Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 15:00     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:You should have the school pay for it.

Long time educator and SN parent here. This is not how private schools work.

OP I worked at a big 5. A number of students had neuropsych reports on file. For those with gaps, teacher accommodations only extended so far, and students and parents had to make up the gap with remediation, tutoring/therapies, and hard work. A well-written neuropsych report is invaluable to parents and schools. There are several excellent practices locally. Get onto multiple waitlists now.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 14:38     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As previous posters of sad, you have to get the neuropsych if you want to stay at the school. It’s likely that you’ll get a diagnosis. The most likely thing is that the school works with you for at least a while as you experiment with interventions like accommodations at school, support, OT, possibly medication if the diagnosis is ADHD. Showing that you’re supportive and will partner with the school (aka do what they say) is the best chance of staying. Lots of kids either diagnosed stay at their original schools but as a parent of one I will say it was stressful the whole way through.

The pps have a point that ADHD is diagnosed in a lot of children in private school. You might look around at other settings they are more tolerant / have more outdoor time to get through the next several years.


Can you say more about what was stressful?


Almost every year there was some “incident” or situation the school called us in to discuss. Sometimes it felt like ordinary run of the mill kid stuff was seen through the lens of dc’s diagnosis, so things that would have gone without notice in other kids became a reason for the school to recommend more (and expensive) therapy and services, which we felt pressured to do even when they felt un-worthwhile. We felt always like we might be counseled out any year. It made it hard to feel very comfortable in the community.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 14:29     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So they can have official documentation to point to when they boot him out.

This will happen.


Don't private schools counsel kids out all the time? Do they really need a neuropsych for this? If anything it seems like it's the right next step to understand what supports the child needs and if the school can accommodate the child's needs.


Yes, they don’t need an excuse to counsel him out. They’re looking for an excuse to help him stay. If you don’t get it, you’ll likely be counseled out. If you do get it, your odds depend on what the testing says.


If you do Vanderbilt or a neuropsych and it either does or doesn’t provide a diagnosis, can the school require additional testing (ie ADOS)?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 14:23     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:As previous posters of sad, you have to get the neuropsych if you want to stay at the school. It’s likely that you’ll get a diagnosis. The most likely thing is that the school works with you for at least a while as you experiment with interventions like accommodations at school, support, OT, possibly medication if the diagnosis is ADHD. Showing that you’re supportive and will partner with the school (aka do what they say) is the best chance of staying. Lots of kids either diagnosed stay at their original schools but as a parent of one I will say it was stressful the whole way through.

The pps have a point that ADHD is diagnosed in a lot of children in private school. You might look around at other settings they are more tolerant / have more outdoor time to get through the next several years.


Can you say more about what was stressful?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 14:19     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So they can have official documentation to point to when they boot him out.

This will happen.


This is obviously scary. Is your experience that this is across-the-board? Our Big 3 basically made tons of kids get neuropsych testing this year. They even sent out a list of approved doctors, which was...a bit much. Surely schools aren't just kicking out tons of kids?


I’m a little surprised that a Big 3 would ask tons of kids in a grade to do a neuropsych. I assume whatever these children are being referred for came out in some way in the admissions process either through the entrance exam, the play date, or school recommendations.


The fact that you are surprised does not mean this didn't happen.


I don’t think you’re lying. There is just a surprising disconnect between a school that doesn’t explicitly offer supports for NT children accepting tons of NT children into a single grade, seemingly without any idea they could be NT despite a comprehensive admissions process. That said, no parent or teacher at my child’s school has offered this type of information (and I wouldn’t ask) so my surprise is based on my assumptions.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 13:42     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:You should have the school pay for it.


Private schools are not going to pay for it, although our school will subsidize it if you're on financial aid (by the same percentage as your aid). If you want a free evaluation, you are entitled to request an evaluation from your local school district, although it will be much less thorough than a private evaluation.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 13:35     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
As previous posters of sad, you have to get the neuropsych if you want to stay at the school. It’s likely that you’ll get a diagnosis. The most likely thing is that the school works with you for at least a while as you experiment with interventions like accommodations at school, support, OT, possibly medication if the diagnosis is ADHD. Showing that you’re supportive and will partner with the school (aka do what they say) is the best chance of staying. Lots of kids either diagnosed stay at their original schools but as a parent of one I will say it was stressful the whole way through.

The pps have a point that ADHD is diagnosed in a lot of children in private school. You might look around at other settings they are more tolerant / have more outdoor time to get through the next several years.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 13:25     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the reason 25% of boys have ADHD diagnoses.


What is your point here? That we should go back to putting our heads in the sand about how people's brains work? The hesitation anyone should have about better understanding and supporting their child is that they might get flagged on a "wellness camp" list by JFK Jr., on his eugenics nazi kick.


That ADHD is hugely overdiagnosed especially in boys. And this is chapter 1 in how it happens.


Who cares if it's overdiagnosed or whatever your personal opinion might be on ADHD? OP is getting advice from professional educators that they're seeing something concerning, and asked her to have medical/developmental professionals do an evaluation to get more information that might help their child succeed in school. Everything else is irrelevant.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 13:04     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So they can have official documentation to point to when they boot him out.

This will happen.


This is obviously scary. Is your experience that this is across-the-board? Our Big 3 basically made tons of kids get neuropsych testing this year. They even sent out a list of approved doctors, which was...a bit much. Surely schools aren't just kicking out tons of kids?


I’m a little surprised that a Big 3 would ask tons of kids in a grade to do a neuropsych. I assume whatever these children are being referred for came out in some way in the admissions process either through the entrance exam, the play date, or school recommendations.


The fact that you are surprised does not mean this didn't happen.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 12:39     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
You should have the school pay for it.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 12:24     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So they can have official documentation to point to when they boot him out.

This will happen.


This is obviously scary. Is your experience that this is across-the-board? Our Big 3 basically made tons of kids get neuropsych testing this year. They even sent out a list of approved doctors, which was...a bit much. Surely schools aren't just kicking out tons of kids?


I’m a little surprised that a Big 3 would ask tons of kids in a grade to do a neuropsych. I assume whatever these children are being referred for came out in some way in the admissions process either through the entrance exam, the play date, or school recommendations.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 12:11     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the reason 25% of boys have ADHD diagnoses.


What is your point here? That we should go back to putting our heads in the sand about how people's brains work? The hesitation anyone should have about better understanding and supporting their child is that they might get flagged on a "wellness camp" list by JFK Jr., on his eugenics nazi kick.


That ADHD is hugely overdiagnosed especially in boys. And this is chapter 1 in how it happens.


I don't totally disagree with you, but I think chapter 1 is how schools are run. Even boys' schools make them sit in desks all day, often don't differentiate, don't give enough recess, etc. It's not over-diagnosed if we require kids to live life in this way. The hard part for parents is figuring out how to get the best environment possible, reducing need for medication, but that's hard. Most American schools are really weak and behind the research.


Medicating kids because they slightly do not fit into their “Big 3” kindergarten class is crazy.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 11:52     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the reason 25% of boys have ADHD diagnoses.


What is your point here? That we should go back to putting our heads in the sand about how people's brains work? The hesitation anyone should have about better understanding and supporting their child is that they might get flagged on a "wellness camp" list by JFK Jr., on his eugenics nazi kick.


That ADHD is hugely overdiagnosed especially in boys. And this is chapter 1 in how it happens.


I don't totally disagree with you, but I think chapter 1 is how schools are run. Even boys' schools make them sit in desks all day, often don't differentiate, don't give enough recess, etc. It's not over-diagnosed if we require kids to live life in this way. The hard part for parents is figuring out how to get the best environment possible, reducing need for medication, but that's hard. Most American schools are really weak and behind the research.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 11:49     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So they can have official documentation to point to when they boot him out.

This will happen.


This is obviously scary. Is your experience that this is across-the-board? Our Big 3 basically made tons of kids get neuropsych testing this year. They even sent out a list of approved doctors, which was...a bit much. Surely schools aren't just kicking out tons of kids?


They want to get all the kids on meds and set them up for unlimited time on the SATs.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 11:49     Subject: Big 3 Asking for Neuropsych
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the reason 25% of boys have ADHD diagnoses.


What is your point here? That we should go back to putting our heads in the sand about how people's brains work? The hesitation anyone should have about better understanding and supporting their child is that they might get flagged on a "wellness camp" list by JFK Jr., on his eugenics nazi kick.


That ADHD is hugely overdiagnosed especially in boys. And this is chapter 1 in how it happens.