Boarding School for High Schooler with Slow Processing?

[Anonymous]

Any parents with experience applying/sending their child with learning differences to boarding school? Nephew (lives out of DC area), current 7th grader, ie really interested in Boarding School. Nephew has significant learning differences (Slow Processing, difficulty reading without audio input).

My husband (his uncle) attended Georgetown Prep as a day student. Nephew interested in Prep which seems like a really bad fit. I don't want to discourage him but hope to help them find some better options. I have suggested that family contact a boarding school admissions consultant bc personally I have no insight to offer.

Does anyone in DCUM land have any recommendations for consultants? Boarding schools with that work well for kids with learning differences?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Christchurch School in Southern VA has a good program for kids with LDs. So does Blue Ridge school.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend whose child is thriving at Eagle Hill in Mass.

[Anonymous]

I would be leery of sending a child with learning disorders and ADHD to boarding school. Such children are always the ones most likely to be teased, bullied or abused.

[Anonymous]

OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

Sorry, I used ADHD as a shorthand, and that was wrong. But my concern still stands. Some children of the slow, daydreaming variety make perfect victims. I know, I parent one of them, thank goodness he's not in a boarding school environment like I was because I've had to run interference several times.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of boarding schools that specialize in helping students with slower learning processing or whatever the current terminology is.

Not all schools are Deerfield or Exeter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

Sorry, I used ADHD as a shorthand, and that was wrong. But my concern still stands. Some children of the slow, daydreaming variety make perfect victims. I know, I parent one of them, thank goodness he's not in a boarding school environment like I was because I've had to run interference several times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

Sorry, I used ADHD as a shorthand, and that was wrong. But my concern still stands. Some children of the slow, daydreaming variety make perfect victims. I know, I parent one of them, thank goodness he's not in a boarding school environment like I was because I've had to run interference several times.

Having been a hall parent at a boarding school years ago, my view is that, unless there is some serious problem at home that makes boarding school necessary, it would be a mistake to send away any child who needs additional support in high school. Seems like a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

What is the rush with sending your child away? Kids need their parents at those critical ages. Every friend that went to boarding school said they would not send their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

Sorry, I used ADHD as a shorthand, and that was wrong. But my concern still stands. Some children of the slow, daydreaming variety make perfect victims. I know, I parent one of them, thank goodness he's not in a boarding school environment like I was because I've had to run interference several times.

Having been a hall parent at a boarding school years ago, my view is that, unless there is some serious problem at home that makes boarding school necessary, it would be a mistake to send away any child who needs additional support in high school. Seems like a bad idea.

+10000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP said nothing about ADHD--only slow processing and difficulty reading without audio input. It is all a matter of degree. What OP left out -- and is critical -- is how strong a student is this child when he has these supports (extra time or processing and books on tape to listen to when reading)? I have a child with both of these issues who is a very strong student in very advanced high school courses.

Famed trial lawyer David Boise I understand has dyslexia and needed audio input to aid reading in school. Let's not offer up advice until we know the whole story.

Sorry, I used ADHD as a shorthand, and that was wrong. But my concern still stands. Some children of the slow, daydreaming variety make perfect victims. I know, I parent one of them, thank goodness he's not in a boarding school environment like I was because I've had to run interference several times.

Having been a hall parent at a boarding school years ago, my view is that, unless there is some serious problem at home that makes boarding school necessary, it would be a mistake to send away any child who needs additional support in high school. Seems like a bad idea.

+10000

I have to agree. Having spent two years teaching at a boarding school, I can't say that I'm a big fan of boarding schools for any high school student, absent some major reason why home doesn't work. But for a child with some kind of special need, I can't imagine sending the child to a boarding school. Parents and family are an enormous source of daily support and refuge for all teens, but especially for teens with special needs, who need home as a place to relax and find support after working hard during the school day. It would be sad for a child not to have that daily home support.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the thoughtful and informed responses. for all the reasons mentioned boarding school we'd be a very bad idea for my nephew.

[Anonymous]

I have an 8th grade son with ADHD, language based disability and slow processing speed. I would not send him to a boarding school. He needs familial support, something he would not get being away from home. I can tell when he is overwhelmed or checking out. I know when he needs a break from the work or is losing focus because it's been a super long or intense day at school. He needs support at home and school. He is also not interested in being away from home. I'm not sure he can go away to college and be successful.

[Anonymous]

There are actually boarding schools that specialize in kids with ADHD, slow processing and other issues. I agree that being away from family has its downside, but the flip is that the schools that specialize in these issues know what they are doing, and much more likely to create a structure than a typical family running around taking care of other kids, and working 2 jobs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are actually boarding schools that specialize in kids with ADHD, slow processing and other issues. I agree that being away from family has its downside, but the flip is that the schools that specialize in these issues know what they are doing, and much more likely to create a structure than a typical family running around taking care of other kids, and working 2 jobs, etc.

I don't doubt that someone is marketing a boarding school this way, particularly with the very low demand for boarding programs, but this is just a really bad idea, absent some big problem at home.