Siena or McLean

[Anonymous]

Hello. I know this topic has been beaten to death b/c I've read many archives, but I'm really looking for some assistance. DD is in 3rd grade and we just had a diagnosis of dyslexia (moderate to severe), dysgraphia and some mild math issues. DD is very verbally bright w/ amazing memory. We've tried public and it just didn't "gel" with my dd (anxiety, large class size, etc.) So we transitioned to a private AMI Montessori school a number of years ago. While we LOVE the school, We're just not sure that they'll be able to provide her with the tools she needs to deal with her learning difference. Since their main focus is on writing/reading and no adaptive technology (computers) in the classroom. We are pretty much resigned that we're going to have to go to a private school like Siena or McLean. driving down to VA is just too much for us right now. Our Neurop said that McLean is very light on dealing with dyslexia and we would need more of a "focused" school like Siena. I don't know if this is true, and we're going to tour both to get a feel of the school/kids.

So my questions are:
1. Any strong feelings between 1 or the other?
2. Do Siena parents carpool? We're in Gaithersburg and hiking to Silver Spring is going to be a little difficult every day
3. Since the school is ~$40k, does the school frown on a little bit on applications who ask for some financial aid? We can afford about 20-25k, but $40k is a BIGGGG stretch.
4. How successful were kids who transferred from Siena to a public high school (w/ an IEP?)

[Anonymous]

op here, Just to add, dd is not diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. But does have generalized anxiety in the mild-moderate.

[Anonymous]

I would apply to both, they will talk to you and give you a tour and you will be able to see what you like and what you think is a better fit. If you need financial aid, then that might make your decision for you, as you may not receive what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would apply to both, they will talk to you and give you a tour and you will be able to see what you like and what you think is a better fit. If you need financial aid, then that might make your decision for you, as you may not receive what you need.

This.

[Anonymous]

My child has the same profile and we were accepted at both. We are very happy at McLean, I think the overall support for anxiety and feel of the school are better, but I do think the reading remediation at Siena was stronger. But, that intense focus on reading may have turned off my daughter. She has progressed well in reading with the Remediation at McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would apply to both, they will talk to you and give you a tour and you will be able to see what you like and what you think is a better fit. If you need financial aid, then that might make your decision for you, as you may not receive what you need.

This.

This. I would also add Lab to your list.

I don't know anything about Siena, but I think Lab handles more severe dyslexia much better than McLean. I particularly like that Lab teaches reading, writing, and math in small, ability based groups, but for science and social studies, they teach the content in ways that they can teach advanced concepts without reading skills interfering with kids' abilities to learn. My experience at McLean is that they just lowered expectations instead of teaching in alternative ways.

[Anonymous]

So my questions are:
1. Any strong feelings between 1 or the other?
2. Do Siena parents carpool? We're in Gaithersburg and hiking to Silver Spring is going to be a little difficult every day
3. Since the school is ~$40k, does the school frown on a little bit on applications who ask for some financial aid? We can afford about 20-25k, but $40k is a BIGGGG stretch.
4. How successful were kids who transferred from Siena to a public high school (w/ an IEP?)

1. Former Siena parent. FWIW, we really preferred Siena over McLean and Lab. Siena seemed to focus solely on language based learning disabilities. McLean seemed not to offer enough specialized instruction, and I agree with what another PP said about lowered expectations. Lab was too artsy-focused, which was not great for our dysgraphic child who would have hated to draw and paint so much. Lab also had too much of a focus on disabilities in other areas, which were not areas of need for my child. YMMV.

2) Yes, Siena parents carpool. If you are admitted, ask about this.

3) We applied late in the year and didn't ask for FA. The second year we asked for and got significant FA.

4) Our DC left after a few years and transferred back to public school, took academically advanced classes there and did quite well with an IEP. However, special instruction in MCPS schools is terrible. I can definitely see that DC would have gained more in the area of weakness at Siena than DC has in public school. We basically have to supplement public school with private tutoring in reading and writing.

[Anonymous]

to this poster... Did you not ask for fin aid b/c you were afraid you weren't going to be accepted (aka make your app look better)? IS there a stigma against parents asking for fin aid?

Anonymous wrote:So my questions are:
1. Any strong feelings between 1 or the other?
2. Do Siena parents carpool? We're in Gaithersburg and hiking to Silver Spring is going to be a little difficult every day
3. Since the school is ~$40k, does the school frown on a little bit on applications who ask for some financial aid? We can afford about 20-25k, but $40k is a BIGGGG stretch.
4. How successful were kids who transferred from Siena to a public high school (w/ an IEP?)

1. Former Siena parent. FWIW, we really preferred Siena over McLean and Lab. Siena seemed to focus solely on language based learning disabilities. McLean seemed not to offer enough specialized instruction, and I agree with what another PP said about lowered expectations. Lab was too artsy-focused, which was not great for our dysgraphic child who would have hated to draw and paint so much. Lab also had too much of a focus on disabilities in other areas, which were not areas of need for my child. YMMV.

2) Yes, Siena parents carpool. If you are admitted, ask about this.

3) We applied late in the year and didn't ask for FA. The second year we asked for and got significant FA.

4) Our DC left after a few years and transferred back to public school, took academically advanced classes there and did quite well with an IEP. However, special instruction in MCPS schools is terrible. I can definitely see that DC would have gained more in the area of weakness at Siena than DC has in public school. We basically have to supplement public school with private tutoring in reading and writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to this poster... Did you not ask for fin aid b/c you were afraid you weren't going to be accepted (aka make your app look better)? IS there a stigma against parents asking for fin aid?

Anonymous wrote:So my questions are:
1. Any strong feelings between 1 or the other?
2. Do Siena parents carpool? We're in Gaithersburg and hiking to Silver Spring is going to be a little difficult every day
3. Since the school is ~$40k, does the school frown on a little bit on applications who ask for some financial aid? We can afford about 20-25k, but $40k is a BIGGGG stretch.
4. How successful were kids who transferred from Siena to a public high school (w/ an IEP?)

1. Former Siena parent. FWIW, we really preferred Siena over McLean and Lab. Siena seemed to focus solely on language based learning disabilities. McLean seemed not to offer enough specialized instruction, and I agree with what another PP said about lowered expectations. Lab was too artsy-focused, which was not great for our dysgraphic child who would have hated to draw and paint so much. Lab also had too much of a focus on disabilities in other areas, which were not areas of need for my child. YMMV.

2) Yes, Siena parents carpool. If you are admitted, ask about this.

3) We applied late in the year and didn't ask for FA. The second year we asked for and got significant FA.

4) Our DC left after a few years and transferred back to public school, took academically advanced classes there and did quite well with an IEP. However, special instruction in MCPS schools is terrible. I can definitely see that DC would have gained more in the area of weakness at Siena than DC has in public school. We basically have to supplement public school with private tutoring in reading and writing.

honestly, it was so late, we didn’t think that aid was an option. We thought it would have all been given out in the regular cycle. Also, it involved getting my ex to fill out financial forms, which i thought would jeopardize his agreement to place child privately. Basically, I and my parents ate the first year at full tuition so exH/bioDad wouldn’t cause probs. I was very lucky to have the family support.

[Anonymous]

I completely understand. Thank you for your honesty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:to this poster... Did you not ask for fin aid b/c you were afraid you weren't going to be accepted (aka make your app look better)? IS there a stigma against parents asking for fin aid?

Anonymous wrote:So my questions are:
1. Any strong feelings between 1 or the other?
2. Do Siena parents carpool? We're in Gaithersburg and hiking to Silver Spring is going to be a little difficult every day
3. Since the school is ~$40k, does the school frown on a little bit on applications who ask for some financial aid? We can afford about 20-25k, but $40k is a BIGGGG stretch.
4. How successful were kids who transferred from Siena to a public high school (w/ an IEP?)

1. Former Siena parent. FWIW, we really preferred Siena over McLean and Lab. Siena seemed to focus solely on language based learning disabilities. McLean seemed not to offer enough specialized instruction, and I agree with what another PP said about lowered expectations. Lab was too artsy-focused, which was not great for our dysgraphic child who would have hated to draw and paint so much. Lab also had too much of a focus on disabilities in other areas, which were not areas of need for my child. YMMV.

2) Yes, Siena parents carpool. If you are admitted, ask about this.

3) We applied late in the year and didn't ask for FA. The second year we asked for and got significant FA.

4) Our DC left after a few years and transferred back to public school, took academically advanced classes there and did quite well with an IEP. However, special instruction in MCPS schools is terrible. I can definitely see that DC would have gained more in the area of weakness at Siena than DC has in public school. We basically have to supplement public school with private tutoring in reading and writing.

honestly, it was so late, we didn’t think that aid was an option. We thought it would have all been given out in the regular cycle. Also, it involved getting my ex to fill out financial forms, which i thought would jeopardize his agreement to place child privately. Basically, I and my parents ate the first year at full tuition so exH/bioDad wouldn’t cause probs. I was very lucky to have the family support.