My son has attended Park since Kindergarten and is graduating in June. In 3rd grade Park lower school learning specialist, Susan Eisner worked directly with him for giftedness and enrichment. Park suggested I get him tested for a variety of reasons. In 4th grade he was diagnosed with no impulse based ADHD and dysgraphia. I can honestly say that we have had no issues in the Upper School with his accommodations being met.

In lower school, my family created a fund for to support language based learning disabilities at Park. We wanted to make sure that any accommodations our son was given everybody else was given access to. In the lower school, the accommodations were a computer because of the dysgraphia, a quiet room and a dictation station that Park had set up for all of the children who are learning differences. Our middle school experience was not as good as our lower school or our upper school experience.

We created a learning plan with the Upper School learning specialist, Karyn Fisher, and each year they revisit the plan to make sure his needs are being addressed. He has consistently received the accommodations he needs, including extra time and a quiet room for testing when he needs it. Park also encourages the children to go often into other rooms in the hallway when working on small group assignments, which is great for a child with learning differences. The learning specialist also contacted the College Board to make sure his accommodations were in place for the ACT and AP exams. He received a quiet room and time-and-a-half for all of that testing.

Park has also been great about allowing students to meet with executive-function coaches and tutors. The admin works with child to reserve conferences rooms and classrooms so they can have whether the session is in person or over Zoom. If you need an executive function coach, I have an amazing one. I can recommend that we've been working with since middle school.

Also, your daughter will not be alone in having a learning difference. I would estimate that at least 30–40% the school has some kind of learning difference. Freshman year, I hosted a small gathering to meet my sons' new friends and their families. I was amazed to find that 4 boys at the gathering also had dysgraphia and ADHD. It came up naturally in conversation, which says a lot about how common and accepted it is.

If you’re feeling uncomfortable or unsure, I would suggest contacting Elliott Huntsman, the Dean of Students, and/or Karyn Fisher, the Upper School learning specialist. They are wonderful resources and I know they will be very open to speaking with you. I’m also very happy to answer any questions.

And for everyone who criticizes Park’s math program: my son has absolutely thrived. He is extremely strong in math and is going on to study computer science Purdue next year. Last year, he took AP Calculus AB and AP Computer Science and received a 5 on both exams. This year, he is taking three math classes: AP Calculus BC, Group Theory, and AP Statistics.

Our experience has been that Park has supported him academically, respected his learning differences, and allowed him to flourish. There's also no stigma whatsoever. In middle school, they had an affinity group for kids with learning differences. A handful of his friends joined because they thought the way he thought was awesome and they wanted to learn more about him. It really is a supportive community.

Would love recs for EF coaches if any of the folks commenting above have them!

Anonymous wrote:Will comment that when a child has specific learning style requirements, don't get distracted by school stereotypes or culture, however appealing. Take Park, for example, many people flock to Park because they love the school culture as a great fit for their family, but I'd never send a child with ADHD or who needs more structured learning environments to Park. Thinking that my kid has creative learning approaches and Park is a creative school, therefore perfect match = big mistake.

Visit all the schools and be frank about what your kid needs and listen carefully to what the school tells you. The schools also have been through this with many students before so they know what they can do for your child. Honesty and frankness and not getting caught up in this school is better than that because or culture or academic reputation is the way to go.

Agree - Park can be great, but it's not for everyone. And that can be said of many schools. Be realistic about what your kid needs to be successful and find that. The answer to ADHD isn't always private school.

Will comment that when a child has specific learning style requirements, don't get distracted by school stereotypes or culture, however appealing. Take Park, for example, many people flock to Park because they love the school culture as a great fit for their family, but I'd never send a child with ADHD or who needs more structured learning environments to Park. Thinking that my kid has creative learning approaches and Park is a creative school, therefore perfect match = big mistake.

Visit all the schools and be frank about what your kid needs and listen carefully to what the school tells you. The schools also have been through this with many students before so they know what they can do for your child. Honesty and frankness and not getting caught up in this school is better than that because or culture or academic reputation is the way to go.

OP is your kid at Calvert? Bryn mawr would be most similar and will have some built-in structure that may help.
There seem to be a number of strong EF coaches that work with kids around here. Perhaps start building those skills now?

Us too. We went a different route due to my husband’s job changing locations. But (you’re right the executive dysfunction is real!) my daughter has been working with an EF coach for the last 4 months - it’s made a world of difference. There’s no quick fix obv but she’s come a long way with her organization/time management/planning. Hope that helps someone feel more hopeful knowing there are supports out there. That can make a difference.

No direct experience but we will be applying for high schools next year for my ADHD girl (she's at a K-8 now). Park, RPCS, and Friends are on our list (though I know two people with ADHD kids at Friends who had issues). Maybe Bryn Mawr but I'm worried about the level of rigor. My daughter is very smart, according to her teachers and her tested IQ, but the executive disfunction is real, so it doesn't always come out in her school assignments.

It’s called integrated math. RPCS has something on it on its Facebook page. Worth asking how kids do on calc AB and BC AP exams. Not that APs are be all and end all, but if you bother to take calc BC, you definitely do not want to have to take it again in college.

Anonymous wrote:Strongly encourage you to look carefully at math program. It is a very specific way of teaching - something akin to flipped classroom - that is not successful for many many kids.

RPCS unfortunately follows similar curriculum. However, the school itself has much more overt structure, which is often preferable for adhd kids.

Thanks for mentioning this. I will look into it!

Strongly encourage you to look carefully at math program. It is a very specific way of teaching - something akin to flipped classroom - that is not successful for many many kids.

RPCS unfortunately follows similar curriculum. However, the school itself has much more overt structure, which is often preferable for adhd kids.

Anonymous wrote:Boys Latin would be worth looking into as they support these kids.

Unfortunately my child is a girl!

St. Paul’s as well.

Boys Latin would be worth looking into as they support these kids.

Tons of unmedicated adhd kids in lower school. Possibly too accommodating?

Thinking of looking at Park School for my child with ADHD. Does anyone have any experience with them and their academic support? How accommodating and supportive are they?