SSSAS, Flint Hill or Potomac for highly gifted and LD child
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megleyb@yahoo.com
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| Our DD is currently at an independent school in NVA that does not seem to be a good fit. We are currently trying to find a school (DD starting 5th) that can meet her academic needs, such as offering classes that are for more academically advanced, but at the same time, are able to provide learning accommodations because of a GT/LD diagnosis. We would love a school where we don't have to switch once high school comes around. We have toured all three, and love that Potomac seems to offer a lot for exploratory learning, which is good for those children who have LD (ADD and Executive Function), but we aren't sure about it's flexibility for a learning plan. SSSAS is great for distance to home, and their strength in STEM, but worry about their philosophy to have the child advocate for themselves for help (LD children often times doesn't understand how to ask for help). And Flint Hill, while very far for us, (we are in Alexandria) seems to have a great learning resource center that can help, doesn't seem to indicate whether their lower grades can accommodate the highly gifted. Does anyone have any insight about whether any of these three schools would allow for a learning plan for a gifted child? THANKS!! |
Anonymous
| Forget it. These aren't the kind of schools that can meet the needs of a kid with a "learning plan". They can help kids who have very defined limited LDs. You can spend your money to try them out but you will end up in the same place you are now - "not a good fit". Try Commonwealth Academy. They focus on kids with ADD and do a good job. |
Anonymous
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We pulled both of our DC's from SSSAS because it was absolutely horrible for the twice exceptional student. Awful!
Independent schools are limited in their resources and will offer very little in services outside the core competencies of most students. Our DC's regularly challenged this system by too advanced in several subjects and teachers would literally call us asking us to "hold Larla" back a bit because "Larla" was too far ahead the rest of the class. Adding to this problem, both DC's are slow processors and poor self advocates, which led to bullying that the school was painfully slow to address, and other daily annoyances. We considered transferring our DC's to Potomac, until we met an administrator at a cocktail party a couple of years ago who told us that they offer no services for kids like ours, especially for the one who has a bit of auditory processing issues. Your best bet is consider Commonwealth Academy, Maret, LAB, or go public based on my personal knowledge -- however, I think Flint Hill has gotten good reviews on DCUM. |
Anonymous
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Honestly, I think public is best (especially if your kid can get into the AAP program). I have kids in both public and private because in our opinion each type of school is the right one for our DCs.
We're in Fairfax AAP and academically, it's ahead of the "highly rated" private our other kid is in EXCEPT writing. |
Anonymous
| I know someone whose child had executive functioning issues and they left Potomac before middle school. Apparently the kids are expected to do a lot of things independently and they felt forced out. |
Anonymous
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You would be better off at a place like McLean or Lab that is better suited to this. Possibly Fairfax AAP because you could also have an IEP. You might be okay with a GT school like Nysmith or Feynman if they are willing to work with the LD - the smaller class sizes allows for some flexibility.
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Anonymous
| Definitely consider Lab. |
megleyb@yahoo.com
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| Unfortunately, we live in Alexandria City and do not qualify for the Fairfax programs. I looked into the City programs, and they were lacking for gifted opportunities compared to the Independent schools. Also, with our DD has SPD and can not handle loud noises, crowded rooms, or too much action around, so the VERY large class sizes in the City would not be a good option. I will look into McLean school though. Do they have GT programs? |
Anonymous
so do I! They were not helpful to ADHD kids. |
Anonymous
| OP - I'm a 3rd or 4th vote for Commonwealth Academy. I have a 2e kid there right now. I can't speak to 5th grade, but at the high school level, many of the 2e kids take college courses at NOVA or GMU in their junior year and junior summer. C/A also has online (proctored) classes since the school is small. Your child can take any accelerated class she wants. Call the director of admissions, Josh Gwilliam and ask how they would handle the 2e aspect at the 5th and 6th grade level. When we moved there in 8th grade, they handled the I.Q. side of DD's personality by accellerating her into almost exclusively 9th grade classes - but she still graduated with her 8th grade class. The school is very small so they are very flexible with coursework and - most important from a parent's point of view - appropriate levels of homework and stress. Oh, it's in N. Alexandria, so a breeze for you. |
Anonymous
| Flint Hill and "gifted" do not belong in the same sentence. |
Anonymous
| You could try Howard Gardner down in the Rose Hill (FFX cty section of Alexandria). It's good for ADD kids. For the academic rigor though, honestly, if you really want something advanced, you are going to have to look outside of the schools. And being honest, as and adult with ADD and executive function, if your kid is advanced academically consider it a gift that they can basically coast for a bit on the academic side and help your child work on the other skills they will need in life - time management, memory skills, social skills, etc. |
Anonymous
| I would try Commonwealth Academy for 5-8th and then reasses. At that point, your child may have gained a tremendous amount of time management and study skills from the experts at CA. She might be better equipped to attend and succeed at a school like SSSAS or Potomac for high school. Or even TC Williams STEM academy. There are certainly kids with ADD and other LD at all schools mentioned on DCUM. Good luck! |
megleyb@yahoo.com
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I agree that one of the options we are considering is just letting her have a very easy academic experience, and work on the other life skills while DD is in lower school. But, we are getting close to middle school, and I do worry that she will be behind for high school if we stay in our current situation. Am I being overly concerned? I do worry about the executive function problems (I too am an adult with ADHD and EF, never diagnosed in school), and really struggled in school until I reached college age. Even in college, I had to work harder than any of my peers because I was not given the tools to know how to study and learn. I don't want the same for my child. I just worry because the psychologist said DD is prone to anxiety and possibly depression, and that being bored in school can be dangerous for this type of child..... sigh.... I will look at Howard Gardner too, do they have gifted programs? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| No way would I consider Howard Gardner for a gifted kid. |