Anonymous wrote:When I worked at HC it was a block schedule. I’d be surprised if that changed? That was three years ago.

I am not surprised to hear the HC girls were unfriendly. I felt unwelcome and uncomfortable there and left bc a particular colleague made my life miserable.

They do have a robust learning support program. I’d say there’s a huge split between girls who are academic achievers and girls who are struggling and need A LOT of support.

Well, HC has that rep and they don’t seem to do much to change perceptions. I went to a holiday event at AHC, on the other hand, and was pleasantly surprised how warm and welcoming the parents were - and I was just someone’s guest. Also met the president and principal and was very impressed. Too bad I have a DS!

When I worked at HC it was a block schedule. I’d be surprised if that changed? That was three years ago.

I am not surprised to hear the HC girls were unfriendly. I felt unwelcome and uncomfortable there and left bc a particular colleague made my life miserable.

They do have a robust learning support program. I’d say there’s a huge split between girls who are academic achievers and girls who are struggling and need A LOT of support.

The block schedule is a positive for some ADHD kids and a negative for others. Fewer transitions and not having newly assigned homework due the next day can be very helpful. But some kids struggle with maintaining focus in the longer classes and actually do better with more, shorter class periods. You have to think about how your specific kid’s brain works and which would benefit them more.

Original poster here, thanks everyone!

We chose AHC three years ago for our ADHD/learning differences DD. It was a wonderful choice. I can't say enough about their resource program. They have been on top of every challenge and we never feel like we're struggling to play catch-up (if that makes any sense). Every teacher we've met with has been so accommodating and we (and DD) feel like they are really invested in seeing DD succeed. Just my experience.

HC has a great learning support program but we found our ADHD did not need that level of support. That said, when my DD did a visit to HC after admission, she said she did not find the girls friendly or welcoming. It went from being her first choice to dropping off the list completely. She visited AHC and also didn’t like it for other reasons. But I think if we had to pick between the two she would have ended up at AHC.

HC has a stronger learning support program.

Block schedule is great for ADHD. Fewer transitions. Homework always has at least 2 days so they can go back for clarification or get tutoring. Teachers tend to do more active learning.

My ADHD DD attends SR which also has a block schedule. It is very helpful for students who may have challenges with transitions. Instead of swiching classes 7 times a day, it is only four times. The classes are longer, but if she has accommodations, she is entitled to breaks. Teachers usually break up the class into sections like lecture time, work time, discussion, etc. It enables students to take a deeper dive into the material.

In terms of AHC vs. HC, both will support your daughter. HC seems to be better equipped for students with learning differences. I believe the school is smaller than AHC, so that is something to consider in terms of her finding her people.

Curious about the differences between Holy Child and Holy Cross (AHC). My daughter has dyslexia and ADD and will be coming from public school where she has a 504. She shadowed both and thought the girls were nicer at AHC but couldn’t put her finger on specifics. I know AHC has a block schedule which could be tricky for someone with ADD. Holy Child is closer and would be more convenient but it is also more expensive. Not looking to bash either school but if anyone has feedback, it would be helpful.