Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is sort of depressing. Given the high prevalence of ADHD, and the fact that it cuts across race and class lines, it would be nice to think any decent public school could serve ADHD kids well.

It is depressing. We live in one of the more highly rated schools clusters in FCPS and the amount of effort we have had to expend to make sure our LD child receives the services he needs to be a successful student is incredible.

I agree. It was incredibly depressing (and expensive) for us to get our DS an IEP. Going private wasn't an option for us so we bit the bullet and hired a consultant/advocate. It was well worth the money and we're very pleased with the FCPS school we're in. But, I find it very difficult not to sneer when I hear people lauding the FCPS system.

Anonymous wrote:To follow on PP, I suggest the GW Community School as a private school option.

http://www.gwcommunityschool.com/

Currently there are 50 students enrolled.

Thanks, I had not heard of this school!

Anonymous wrote:This is sort of depressing. Given the high prevalence of ADHD, and the fact that it cuts across race and class lines, it would be nice to think any decent public school could serve ADHD kids well.

It is depressing. We live in one of the more highly rated schools clusters in FCPS and the amount of effort we have had to expend to make sure our LD child receives the services he needs to be a successful student is incredible.

This is sort of depressing. Given the high prevalence of ADHD, and the fact that it cuts across race and class lines, it would be nice to think any decent public school could serve ADHD kids well.

To follow on PP, I suggest the GW Community School as a private school option.

http://www.gwcommunityschool.com/

Currently there are 50 students enrolled.

If you want to look at private schools, I would start with The New School of Northern Virginia. They have very small class sizes, a very accepting student body, and the teachers are great at keeping the kids engaged.

Anonymous wrote:Moving to the area and would like to send DD to public school. She is very bright (above 90th percentile on both IQ and achievement tests), but has inattentive ADD and can be spacey and disorganized. She is also pretty shy and not super good about reaching out for help. Are there particular public high schools in NOVA that you think would be a good fit for such a child? We could send her to a private school -- she is now in a private middle school-- but it would be a real stretch financially to do this in the DC area. thanks!

In Fairfax County, Marshall HS would be my first choice. It's the smallest high school in the county. The student body is diverse, but it's also on the affluent side. In practical terms, that means that they don't have a "one size fits all" attitude, but that most of the students there won't need the extra resources that your daughter may require. My second choice would be Falls Church HS, which has more low-income students and students just learning English than Marshall, but has a reputation as a place where they really love the kids.

Keep in mind, however, that with the exception of George Mason in the City of Falls Church, most public schools in NoVa have over 1500 students.

In other words, you really have only two options: An IEP in the public schools (allow all summer to try and battle it out to get it) or the privates that help the ADHD student insteading of being punitive. We've done both.

All of the Fairfax high schools are good but only if you have an IEP, and they make it very difficult to get one. 504s won't be of any help. The high schools are very demanding. My DS (I.Q. 140 but ADHD, Anxiety, Aspergers) would never have survived without it.

Moving to the area and would like to send DD to public school. She is very bright (above 90th percentile on both IQ and achievement tests), but has inattentive ADD and can be spacey and disorganized. She is also pretty shy and not super good about reaching out for help. Are there particular public high schools in NOVA that you think would be a good fit for such a child? We could send her to a private school -- she is now in a private middle school-- but it would be a real stretch financially to do this in the DC area. thanks!