If you are okay making the drive yourself (without the bus), then yes. I say without the bus because there will be times that your DC will want to go to school for social events or even required ones, where the bus may not be available. So just be sure that you're okay driving there if need be.

No, it is not crazy. Considerate and apply and leave that option open. You can also apply to closer options and then decide.

Anonymous wrote:Are we crazy to consider Good Counsel High School? It is 45 minutes away from where we live in NW DC. We are attracted to their Ryken program which offers a bit more support than SJC for our dyslexic child.

Do it. A few extra minute commute for 4 years is an easy trade off for the lifetime of benefits your child will receive. It literally could change the trajectory of their life.

Anonymous wrote:Are we crazy to consider Good Counsel High School? It is 45 minutes away from where we live in NW DC. We are attracted to their Ryken program which offers a bit more support than SJC for our dyslexic child.

It is considerably longer during rush hour or any type of traffic delay. But Ryken is great.

It's worth the commute. Kids commute to OLGC from all over - Frederick, Baltimore, Upper Marlboro, etc.

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm curious because our DC has a similar profile - how does Ryklen offer more support for dyslexia compared to Benilde?

GC Ryken program offers students an option to take a multi-sensory slower paced course in subject areas where they may struggle. They can do the rest of the classes regularly, honors, or IB. SJC seems like the Benilde program is just a study skills sort of support. At open house SJC went out of their way to say what few accommodations they provide.

Anonymous wrote:Are we crazy to consider Good Counsel High School? It is 45 minutes away from where we live in NW DC. We are attracted to their Ryken program which offers a bit more support than SJC for our dyslexic child.

It is funny that there are a ton of SJC kids that commute from Olney into DC and I think the opposite of you...why they heck would they do that when Good Counsel is right there! Good Counsel does cost a couple thousand $$$s more which I guess is a factor...and there are a critical mass of Olney kids commuting to SJC so they are able to carpool. I don't hear much about NW DC kids commuting to Good Counsel...maybe because you have SJC, Gonzaga and Prep (to an extent, though that is 2x the cost and different) all right here.

OP I'm curious because our DC has a similar profile - how does Ryklen offer more support for dyslexia compared to Benilde?

Worth it from NWDC - no. It's pretty far even from somewhere like Rockville

Yes it’s worth it.

Ryken is very hard to get into.

I’d say try it and if it doesn’t work out you go to plan B.

It’s impossible to get in a after Freshman year.

Most commute 30 minutes so your commute is only 15 min more

You will be going opposite traffic, which will be great...but it's really about a hour and 15 minutes from GC to NW DC. That's a soul sucking 2.5 hours each day for four years. I would not do this to a child, especially if sports are in the picture because then add 3-4 hours of after school activity, then commute, and then homework.

For a child with a disability - you go with the program that best supports.

There is a bus that goes to Bethesda / Silver Spring (See Bus Route 1) https://www.olgchs.org/about-us/transportation

Look at the bus routes. Could one of those work?

It’s going to be more than 45 mins in rush hour. I wouldn’t do it from DC.

Are we crazy to consider Good Counsel High School? It is 45 minutes away from where we live in NW DC. We are attracted to their Ryken program which offers a bit more support than SJC for our dyslexic child.