McLean school for GT/ADHD

[Anonymous]

My dc was accepted at McLean for 3rd grade next year. We are considering it, however, bc does not have a learning disability other than ADHD. DC is GT. Anyone have success with that profile at McLean?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Inattentive or combined ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Some academics is taught in small, ability-based groups; even the highest groups are at or just barely above grade level. Other classes are taught in whole group classes that, as we learned when we left McLean, are significantly below grade level. When we were there, I saw no teaching geared specifically toward executive function, beyond that which any school provides; instead, they just lowered expectations (for example, no long term projects that would teach time management). I would not send someone there who is on or above grade level for reading and writing.

[Anonymous]

Op here- ADHD is combined type.

[Anonymous]

My son has that profile and we've found there's nothing better than either the MCPS magnets or their GT/LD program. Free, to save money for a good college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some academics is taught in small, ability-based groups; even the highest groups are at or just barely above grade level. Other classes are taught in whole group classes that, as we learned when we left McLean, are significantly below grade level. When we were there, I saw no teaching geared specifically toward executive function, beyond that which any school provides; instead, they just lowered expectations (for example, no long term projects that would teach time management). I would not send someone there who is on or above grade level for reading and writing.

+1 We were a year behind in math when we left for public school. Save your money and use it for tutoring and enrichment.

[Anonymous]

This was a dozen years ago, but a friend's child with ADHD also didn't get much in supports in the classroom from McLean. Rather, they required my friend to bring in tutors at her expense.

[Anonymous]

McLeann parent here with a child in the middle school. First, I have noticed that since McLean does not follow the county their curriculum often will look like it's all over the place. I think it is (can contain work from the year lower and year above current grade). So, when you leave there are most likely gaps in learning. I also do not feel it is a GT/LD school. I think the county is a better bet. This does not make it a bad school. It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLeann parent here with a child in the middle school. First, I have noticed that since McLean does not follow the county their curriculum often will look like it's all over the place. I think it is (can contain work from the year lower and year above current grade). So, when you leave there are most likely gaps in learning. I also do not feel it is a GT/LD school. I think the county is a better bet. This does not make it a bad school. It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

I'm 23:19 above, and I think that's exactly it. At least in the lower school, it reduces the demands so that kids can feel successful. That's really important for kids who were really suffering at previous schools and feeling "dumb" so they can learn to like school and learning, but it doesn't serve kids well who haven't had that experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLeann parent here with a child in the middle school. First, I have noticed that since McLean does not follow the county their curriculum often will look like it's all over the place. I think it is (can contain work from the year lower and year above current grade). So, when you leave there are most likely gaps in learning. I also do not feel it is a GT/LD school. I think the county is a better bet. This does not make it a bad school. It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

I'm 23:19 above, and I think that's exactly it. At least in the lower school, it reduces the demands so that kids can feel successful. That's really important for kids who were really suffering at previous schools and feeling "dumb" so they can learn to like school and learning, but it doesn't serve kids well who haven't had that experience.

12:11 here. It really is a niche school in my opinion. People seem to want it to be some magic bullet for their child, and it is for a very specific population. This is how I feel about most of the SN schools in the area. You find the one that is the best fit. You don't put down a school because it didn't work for your child. You move on--keep looking. We left a different SN geared school because it wasn't working for our kid. It isn't a bad school, but we made a mistake, and it was a horrible fit.

[Anonymous]

We are leaving McLean for a traditional private high school. I am expecting my kids to have to do catch up. So, unless you are just looking for small classes and a nurturing environment, save the $40K a year and put it somewhere else. I don't have regrets because I thought the public middle school would be overwhelming for my DC and they would fall through the cracks. I have heard from other former McLean families who left to go back to public or a private school that their kids were behind when they first started at the new school. It is a judgment call.

[Anonymous]

^^meant "kid".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLeann parent here with a child in the middle school. First, I have noticed that since McLean does not follow the county their curriculum often will look like it's all over the place. I think it is (can contain work from the year lower and year above current grade). So, when you leave there are most likely gaps in learning. I also do not feel it is a GT/LD school. I think the county is a better bet. This does not make it a bad school. It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

I'm 23:19 above, and I think that's exactly it. At least in the lower school, it reduces the demands so that kids can feel successful. That's really important for kids who were really suffering at previous schools and feeling "dumb" so they can learn to like school and learning, but it doesn't serve kids well who haven't had that experience.

12:11 here. It really is a niche school in my opinion. People seem to want it to be some magic bullet for their child, and it is for a very specific population. This is how I feel about most of the SN schools in the area. You find the one that is the best fit. You don't put down a school because it didn't work for your child. You move on--keep looking. We left a different SN geared school because it wasn't working for our kid. It isn't a bad school, but we made a mistake, and it was a horrible fit.

The OP asked a very specific question regarding the academic level of Mclean and ADHD. Many former Mclean families have answered the questioned that if you want a more academic experience, then Mclean is not the right school. I am not sure why you think it is putting down the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLeann parent here with a child in the middle school. First, I have noticed that since McLean does not follow the county their curriculum often will look like it's all over the place. I think it is (can contain work from the year lower and year above current grade). So, when you leave there are most likely gaps in learning. I also do not feel it is a GT/LD school. I think the county is a better bet. This does not make it a bad school. It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

I'm 23:19 above, and I think that's exactly it. At least in the lower school, it reduces the demands so that kids can feel successful. That's really important for kids who were really suffering at previous schools and feeling "dumb" so they can learn to like school and learning, but it doesn't serve kids well who haven't had that experience.

12:11 here. It really is a niche school in my opinion. People seem to want it to be some magic bullet for their child, and it is for a very specific population. This is how I feel about most of the SN schools in the area. You find the one that is the best fit. You don't put down a school because it didn't work for your child. You move on--keep looking. We left a different SN geared school because it wasn't working for our kid. It isn't a bad school, but we made a mistake, and it was a horrible fit.

The OP asked a very specific question regarding the academic level of Mclean and ADHD. Many former Mclean families have answered the questioned that if you want a more academic experience, then Mclean is not the right school. I am not sure why you think it is putting down the school.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was not saying the OP was putting the school down. I was mentioning it in general. McLean seems to be a school that is regularly put down on this board (more so than any other school really). In my original post I did tell the OP I did not think McLean was a good fit for a GT/LD child since the academics are not advanced in the lower (or even the middle) school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It is a school for a student who really needs the extra help and needs to be built back up after being in bad academic situations.

I think this is right on. Not great for pushing kids to their potential but good at lowering standards and working with parents to create a feel good environment. I am not trying to make this sound negative because it's not. It's just not right for a GT/ADHD kid looking for a stimulating environment. It may be right for an ADHD kid who had a hard time in the previous few years of school and needs to regain confidence.