Private schools for kids with dyslexia + ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't let everyone steer you away from standard, rigorous private schools! They all will accommodate smart kids with mild issues! I have friends and family members with dyslecix children at NCS, Sidwell, Holy Child, and Prep. I cannot imagine other comparable schools would be different!

Which of these schools, or other mainstream school like Holton Arms, would admit a student with dyslexia versus accommodate one who was diagnosed while already enrolled?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it not even worth considering the more academically rigorous schools? It’s tough because her intellectual abilities are very strong. One of those tough 2E kids.

Remediate first, then switch to more rigor. It’s worked great for my 2e child, also dyslexia. Originally DC also had a mild ADHD (inattentive) diagnosis, but the results of the most recent retest (you have to retest every 4-5 years) no longer met the ADHD definition. Does have mild anxiety as well that we’re keeping an eye on; does not meet an official GAD diagnosis and we hope it never does. We did remediation in 1st-4th (O-G 3 or 4 times per week, at school), then switched to a k-8 with an excellent learning center that gave the support needed to build EF skills, study skills, and self-advocacy skills (but no further remediation needed at that point), and then switched to a HS that provides needed accommodations (just standard ones needed now—extra time, spelling doesn’t count on tests/in-class work, etc). DC had a scheduled time slot in the learning center as a freshman and now no longer even needs that, although the center is always available as a resource for any kid with accommodations at anytime during their 4 years in the HS.

So yes, a traditional/mainstream school may be a great fit—the doc who did our testing even recommended *against* a specialized school for dyslexic students, because it wouldn’t provide enough academic challenge—but possibly not until late ES/MS, after further remediation.

Exactly what we did with our 3E student (ADHD, dyslexia, and highly gifted) who will be graduating from college in May (top 4 public uni). Moved to McLean School for 4-6, exhausted what it had to offer. Then moved to Bullis. Middle school learning specialist and admins sucked, but (most) high school personnel were outstanding. Had to cope with little support for 7-9th, which was challenging. Knew how to advocate for their self; was taught that at McLean:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't let everyone steer you away from standard, rigorous private schools! They all will accommodate smart kids with mild issues! I have friends and family members with dyslecix children at NCS, Sidwell, Holy Child, and Prep. I cannot imagine other comparable schools would be different!

Which of these schools, or other mainstream school like Holton Arms, would admit a student with dyslexia versus accommodate one who was diagnosed while already enrolled?

This is going to depend a lot on the details. What grade? Is the dyslexia already remediated (completed O-G or other intervention programs)? How much support and what kind of accommodations are needed? You’ll need to talk to each school about the specifics of your child’s profile and situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it not even worth considering the more academically rigorous schools? It’s tough because her intellectual abilities are very strong. One of those tough 2E kids.

Depends on how their executive function is.

[CHA1206]

--

[Anonymous]

Completely depends on severity of dyslexia and response to OG and remediation. The kid needs to get reading capabilities and/or strategies for accommodations. I have dyslexia but was relatively mild. DC has more severe dyslexia and needed more focused remediation and OG and is always going to be a slower reader of texts and books - but that’s different than the intelligence and comprehension skills. In early years do as much reading remediation as young as possible til get to OG-3 level. Or if the kid really has severe dyslexia - Sienna. If the kid had more moderate to severe dyslexia and continues to need longer to do things, schools that give more work will obviously not be as good a fit unless the kid is ok with that extra hurdle. DC goes to a good but not big 3 school and is fine.
Many schools and teachers even within schools where some get it still or never will understand that it’s about the speed etc of work and not smarts - and then that makes it harder on the kid - which sucks but is the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely depends on severity of dyslexia and response to OG and remediation. The kid needs to get reading capabilities and/or strategies for accommodations. I have dyslexia but was relatively mild. DC has more severe dyslexia and needed more focused remediation and OG and is always going to be a slower reader of texts and books - but that’s different than the intelligence and comprehension skills. In early years do as much reading remediation as young as possible til get to OG-3 level. Or if the kid really has severe dyslexia - Sienna. If the kid had more moderate to severe dyslexia and continues to need longer to do things, schools that give more work will obviously not be as good a fit unless the kid is ok with that extra hurdle. DC goes to a good but not big 3 school and is fine.
Many schools and teachers even within schools where some get it still or never will understand that it’s about the speed etc of work and not smarts - and then that makes it harder on the kid - which sucks but is the reality.

Siena is actually for kids with mild to moderate dyslexia. They won’t accept kids who are more than 2 grades behind in reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy or Girl? Would you consider single sex?

Girl, lower ES age. Definitely think she’d be happy with single sex, though she enjoys her co-ed school.

Madeira (but not yet). Find a K-8 with good support in the meantime.

+1

Our DD has moderate dyslexia and adhd. Looking at HS options - does Madeira do well with this profile? Do other all girls schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not looking for specialized schools like Lab or Siena. I’m interested in which mainstream private schools best support a kid with the following profile:

- Dyslexia
- ADHD (hyperactivity type); mild

99th percentile IQ with particularly strong visual-spatial reasoning and math abilities

Strong interest and aptitude in the arts

If the hyperactivity is under control then any top private will work. I have similar kid doing well at one of the he Cathedral schools.

We’re currently at a K-8, but I’m trying to get a sense of our options moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria. My DD attended there for six years. The dyslexia may be a problem though at Commonwealth, even at moderate.

[Anonymous]

Apparently not SAES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria. My DD attended there for six years. The dyslexia may be a problem though at Commonwealth, even at moderate.

They do not have OG tutoring - would need to do that beyond school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely depends on severity of dyslexia and response to OG and remediation. The kid needs to get reading capabilities and/or strategies for accommodations. I have dyslexia but was relatively mild. DC has more severe dyslexia and needed more focused remediation and OG and is always going to be a slower reader of texts and books - but that’s different than the intelligence and comprehension skills. In early years do as much reading remediation as young as possible til get to OG-3 level. Or if the kid really has severe dyslexia - Sienna. If the kid had more moderate to severe dyslexia and continues to need longer to do things, schools that give more work will obviously not be as good a fit unless the kid is ok with that extra hurdle. DC goes to a good but not big 3 school and is fine.
Many schools and teachers even within schools where some get it still or never will understand that it’s about the speed etc of work and not smarts - and then that makes it harder on the kid - which sucks but is the reality.

Siena is actually for kids with mild to moderate dyslexia. They won’t accept kids who are more than 2 grades behind in reading.

Depends on your definitions - as someone with dyslexia myself and number of family members with it - I would consider mild and moderate as able to manage at grade level within a school with basic 504 accommodations for extra time and things like speech to text. Two years behind grade level I would consider severe. Or having tests administered orally etc.

But get that may not be how Siena defines it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely depends on severity of dyslexia and response to OG and remediation. The kid needs to get reading capabilities and/or strategies for accommodations. I have dyslexia but was relatively mild. DC has more severe dyslexia and needed more focused remediation and OG and is always going to be a slower reader of texts and books - but that’s different than the intelligence and comprehension skills. In early years do as much reading remediation as young as possible til get to OG-3 level. Or if the kid really has severe dyslexia - Sienna. If the kid had more moderate to severe dyslexia and continues to need longer to do things, schools that give more work will obviously not be as good a fit unless the kid is ok with that extra hurdle. DC goes to a good but not big 3 school and is fine.
Many schools and teachers even within schools where some get it still or never will understand that it’s about the speed etc of work and not smarts - and then that makes it harder on the kid - which sucks but is the reality.

Siena is actually for kids with mild to moderate dyslexia. They won’t accept kids who are more than 2 grades behind in reading.

Depends on your definitions - as someone with dyslexia myself and number of family members with it - I would consider mild and moderate as able to manage at grade level within a school with basic 504 accommodations for extra time and things like speech to text. Two years behind grade level I would consider severe. Or having tests administered orally etc.

But get that may not be how Siena defines it.

Noting it’s not meant as an insult or derogatory- it’s not a judgement or about smarts - it’s just how our and different people’s dyslexic brains are wired in different ways and enrage in different ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't let everyone steer you away from standard, rigorous private schools! They all will accommodate smart kids with mild issues! I have friends and family members with dyslecix children at NCS, Sidwell, Holy Child, and Prep. I cannot imagine other comparable schools would be different!

Which of these schools, or other mainstream school like Holton Arms, would admit a student with dyslexia versus accommodate one who was diagnosed while already enrolled?

This is going to depend a lot on the details. What grade? Is the dyslexia already remediated (completed O-G or other intervention programs)? How much support and what kind of accommodations are needed? You’ll need to talk to each school about the specifics of your child’s profile and situation.

NP - but same question. Looking into mainstream private schools who will admit smart kids with known mild issues (ADHD/some supports in place, and post-remediation dyslexia/on-above grade level reading - phew!). We would be looking for 9th. TIA!