Katherine Thomas School

[Anonymous]

We are considering the school for our daughter (3d grade).

Could parents of current and former students please tell us what they think of the school., both socially and academically? Our child is very bright, with attention issues, and issues with reading and writing, but no behavioral issues. We want her to be able to grow socially and be challenged academically, and hope she can eventually move either back to public school or to a competitive private school on a college track.

Also, if you had a child there, could you tell us where your child went after KTS?

[Anonymous]

We are there and before we started I was not able to find many KTS parents here or on other sites I frequent. How bright is your kid and what is the current placement? She does not sound like a KTS kid to me based on what you described. Have you toured?

[Anonymous]

A friends child was there and she had/has significant issues. She was reading at about the second grade level in 6th (when she left public) and has speech issues. I think KTC helped her a lot. I do not have too much of an idea what her classmates were like. She did not finish with a HS diploma.

[Anonymous]

Also consider Sienna and McLean.

[Anonymous]

You should look at Commonwealth Academy, sounds like their typical student.

[Anonymous]

OP here: the issues are ADHD and ASD. currently at MCPS in the Model Asperger's Program. Is getting good grades in math, but not so good in reading and writing (but has improved somewhat). Biggest academic challenge is reading comprehension and writing. Has significant deficits on the social end (isolates and does not have developed social skills or knowledge on how to read social cues)--which MCPS is doing nothing to address.

Our concern is in developing these social abilities while still being pushed academically.

[Anonymous]

current KTS parent. KTS does a good job with the reading comprehension at the elementary level. They implemented the visualizing and verbalizing program last school year, so the students work with a ST, Special Ed following the specialized curriculum.
The 3-5 grade teacher is Phenomenal.

Student population varies in levels of functioning. Some children are in the higher side, but there are kids that need a lot of more support. I would suggest that you tour, and ask if you could be in touch with current families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: the issues are ADHD and ASD. currently at MCPS in the Model Asperger's Program. Is getting good grades in math, but not so good in reading and writing (but has improved somewhat). Biggest academic challenge is reading comprehension and writing. Has significant deficits on the social end (isolates and does not have developed social skills or knowledge on how to read social cues)--which MCPS is doing nothing to address.

Our concern is in developing these social abilities while still being pushed academically.

Auburn sounds like it might be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: the issues are ADHD and ASD. currently at MCPS in the Model Asperger's Program. Is getting good grades in math, but not so good in reading and writing (but has improved somewhat). Biggest academic challenge is reading comprehension and writing. Has significant deficits on the social end (isolates and does not have developed social skills or knowledge on how to read social cues)--which MCPS is doing nothing to address.

Our concern is in developing these social abilities while still being pushed academically.

Auburn sounds like it might be a good fit.

Agree that Auburn will be a good fit. Surprised that the MCPS Asperger’s program is not addressing her social deficits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:current KTS parent. KTS does a good job with the reading comprehension at the elementary level. They implemented the visualizing and verbalizing program last school year, so the students work with a ST, Special Ed following the specialized curriculum.
The 3-5 grade teacher is Phenomenal.

Student population varies in levels of functioning. Some children are in the higher side, but there are kids that need a lot of more support. I would suggest that you tour, and ask if you could be in touch with current families.

I am the first KTS parent and I disagree with this. We are currently in the lower school but PP is not because if she were she would know that there is no 3-5 class this year. Enrollment grew in the lower school and currently there are two grades per class so it's 2-3 and 4-5 this year. I actually think the opposite of the other parent--KTS does a good job with social skills and peer relations and a very mediocre job with the reading end of things.

There is one reading curriculum (Wilson Fundations) and if it doesn't work for your kid they are out of ideas. There is only reading specialist for the entire campus and she works with the upper school. SLPs are integrated in the classroom and do work on reading and pragmatics. There are social workers assigned to each class and the whole school uses Unstuck/social thinking. KTS is probably not what you are looking for though if you are thinking about college at least based on the current lower school population.