Just Completed Disastrous Freshman Year - Please Help find a new school

[Anonymous]

DS just completed 9th grade at a W HS and it has been a complete and utter disaster from an academic perspective. He is completely unmotivated and does not complete projects and homework. There has been no support or accountability from the school. He failed three classes that he will have to repeat and will end up with a 1.57 GPA for the year.
He just refuses to do the work or lies and says it has been completed and that the teacher has not entered the grade yet. None of his teachers or counselors ever reached out to us or him to ask if there was a problem or if they could help in anyway.
We have tried tutors with no success. He does have ADHD and a 504 plan.

We think it is time for a change of scenery for him.

Any suggestions on schools that might be a fit for him where he will get more attention and not have the option of not completing assignments.

We are new to this area so not familiar with all of the schools in the area. We want to spend our money wisely and not just pay the private school tuition to have the same results.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

That sounds so much like the start of my sons high school years. I’d start with a mental health evaluation. After that, if you get a diagnosis, I’d consider requesting an IEP meeting. He might need a SESS program such as a bridge program. MCPS will provide that if he qualifies.

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth is the school that most specializes in adhd, but it's in Alexandria. Model Aspergers Program, part of ivymount, specializes in autism, but has lots of experience motivating kids and working with executive function deficits. He would not fall through the cracks in either school.

[Anonymous]

McLean School

[Anonymous]

I think you have to pinpoint what's causing this behavior. Is it new? Does he have a learning disability? Have you asked the school to evaluate him for an IEP?

[Anonymous]

Lab School, McLean, Commonwealth, maybe the special program at St Johns. What you describe doesn’t sound like lack of motivation but something more significant. Failing classes in public school is actually pretty hard to do.

Have you considered boarding school? Definitely repeat 9th grade. Look at Gow or Kildonan.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you are fed up with the bureaucracy. Look at Field. They do a great job of not letting kids who just hate school slip through the cracks. The typical American education system isn’t for everyone. I’ve also heard good things about Fusion. Of course both of these are gonna be $$$$$

[Anonymous]

OP, how has he otherwise adjusted to the move? Don’t move him again for the sake of moving him; get to the bottom of things and then look for the right fit. What feedback have the tutors provided?

[Anonymous]

Look into Blythe-Templeton. Their model might suit his learning style and help with engagement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to pinpoint what's causing this behavior. Is it new? Does he have a learning disability? Have you asked the school to evaluate him for an IEP?

Adhd is no joke. Neither are its comorbid things like dyslexia, anxiety or depression. Later anger if original symptoms not managed.

Get him help beyond study tutors or getting organized.

[Anonymous]

Would you consider Landon? We have had a terrific experience and part of the experience is the brotherhood of making each boy better. My son has become a terrific student. He now loves school and is up for all the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS just completed 9th grade at a W HS and it has been a complete and utter disaster from an academic perspective. He is completely unmotivated and does not complete projects and homework. There has been no support or accountability from the school. He failed three classes that he will have to repeat and will end up with a 1.57 GPA for the year.
He just refuses to do the work or lies and says it has been completed and that the teacher has not entered the grade yet. None of his teachers or counselors ever reached out to us or him to ask if there was a problem or if they could help in anyway.
We have tried tutors with no success. He does have ADHD and a 504 plan.

We think it is time for a change of scenery for him.

Any suggestions on schools that might be a fit for him where he will get more attention and not have the option of not completing assignments.

We are new to this area so not familiar with all of the schools in the area. We want to spend our money wisely and not just pay the private school tuition to have the same results.

Thanks

There is no school where DS will be forced to complete assignments. However, there are many private schools that will notify you if DS is failing or at risk of being kicked out. I think the big problem here is you have to find out why DS is doing so poorly in school. Is he depressed from the move? Does he have any friends? Are you able to support him in extra-curricular activities? Also, what was his academic performance like in middle school? Moving for HS is really, really difficult on teens.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Fusion Academy?

[Anonymous]

My DS was an excellent student until high school when things fell apart dramatically. I highly recommend getting him testing. We paid private school tuition before doing that and saw a repeat of the same. Neuropsych testing is expensive, but so is a lost year of private school tuition. DS has a language based LD and inattentive ADHD which he had compensated for until the workload became too rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Is he medicated for ADHD? My child was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at the end of 9th grade. School performance went from a C/C- student in 9th to B+ student in 10th grade. Only change was stimulant medication.