Anonymous
Post 06/06/2026 19:49     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Consider an EF coach to start the year if funds allow? Hopefully with a plan to fade out the support. Starting with the support given the neuropsych results is better than waiting for him to struggle and be scrambling.


Agree with this. We just started with an EF coach at the end of the school year. They’re virtual and it’s been GREAT. WISH we started sooner. We’re continuing thru summer so we’re ready for the fall when school starts. It’s not as expensive as I thought either. Not cheap but not like other rates I’ve heard. Anyway that’s what we did. Hope this helps. Good luck.



Don’t mean to hijack the post - wondering - what EF coach do you use? Would you mind sharing? Might be helpful for my DS this summer. Thanks!
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2026 13:59     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:Maybe lower or middle school would be OK, but I wouldn't recommend GDS high school for a kid with executive functioning challenge. Perhaps more than most other schools, you really have to be a self starter in the high school. The block schedule, the free period, and the open campus can make it hard for those without strong executive functioning. Forgetfulness does not bode well in general. There is absolutely zero hand-holding. My kid really had to adjust.

I disagree. There are a good number of kids at GDS who are not naturally on top of everything. They have learning specialists there, a whole dept that can help in that sort of way. And starting there at lower grades helps the id develop those skills pre middle school etc.
Anonymous
Post 06/06/2026 11:59     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:Consider an EF coach to start the year if funds allow? Hopefully with a plan to fade out the support. Starting with the support given the neuropsych results is better than waiting for him to struggle and be scrambling.


Agree with this. We just started with an EF coach at the end of the school year. They’re virtual and it’s been GREAT. WISH we started sooner. We’re continuing thru summer so we’re ready for the fall when school starts. It’s not as expensive as I thought either. Not cheap but not like other rates I’ve heard. Anyway that’s what we did. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2026 08:41     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
exec. functioning isn't exactly special needs. And St. Andrews does offer that type of support.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2026 06:38     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:St Johns and St Andrews could be options as well. Maybe Maret.


St Andrews (SAES) has been pretty clear that they do not see their mission as special-needs kids. So I would not be applying there for any kid with special needs.

Anonymous
Post 05/26/2026 12:19     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Seems like the HOS is more interested in media attention than running the school
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2026 17:02     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:No, try someplace more attuned to SN such as Burke, Field or The Lab School.


Oh for Pete's sake. What OP describes in a fourth grader is hardly "special needs."

She's just described 99% of nine year old school boys.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2026 16:58     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
St. John’s has excellent structure for kids needing EF support, even outside of the Benilde Program.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 15:14     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:St Johns and St Andrews could be options as well. Maybe Maret.


Not Maret. They don't support my kid with EF issues.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 14:33     Subject: Re:Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
GDS is very focused on promoting executive functioning skills, particularly starting in 5th grade. We've been impressed by this and have seen results, even though most kids, including ours, still struggle with EF at this age....
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 13:29     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
St Johns and St Andrews could be options as well. Maybe Maret.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 13:26     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, try someplace more attuned to SN such as Burke, Field or The Lab School.


I would be careful with Field. I'm not sure they are very accommodating to kids with EF issues anymore. Lab is a great school for kids with dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc., If your child's main issue is EF then Lab is not appropriate.


You might want to look at Bullis. People seem happy with the level of support they are providing for these kids right now. I know that has not always been the case.
Anonymous
Post 05/22/2026 13:21     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:No, try someplace more attuned to SN such as Burke, Field or The Lab School.


I would be careful with Field. I'm not sure they are very accommodating to kids with EF issues anymore. Lab is a great school for kids with dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc., If your child's main issue is EF then Lab is not appropriate.
Anonymous
Post 05/21/2026 23:10     Subject: Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You could apply and see. GDS won’t accept a child if they think they cannot handle the work.


Yes and no. A variety of factors are looked at during the admissions process (legacy, siblings, donations as well as academics and extracurriculars). Many kids are also hypothetically capable of “doing the work” but whether the environment ends up supporting that is nuanced. We certainly know of students who were admitted in earlier grades with EF challenges who have been asked by GDS to complete neuropsychs and then start stimulants when classroom modifications didn’t help.

This is not meant to be a commentary on GDS, but it’s important to acknowledge that kids leave GDS (as well as other schools) because there isn’t alignment academically. They may end up using a variety of modifications to access the curriculum, which parents may not anticipate prior to enrollment.

Progressive schools can be harder for kids without strong EF because rules and expectations are implicit instead of being explicit, which is the case at more traditional schools. For a child without strong EF, bandwidth is then being used to navigate expectations and rules instead of on other tasks requiring EF.

This is a good answer. I would say that introverts could be challenged as well as it requires a lot of self-advocacy and outreach in the HS years.



Anonymous
Post 05/21/2026 23:00     Subject: Re:Is GDS a fit for a very bright kid with some exec functioning challenges?
Yes