I think many students use Lab to get on track, and then move on. I know of several students who left at the end of either elementary or middle. Those who stay on tend to have more challenges, either academically or socially, and high school is small - which means that breaking in shouldn't be as hard.

Not true that McLean drops support for ADHD in high school. It evolves, as it should. Signed the parent of a Junior and graduate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean told us that they drop much of the ADHD support in high school. The classes are very challenging.

Really? What's the point of the school then?

Please. Nobody is sending their NT kids to McLean. Kids are there for a reason. Stop posturing.

Anonymous wrote:McLean told us that they drop much of the ADHD support in high school. The classes are very challenging.

Really? What's the point of the school then?

Lab can support a much wider range of academic levels and continues remediation into high school. McLean is focused more on accommodations by high school and can't support students more than a couple years behind.

Anonymous wrote:PP again- we looked into both McLean and Lab for our DC who was entering high school. You really need to tour/spend some time at both.

At Lab, there seemed to be a lot of kids on the spectrum/stimming/quirky. Very different than our just ADHD kid. The staff was very warm and caring, and we actually saw students hugging teachers. It's bright fit for the right kid.

McLean told us that they do not accept kids on the spectrum, but during our visit we saw several kids who clearly were. The executive functioning supports in the lower school looked really good and were integrated into the entire class whether or not all of the students had ADHD. We were impressed by this. However, these supports tapered off by high school.

Please don't casually diagnose kids based on how they look and act. That's not fair to anyone and shouldn't be done any time but especially in this forum.

PP again- we looked into both McLean and Lab for our DC who was entering high school. You really need to tour/spend some time at both.

At Lab, there seemed to be a lot of kids on the spectrum/stimming/quirky. Very different than our just ADHD kid. The staff was very warm and caring, and we actually saw students hugging teachers. It's bright fit for the right kid.

McLean told us that they do not accept kids on the spectrum, but during our visit we saw several kids who clearly were. The executive functioning supports in the lower school looked really good and were integrated into the entire class whether or not all of the students had ADHD. We were impressed by this. However, these supports tapered off by high school.

McLean told us that they drop much of the ADHD support in high school. The classes are very challenging.

Thanks! Does the school do anything to help new students get to know existing students?

Any other thoughts on Lab vs McLean for 9-12th grades?

I follow Lab on Facebook. The last few weeks they have been profiling the graduating seniors. They all seem like they are headed for bright interesting futures. You might want to take a look.

It's not going to be a real high school ecperience, especially if your son is social. Visit McLean instead if your son isn't more than 2 grade levels behind.

We have close friends there, so this is second hand. Classes are really small, teacher ratio is 1-4, high school classes are less than 8 kids.

The kids don’t stay together for all the classes, classes are based on the student level for that subject.

If not all the kids, most of the kids are/were severely dyslexic. The family we know, child is in 8th grade and reading at 4th grade level. They are happy there, it is the first time the child is actually advancing academically. This is will be there 3rd year. Socially, it will not be a true high school experience. Many kids come from far away, so it hard for kids to socialize outside school.

OP the school is so small that you may be best off asking the school if you can talk to families of current and recently graduated HS students

You might also do the same for the Siena School to have more data points

Any replies would be greatly appreciated!

We are considering Lab for our DS with dyslexia and ADHD (trouble focusing in a large class, behavior is fine). What are the pros and cons for high school?

This would be for 9th grade next school year. DS is entering 8th. Is it hard for a new kid to break in socially?