Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 08:13     Subject: sycamore school
Anonymous wrote:We currently have a middle schooler at Sycamore. This is the end of year one and we are very happy. He is getting math at his own pace, massive executive function instruction, and his classes combine reading, writing, science, and history. While the curriculum is not set out like it is in public schools, he is absolutely hitting all of those areas. While we still have outside tutoring for reading and writing because he is dyslexic, the small class size and creative learning environment have done wonders for his confidence and retention of information. Everyone we have spoken with who has had a child there has expressed no concerns about transferring back into a public school setting outside of the introduction of homework and possibly updating IEPs to correctly reflect what the child needs now. Any child at Sycamore who wants to go to college has been accepted from what I have heard thus far. Sycamore has been a game changer for us. It is not, however, for everyone. Definitely visit and have your child do the shadow day if offered and talk to parents of current students to get a feel for how the school operates day to day and the curriculum they follow.


I'm the other poster and when my kid was in MS, I could have written exactly this. (if I were more eloquent with the written word). FWIW, the intensive dyslexia intervention we did in MS, really paid off. Our kid now tests neurotypical on APS standardized tests in reading and writing.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2026 18:23     Subject: sycamore school
Anonymous wrote:We currently have a middle schooler at Sycamore. This is the end of year one and we are very happy. He is getting math at his own pace, massive executive function instruction, and his classes combine reading, writing, science, and history. While the curriculum is not set out like it is in public schools, he is absolutely hitting all of those areas. While we still have outside tutoring for reading and writing because he is dyslexic, the small class size and creative learning environment have done wonders for his confidence and retention of information. Everyone we have spoken with who has had a child there has expressed no concerns about transferring back into a public school setting outside of the introduction of homework and possibly updating IEPs to correctly reflect what the child needs now. Any child at Sycamore who wants to go to college has been accepted from what I have heard thus far. Sycamore has been a game changer for us. It is not, however, for everyone. Definitely visit and have your child do the shadow day if offered and talk to parents of current students to get a feel for how the school operates day to day and the curriculum they follow.


Thank you! Very encouraging and very helpful. Also, glad that it has worked so well for your family.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2026 14:23     Subject: sycamore school
We currently have a middle schooler at Sycamore. This is the end of year one and we are very happy. He is getting math at his own pace, massive executive function instruction, and his classes combine reading, writing, science, and history. While the curriculum is not set out like it is in public schools, he is absolutely hitting all of those areas. While we still have outside tutoring for reading and writing because he is dyslexic, the small class size and creative learning environment have done wonders for his confidence and retention of information. Everyone we have spoken with who has had a child there has expressed no concerns about transferring back into a public school setting outside of the introduction of homework and possibly updating IEPs to correctly reflect what the child needs now. Any child at Sycamore who wants to go to college has been accepted from what I have heard thus far. Sycamore has been a game changer for us. It is not, however, for everyone. Definitely visit and have your child do the shadow day if offered and talk to parents of current students to get a feel for how the school operates day to day and the curriculum they follow.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 20:47     Subject: sycamore school
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi. Would love to hear feedback on Sycamore from current families. We went to an open house with our DC and we liked it. DC is 2e, ASD and gifted in Math but struggles in a large public school, mostly socially.

Our concerns are around the lack of homework and our own lack of familiarity on the “mastery” system. DC would be a 7th grader.

Thanks in advance.


Not a current family but our 2e son went for 3 years during middle school and had a friend with your kid's profile. The school will support your kids' interest in math by letting them move ahead at math at their own pace. For the social and emotional part, they will engage on those issues and allow your child to grow in those areas while same-aged kids who are more neurotypical are working on lessons.

However, when my kid was there some kids with ASD thrived and some didn't. I think it would be helpful if you ask about your son's possible worse day and how the school will manage it. If you are ok with the plan, he should be fine.

They should also connect you with a family who has a kid with a similar profile, if you ask.

Good luck!


Thank you so much for your response and suggestions. I like the question framed around a bad day. Did you have any concerns with the lack of grades? Was that an issue for the high school you transferred to?


Transferred back to public school. No issue except getting used to homework in 6 classes (or whatever number it was). Furthermore, almost everything Sycamore was doing ended up in the IEP without argument, which was amazing.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 10:49     Subject: sycamore school
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hi. Would love to hear feedback on Sycamore from current families. We went to an open house with our DC and we liked it. DC is 2e, ASD and gifted in Math but struggles in a large public school, mostly socially.

Our concerns are around the lack of homework and our own lack of familiarity on the “mastery” system. DC would be a 7th grader.

Thanks in advance.


Not a current family but our 2e son went for 3 years during middle school and had a friend with your kid's profile. The school will support your kids' interest in math by letting them move ahead at math at their own pace. For the social and emotional part, they will engage on those issues and allow your child to grow in those areas while same-aged kids who are more neurotypical are working on lessons.

However, when my kid was there some kids with ASD thrived and some didn't. I think it would be helpful if you ask about your son's possible worse day and how the school will manage it. If you are ok with the plan, he should be fine.

They should also connect you with a family who has a kid with a similar profile, if you ask.

Good luck!


Thank you so much for your response and suggestions. I like the question framed around a bad day. Did you have any concerns with the lack of grades? Was that an issue for the high school you transferred to?
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 08:46     Subject: sycamore school
Anonymous wrote:Hi. Would love to hear feedback on Sycamore from current families. We went to an open house with our DC and we liked it. DC is 2e, ASD and gifted in Math but struggles in a large public school, mostly socially.

Our concerns are around the lack of homework and our own lack of familiarity on the “mastery” system. DC would be a 7th grader.

Thanks in advance.


Not a current family but our 2e son went for 3 years during middle school and had a friend with your kid's profile. The school will support your kids' interest in math by letting them move ahead at math at their own pace. For the social and emotional part, they will engage on those issues and allow your child to grow in those areas while same-aged kids who are more neurotypical are working on lessons.

However, when my kid was there some kids with ASD thrived and some didn't. I think it would be helpful if you ask about your son's possible worse day and how the school will manage it. If you are ok with the plan, he should be fine.

They should also connect you with a family who has a kid with a similar profile, if you ask.

Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 18:14     Subject: sycamore school
Hi. Would love to hear feedback on Sycamore from current families. We went to an open house with our DC and we liked it. DC is 2e, ASD and gifted in Math but struggles in a large public school, mostly socially.

Our concerns are around the lack of homework and our own lack of familiarity on the “mastery” system. DC would be a 7th grader.

Thanks in advance.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2023 08:08     Subject: sycamore school
Yes, it is very small! It is still just a few years old, so it is growing gradually. I forget the goal but I think it is currently about 65 students and the final plan is 120 ... something along those lines. They like to say that it is "intentionally small" and it is clear that there is no way the school could operate the way that it does if it were much larger. Kids get a huge amount of individualized attention.

My child has made a couple good friends and is totally fine with it socially, but he has never relied on it exclusively. He has friends from other activities as well.

It is a very warm, welcoming school and in that way offers something totally different from the nearby public high schools. I am not totally sure, though, which student population it ultimately hopes to serve. It seems like a total mix now. Personally, I know a mix of kids who have ADHD or anxiety or just didn't have a good experience at their school and wanted a change. There are some very bright kids there.