McLean School in Potomac for Child without LD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The reading specialist does do 1:1 weekly pull-out sessions if requested by the reading teacher. Plus, reading is in groups of 3-4, which should be small enough for everyone to get individual attention. Nevertheless, they seem to have only one tool and no ability to customize as needed. What's the point of tiny classes if your child still does not get individual attention?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The reading specialist does do 1:1 weekly pull-out sessions if requested by the reading teacher. Plus, reading is in groups of 3-4, which should be small enough for everyone to get individual attention. Nevertheless, they seem to have only one tool and no ability to customize as needed. What's the point of tiny classes if your child still does not get individual attention?

So the reading specialist does 1:1 pullouts but your child doesn't get individual attention?

[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.

What's wrong with him? I thought I heard he was great at Commonwealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The reading specialist does do 1:1 weekly pull-out sessions if requested by the reading teacher. Plus, reading is in groups of 3-4, which should be small enough for everyone to get individual attention. Nevertheless, they seem to have only one tool and no ability to customize as needed. What's the point of tiny classes if your child still does not get individual attention?

So the reading specialist does 1:1 pullouts but your child doesn't get individual attention?

I'm saying the reading specialist and teacher don't have the right skills or tools. They spend their time with my child teaching him X, which is not an area of need for my child, but not Y, which is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The reading specialist does do 1:1 weekly pull-out sessions if requested by the reading teacher. Plus, reading is in groups of 3-4, which should be small enough for everyone to get individual attention. Nevertheless, they seem to have only one tool and no ability to customize as needed. What's the point of tiny classes if your child still does not get individual attention?

So the reading specialist does 1:1 pullouts but your child doesn't get individual attention?

I'm saying the reading specialist and teacher don't have the right skills or tools. They spend their time with my child teaching him X, which is not an area of need for my child, but not Y, which is.

Got it, sorry. I'm very slow this morning. So the school told you they could address Y before your child got there, but in practice it can't. Helpful information, maybe not to the OP whose kid has no LD, but to others. So you won't be renrolling, I guess. I hope you will explain why to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What's wrong with him? I thought I heard he was great at Commonwealth.

He does not have the skills to run a middle school program. When parents bring issues to him, he is quick to defend his staff and point out deficiencies in the student. "I reviewed Johnnie's file and based on his profile, he lacks A, B, C..." Rather than say "I hear your concerns and I will be meeting with the teacher(s) and the learning specialist to see what can be done to provide more support or develop strategies to improve outcomes for Johnny". He doesn't seem to have a clue. And, I have heard parents tell me he has lied to them, which diminishes his credibility as an administrator. When you voice concerns to him, he either acts like he doesn't know what you are expecting from him or in some instances he does not respond at all. This sends a message to teachers that perhaps they don't need to respond to a parent's concerns either. He's not the right person for that position as voiced by many parents. There have been other comments that are not appropriate to print but apply to his intellectual capacity.

[Anonymous]

This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

I would not consider the concerns of just "a couple of posters". It's based on concerns raised by more than two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

I would not consider the concerns of just "a couple of posters". It's based on concerns raised by more than two.

On this thread I think there are two, one LS and one MS. Maybe two MS. Have you voiced these concerns to the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

I would not consider the concerns of just "a couple of posters". It's based on concerns raised by more than two.

On this thread I think there are two, one LS and one MS. Maybe two MS. Have you voiced these concerns to the school?

There are at least two LS families posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

I would not consider the concerns of just "a couple of posters". It's based on concerns raised by more than two.

On this thread I think there are two, one LS and one MS. Maybe two MS. Have you voiced these concerns to the school?

There are at least two LS families posting.

OK. When you decline re-enrollment I hope you will share the reasons with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is super depressing me. I have a 2E ADHD child, and public school is just not working for him. Based on other things I had heard, I had thought that MacLean might be the answer.
Now I don't know what is. He doesn't need the intensive services of a Lab or Commonwealth.

Well, my really bright kid is doing very well there. She needs some help with one subject and I've been impressed with what the school has done. We've encountered one kind of rigid teacher but the others have been very responsive. It's head and shoulders over her previous school. So I wouldn't dismiss it based on a couple of posters' experiences.

I would not consider the concerns of just "a couple of posters". It's based on concerns raised by more than two.

On this thread I think there are two, one LS and one MS. Maybe two MS. Have you voiced these concerns to the school?

There are at least two LS families posting.

OK. When you decline re-enrollment I hope you will share the reasons with the school.

I will probably wait until the end of the year, since my child will still be there, but yes, planning to share the reasons.

[Anonymous]

^^And, just how would you suggest raising the concern of the competency level of the lower or middle school head without risking your family being alienated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^And, just how would you suggest raising the concern of the competency level of the lower or middle school head without risking your family being alienated?

I'm certain you can think of something more productive than trashing identifiable people on an anonymous message board.