Anonymous wrote:If the school has not already brought up the conversation about finding another school for next year, then I wouldn't worry about it. Usually when a student is counseled out, it's an ongoing conversation, not just blindsiding a family when contracts come out.

OP here. Thanks, this is what I needed to hear right now. I appreciate it. They started off asking us to keep him there to work through issues, but have starting complaining more recently. We agree that the school is not a great fit, but finding an 8th grade spot for next year will be tough; we'd love to make it through next year and move for HS. Sister is in 8th now and is looking at her HS options. She's aware of her brother's struggles and will make her own decision (with us, of course) with her eyes open.

What grade are they in OP? Even if your chin is not asked to leave I wonder if a fresh start and a different environment would help them? How is the other child doing at the school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And you know all these disparate cases how?

Anyone at the school can learn of this easily. The elementary school teacher especially taught an entire class of children while dying. It can’t be hidden from the children let alone parents. It’s not a secret

If you think you are at the school and would like to learn more, talk to parents of multiple children in the lower school. I’m sure you will find someone who experienced the situation.

Anonymous wrote:And you know all these disparate cases how?

Anyone at the school can learn of this easily. The elementary school teacher especially taught an entire class of children while dying. It can’t be hidden from the children let alone parents. It’s not a secret

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid being violent or seriously disruptive?
ADHD alone would not trigger dismissal. We are at a Christian K-8 and my kid has ADHD.
The school also has “ out” gay kids and gay parents too…. We have a great admin.

ADHD that is significantly disruptive to the class, a student who won’t follow directions, etc. is absolutely a reason for dismissal from many DMV privates. Have you ever worked at or had a student at one?

To the PP with the “Big 3” references, the advice at the end is very good.

If you see signs that your child isn’t doing their best consistently or is depressed or shunned for a sustained period of time, look for a new school and don’t accept a new contract. Don’t wait for the school to tell you to leave. Trust your instincts. Do you think the school is handling whatever the issue is? Or do you see the school trying or denying the issue while it continues to get worse? Does your student want to leave?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This call came after I had signed a contract for the next year but the HOS said “I can’t do anything about this it’s too late here’s your deposit back.”

Turned out to be some bizarre gossip going around by another parent who knew my mother and recognized me at a school function even though I had no idea who she was. She was special friends with the board chair, but I didn’t know any of this at the time.

Now I wish I never did…

This is pretty shitty. I wish the school would have done better. Is this school in dmv

It’s called the Calverton School. It’s in Maryland.

And you know all these disparate cases how?

Of the Big 3, one is known to be a straight jacket. At that Big 3, a child had cancer. Due to chemotherapy, the child fell behind junior year. The child still wanted to go to the spring dance with his classmates. The school refused, because the dance was for upperclassmen. This was years ago, but the school continues to defend its position. The child’s family and the school came to the mutual decision that the school was not a good fit. All children left.

At the same Big 3, an elementary school teacher had cancer. Because of financial constraints from debt payments (some schools with large endowments also have tremendous debt, which is paid after expenses), the school refused at first to hire an aide. The elementary students’ sole home room teacher was undergoing cancer treatment and was in the process of dying. Eventually the school did hire an aide and finally a substitute. The teacher did pass.

Students and teachers who do well at this school have zero unusual problems including never getting cancer.

Any student who falls short of that? One student who was counseled out had issues that would have been supported at another Big 3. The students’ family knew in advance that the school was being counseled out. It was a collaborative discussion, and the school helped place the student. Siblings stayed. However the student needed additional counseling from the experience of being counseled out. He went from being a confident boy to one who suspected he was flawed, even though he would have thrived had he all along been at another Big3. Also, his classmates and community, which he’d been with since Pre-K also believed him to be flawed.

If you haven’t heard anything yet, I would not be concerned about the school counseling the child out. However, I would be concerned about the impact of the child being at a school that is a poor fit. For this reason I would proactively research other schools now in case the research is helpful in the fall.

I know a couple families from our past private K-6 where a sibling was asked to not come back. The other sibling stayed. Not every school is a fit for all kids in a family. At here were also a few families who had kids at different private elementary schools for the same reason. Sure it’s easier to do one drop off but tuition is too expensive for a one size fits all approach if your kids are *very* different.

Is your kid being violent or seriously disruptive?
ADHD alone would not trigger dismissal. We are at a Christian K-8 and my kid has ADHD.
The school also has “ out” gay kids and gay parents too…. We have a great admin.

Suggest asking HOS. Our schools contracts were sent out weeks ago.

Anonymous wrote:This call came after I had signed a contract for the next year but the HOS said “I can’t do anything about this it’s too late here’s your deposit back.”

Turned out to be some bizarre gossip going around by another parent who knew my mother and recognized me at a school function even though I had no idea who she was. She was special friends with the board chair, but I didn’t know any of this at the time.

Now I wish I never did…

This is pretty shitty. I wish the school would have done better. Is this school in dmv

If the school has not already brought up the conversation about finding another school for next year, then I wouldn't worry about it. Usually when a student is counseled out, it's an ongoing conversation, not just blindsiding a family when contracts come out.

Plus, I wouldn’t have had standing to sue. None of us would in a similar situation. Only if there was financial harm, which in this case there wasn’t.