had full support plan already in place for those boys - meds, tutor, exec function coach etc. Both are very bright boys and can handle the work but they need extra steps and most k-12 are not interested in providing all the extra help. They need the parents to show they understand the situation and they are on top of it.

Fair warning about the "extra measures" the school says it will support... Like untimed tests, modified test questions etc etc. I have heard so many stories from all Big 8 schools where promises were made by admin (or school learning specialists) to allow those measures for kids but when it actually came to tests the teachers feel differently and don't allow those measure. And the teachers were not forced to do so when parents call it out. Just throwing this out that the K-8s are known to be much more nurturing and supportive of the ADD kids. Might want to think about it.

Please don't send them to Langley! There are too many boys there with ADD/ADHD already!

[Anonymous]

Best friend's son is at Mater Dei and she has found their support system to be incredible for her ADD son who also struggles with dyslexia. She says the school has been amazing and helpful. Might look the for great all boy option with great sports also in bethesda area

[Anonymous]

There are definitely kids at Landon with ADHD. I know several. The parents just don't talk about it. They are at every single school even Big 3. The big question is whether the school is a good fit for your child personally. All ADHD kids are not the same. I have an ADHD daughter who is never ever a problem at school. The teachers love her. Nobody would know she has ADHD unless we volunteered the info. As long as she takes her medication, the only support she needs in the classroom is extra time.