Commonwealth best school for ADHD elementary kid?

[Anonymous]

We are visiting schools now looking for 3rd grade for our ADHD child and wanted to reach out to the group for "btdt" advice. Our child has ADHD combined but no diagnosed learning differences. We are trying meds that have helped focus but there still is a lot of frustration and sometimes lack of flexibility. What would be the best school for us? Lab and McLean focus on learning differences primarily so that is a bit too much support. We are afraid our local dc school
would not have enough enough support. Is commomwealth our best option? We live in dc so the commute would be significant.

Thank you in advance for helpful advice!

[Anonymous]

Adhd and language based learning differences all effect executive functioning, which all these schools address. You don't get support for syslexia at lab unless you need it. That's the good thing about differentiated instruction--math or reading are taught in 2 or 3s. So teachers aren't leaving kid behind or going to slow for the kids who are advanced.

There often a "best" option but a better option. What are your kids needs? How does the ADHD affect him socially and academically? Are there related behavioral issues?

I would tour all the schools you can, and definitely apply to more than 1. I'd add kingsbury to your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adhd and language based learning differences all effect executive functioning, which all these schools address. You don't get support for *dyslexia at lab unless you need it. That's the good thing about differentiated instruction--math or reading are taught in 2 or 3s. So teachers aren't leaving kid behind or going to slow for the kids who are advanced.

There often a "best" option but a better option. What are your kids needs? How does the ADHD affect him socially and academically? Are there related behavioral issues?

I would tour all the schools you can, and definitely apply to more than 1. I'd add kingsbury to your list.

*dyslexia

[Anonymous]

Newton School. They are good with learning challenges, ADHD and developing social skills. They also promote the idea of being flexible in their day to day functioning. Visit. You'll know better when you see these places in person. Newton is run by one of the most phenomenal administrators ever. Commonwealth is a perfectly good choice as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newton School. They are good with learning challenges, ADHD and developing social skills. They also promote the idea of being flexible in their day to day functioning. Visit. You'll know better when you see these places in person. Newton is run by one of the most phenomenal administrators ever. Commonwealth is a perfectly good choice as well.

The commute might be really tough for op, which reminds me some schools run shuttles and/or try to coordinate carpools.

[Anonymous]

OOps. you're correct. Sorry, I glanced over the DC part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OOps. you're correct. Sorry, I glanced over the DC part.

It's a good suggestion and prompted me to mention shuttles. So these conversations don't have to end with devolving into jabs about reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Lab WILL NOT TAKE a child without a learning disability. Why do people keep mentioning Lab for only ADHD??? I have called them RECENTLY and they confirmed this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lab WILL NOT TAKE a child without a learning disability. Why do people keep mentioning Lab for only ADHD??? I have called them RECENTLY and they confirmed this.

Chill, pp. the op is just brainstorming schools. Also, I wasn't recommending lab, I was trying to explain how differentiated instruction works b/c she was questioning if a SN school would be "too much."

[Anonymous]

We are at CA now and it offers built-in accommodations for ADHD (both what an individual child needs to be successful and what helps all the kids, such as small classes). We just had parent-teacher conferences and I was struck by how the teachers saw my student's accommodations and challenges as just part of the routine, so they could skip all the conversation we've had in mainstream schools about seating, the need to move, etc., and just talk to me about DC's substantive strengths and weaknesses.