Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ADHD or “ADHD”? The problem with these questions is that some posters will claim that their kid has “ADHD” but when you drill down they basically have extremely mild issues, to the point that you suspect the parents are just intolerant of any sort of weakness in their kids or hyper concerned. These are the kids who supposedly attend top privates with “ADHD but minimal supports and doing great!!!” In short these kids actually do not have neurodevelopmental disorders.

So you have to be pretty specific and also honest about your kid’s actual challenges and weaknesses. Any needs beyond extra time on tests are prob disqualifying from top privates at the MS and HS level. Conversely there are schools and programs than authentically do support some more significant needs, like the Catholic SN programs, Commonwealth, McLean, Lab, etc.

I find this post really offensive as the parent of a kid with very textbook combined type ADHD but also gifted. Trust me, this kid is scattered, dysregulated and bouncy at home at night once his meds have worn off. But at school he does extremely well in a rigorous, structured classroom with engaged peers and extended time and a few other accommodations. He says there are way fewer distractions in a challenging environment where he can hyper focus on the school work. “Intolerant of any sort of weakness” is a really awful statement. You should examine why you thought that was a respectful, appropriate way to describe anyone with this diagnosis or anyone parenting a child with this diagnosis. I think you’ve revealed the actual intolerant individual.

+1

Anonymous wrote:ADHD or “ADHD”? The problem with these questions is that some posters will claim that their kid has “ADHD” but when you drill down they basically have extremely mild issues, to the point that you suspect the parents are just intolerant of any sort of weakness in their kids or hyper concerned. These are the kids who supposedly attend top privates with “ADHD but minimal supports and doing great!!!” In short these kids actually do not have neurodevelopmental disorders.

So you have to be pretty specific and also honest about your kid’s actual challenges and weaknesses. Any needs beyond extra time on tests are prob disqualifying from top privates at the MS and HS level. Conversely there are schools and programs than authentically do support some more significant needs, like the Catholic SN programs, Commonwealth, McLean, Lab, etc.

I find this post really offensive as the parent of a kid with very textbook combined type ADHD but also gifted. Trust me, this kid is scattered, dysregulated and bouncy at home at night once his meds have worn off. But at school he does extremely well in a rigorous, structured classroom with engaged peers and extended time and a few other accommodations. He says there are way fewer distractions in a challenging environment where he can hyper focus on the school work. “Intolerant of any sort of weakness” is a really awful statement. You should examine why you thought that was a respectful, appropriate way to describe anyone with this diagnosis or anyone parenting a child with this diagnosis. I think you’ve revealed the actual intolerant individual.

STA offers a very traditional model of education and the kids who seem to be rewarded are able to excel in that model. I am sure they give extra time but I don’t think they are super understanding of behavior that doesn’t fit the mold. Be in dress code, sit still, don’t be late, all classes have a lot of homework and curriculum is pretty traditional/not a ton of electives etc. My kid often has 3-4 hours of homework a night on top of sports practice.

Saying that, if you are okay with kid struggling potentially, the brotherhood is strong and most boys who attend love the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate on why STA would be a bad choice for a kid with ADHD?

Because it's a very rigorous and intense school that holds kids to very high and demanding standards. If you apply, be very honest about the ADHD and ask about supports. If they don't want a kid with ADHD - and I doubt they do - trust me, you want him to be rejected.

Oh please.

OP every school is required by law to offer supports and accommodations of this manner. This PP is obviously enamored with STA but I assure you that they do have kids with accommodations and make it fine through these “demanding standards.”

Anonymous wrote:ADHD or “ADHD”? The problem with these questions is that some posters will claim that their kid has “ADHD” but when you drill down they basically have extremely mild issues, to the point that you suspect the parents are just intolerant of any sort of weakness in their kids or hyper concerned. These are the kids who supposedly attend top privates with “ADHD but minimal supports and doing great!!!” In short these kids actually do not have neurodevelopmental disorders.

So you have to be pretty specific and also honest about your kid’s actual challenges and weaknesses. Any needs beyond extra time on tests are prob disqualifying from top privates at the MS and HS level. Conversely there are schools and programs than authentically do support some more significant needs, like the Catholic SN programs, Commonwealth, McLean, Lab, etc.

Inattentive type ADHD is a real diagnosis. And yes, these kids are neurodivergent.

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate on why STA would be a bad choice for a kid with ADHD?

If your child’s adhd is not a behavior issue and he just needs extra time, STA will be fine.

Adding the 8th grade is not an entry year for any private school in the area. At a small school like STA, there may be zero to just a couple of slots depending on attrition.

STA will give extra time for assessments, but that is basically it. If your kid has executive functioning issues, STA could be extraordinarily difficult. Every single day there is filled with graded homework assignments, papers, and assessments (either quizzes or tests). It's a grind for most neuro-typical guys.

Op, have your son’s current school connect directly with the schools you’re considering. They will be able to offer insight into which schools are most similar. Your definition of “rigorous” may differ from how it’s defined in the DC area. I also highly recommend speaking with the learning resource teams so you can have an honest conversation with those you know have first-hand knowledge.

My son is currently applying, and both schools do provide support beyond what has been shared in this thread. You’ll want to compare your son’s current accommodations with what each school offers. If accepted, the schools will formally review the request and either approve or deny it. Both schools offer very similar supports, not identical, but very similar. The daily schedules are also different, which may be worth considering. Landon’s schedule and overall structure are more accommodating to the ADHD mind, in my opinion.

For what it’s worth, we also looked at Sidwell, GDS, and Maret, and they all offer support in fairly typical and comparable ways.

But I do agree with pp, be very honest about your son and his capabilities v. needs. I’ve spoken with friends who have children at McLean and Lab, and those schools are useful points of comparison. They support students in a very different way. Based on those conversations and guidance from our outplacement team, those schools may be a better fit if your son’s neurodiversity or learning differences present more significantly. And there's also the fact that every student is neurodivergent, so a very different experience overall.

ADHD or “ADHD”? The problem with these questions is that some posters will claim that their kid has “ADHD” but when you drill down they basically have extremely mild issues, to the point that you suspect the parents are just intolerant of any sort of weakness in their kids or hyper concerned. These are the kids who supposedly attend top privates with “ADHD but minimal supports and doing great!!!” In short these kids actually do not have neurodevelopmental disorders.

So you have to be pretty specific and also honest about your kid’s actual challenges and weaknesses. Any needs beyond extra time on tests are prob disqualifying from top privates at the MS and HS level. Conversely there are schools and programs than authentically do support some more significant needs, like the Catholic SN programs, Commonwealth, McLean, Lab, etc.