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[quote=Anonymous]Beware the McLean School.  It is supposed to be the perfect school for the kind of child you describe (other than the sports angle.  HS basketball is great, not so sure about LAX, but a sports Mecca it is not.  From an academic standpoint,the HS is considered the jewel in the crown of the three divisions there and I do know that the vast majority of HS families there have generally been happy with the HS and the college counseling and placement.  I will say up front that the vast majority are placed with colleges that are especially capable of accommodating learning issues, so go into the HS with your eyes wide open that your DS will not likely be heading toward one of the big-name schools because that is not where McLean has its strongest relationships. To the credit of the college counseling and HS staff, the families and kids who graduate are generally very happy with their results, just be comfortable with what your expectations are for your child.  Don't go in expecting to be walking out on your way to Princeton. The middle school, however, is a rough spot to say the least and while you are only looking at one year, go in after doing your homework on the reality of that particular division.  It is widely known, even within the school community itself, to be the vastly weakest link in the school.  They claim to do everything you might expect, differentiation, accommodation, assist with organization.  They are generally incapable.  I cannot speak personally about grade 8, and I encourage you to look very, very carefully at that specific grade.  Perhaps grade 8 is completely different than 5, 6 and 7.  But in those lower MS grades, they are horrible.  Their academic standards are a joke and in the broader academic community it is well known that McLean's academics are sub-par.  McLean defenders will leap to say that I am a basher but I am not.  The McLean of a time past had a very different reputation than what is there now and it used to be a well-respected school for students like your DS.  Vast numbers of middle school families are wholly dissatisfied with the low academics, incompetent administrators, range of very weak teachers with some good ones interspersed.  There is a lot of change coming in, new head of school, new head of middle school, new head of admissions, and hopefully that turns this mess around. But go in very carefully and look beyond the surface sales of the place into the reality before you make your decision.  [/quote]

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