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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous] I would like to add something about the very small schools suggested to you. I have experience with three of them and my kids are middle school ages, so I think it is pretty valid. (I am just noting that fact because sometimes you get anecdotes from parents with younger children at these schools...YMMV.)

To me, when you say social problems, that crosses the small schools (Field, Burke, Sheridan, Lowell) off the list. I say this because the social environment at these schools is very small. At middle school there may only be a dozen children of the same sex at the school. Using that tiny population to address social skills is problematic. First, many of the kids have been together years,so it can be hard to integrate anyhow. Second, there may only be one or two kids that your child enjoys due to the sheer lack of variety/type of kid that is there. We have found this to be the case with NT kids and SN kids alike. It is just a fishbowl.

I would personally look at schools that have bigger classes if I wanted to fix social issues. [/quote]

This is a really good point. We've seen the best and worst of very small schools for my DS with an ASD. When it goes well, its a very nurturing community thats not overwhelming. But when it goes bad there is no way to escape, no way to find fresh friends. The only way is out, changing schools.[/quote]

My DH and his brother who would both qualify for being on the spectrum went K-12 at a elite mainstream private school when ASDs were not diagnosed.  They both did well academically and socially and went on to an Ivy for college where they did well and went on to Ivy grad schools.  It's the luck of the draw, I guess.  DH still has friends from his early school days and he's in his fifties.

We have a son on the spectrum like OP's daughter - does very well academically and without behavior issues whose developmental pediatrician is insisting we change to a SN school for the social curriculum.  DS currently attends a mainstream language immersion charter.

I am torn on what we should do so I really sympathize with OP.  What we are doing is to have a vote of the experts, developmental pediatrician, neuropsych and educational consultant.  We have everyone go observe DS and give a recommendation:  2 out of 3 votes wins.

Good luck, OP![/quote]

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