Anonymous wrote:The Lab School
Burke
Field
Bullis

I’ve heard complaints from parents at each of these schools, plus McLean. It really is tough with the ADHD fit. OP, you will need to meet with the Directors of each school you are interested in.

As you look at schools, you may want to compare 5-day vs 7-day block schedules. 5 day tend to have 45 minute periods and have more periods/day. Block schedules have hour long classes so fewer periods per day. My daughter prefers the 7 day block so she feels less rushed. My son prefers the 5 day so the classes are shorter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most private schools have plenty of kids with adhd, really. In an area with very well regarded public schools, the people applying to any grade other than kindergarten are people who tried public school and it didn’t work out for them. A very common reason it didn’t work out is adhd. It’s why so many parents on this board are so excited their school has a lot of recess, doesn’t require kids to sit all day, etc. That’s not to say there aren’t lots of kids in public school with adhd too, but those whose parents have money tend to try to switch to private.

agree. progressive education models that "meet a child where s/he is" are excellent for adhd inattentive or hyperactives. Lots of moving around, 45 minute classes not big blocks, two teachers and more attention from the teacher to help child develop his or her study strategies, organizational methods, etc. Not to mention the schools are fun in the early years so the kids pay attention!

Actually it is quite the opposite. Progressive education is terrible for both of these children because both of those type of children really need structure and routines to be imposed by adults.

Core subject classes are much longer than 45 minutes try more like 60 -90 minutes. This is because a lot of the learning is project and experience based and that can't fit in a smaller block of time.

There is a much higher expectation that kids will self organize themselves and among themselves for classroom activities. There is less enforced direction of "do it this way" and more open ended assignments that can be very tough for adhd inattentive kids to get started on and work through.

Anonymous wrote:What about Sandy Springs for a child with inattentive ADHD?

I think you’ll be fine.

Anonymous wrote:Most private schools have plenty of kids with adhd, really. In an area with very well regarded public schools, the people applying to any grade other than kindergarten are people who tried public school and it didn’t work out for them. A very common reason it didn’t work out is adhd. It’s why so many parents on this board are so excited their school has a lot of recess, doesn’t require kids to sit all day, etc. That’s not to say there aren’t lots of kids in public school with adhd too, but those whose parents have money tend to try to switch to private.

agree. progressive education models that "meet a child where s/he is" are excellent for adhd inattentive or hyperactives. Lots of moving around, 45 minute classes not big blocks, two teachers and more attention from the teacher to help child develop his or her study strategies, organizational methods, etc. Not to mention the schools are fun in the early years so the kids pay attention!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac?

Nope! Trust me. I have the same type of child and it is not a good fit.

We know a bunch of adhd kids at Potomac, including one of ours, who are thriving at Potomac (LS-US). You need to talk to the admissions folks, OP.

+1 yes OP your description fits my child & he’s thriving at Potomac

Most private schools have plenty of kids with adhd, really. In an area with very well regarded public schools, the people applying to any grade other than kindergarten are people who tried public school and it didn’t work out for them. A very common reason it didn’t work out is adhd. It’s why so many parents on this board are so excited their school has a lot of recess, doesn’t require kids to sit all day, etc. That’s not to say there aren’t lots of kids in public school with adhd too, but those whose parents have money tend to try to switch to private.

Anonymous wrote:Potomac?

+1

What about Sandy Springs for a child with inattentive ADHD?

I have a kid with ADHD

We had to look at school as a partnership.

We found counseling, bought a 2nd set of books, planned with our kid at home, stayed on the kid about HW, re-purchased lost items, and help DC accountable when mistakes were made (or impulses were given into).
The school kept track of him, had empathy, used good strategies to keep the child engaged, and followed the plan we created together.

There are a few threads about "will the school do x, y, & z" but I think it helps if you think of it like, "will they work together with us to help this child with ADHD to succeed,". Otherwise, you are setting them up for failure and can expect to be disappointed.

Anonymous wrote:This is a little unrelated but do you all have that much interaction with your child’s teachers regularly? I had one parent teacher conference with the homeroom teacher and one back to school night group talk. We also get a lot of group emails but nothing on my kid specifically. That is it. My child is at a “big 3” (sorry to use that term) middle school.

I am asking not to as a criticism but rather whether my experience is normal?

We have found this to be the case in public and at private at the HS level. They only reach out if there's an issue (eg our ADHD DS is too chatty in class) and if/when DS settled down and was less disruptive we received a complimentary email. If we have any questions and email teachers, they do reply quickly but it's rare we email.

This is a little unrelated but do you all have that much interaction with your child’s teachers regularly? I had one parent teacher conference with the homeroom teacher and one back to school night group talk. We also get a lot of group emails but nothing on my kid specifically. That is it. My child is at a “big 3” (sorry to use that term) middle school.

I am asking not to as a criticism but rather whether my experience is normal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20% of children nationally have learning differences. 20% of students at the top 3 have learning differences. Don't assume that your child can't be accommodated, because if s/he is bright and curious, s/he will do just fine in any school.

Selective admissions processes and subsequent counseling out mean the students at the Big 3 do not mirror the general population. That's why people pay the big $.

+100 No way 20% of the kids at the Cathedral schools or Sidwell have a learning difference.

Actually 20% sounds about right. But trending towards the milder end.

What about hyperactive/disruptive kids? Or ADHD combined? Which schools do people recommend for those kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, PPs. Good to know some private schools do admit students needing accommodations.

If the child is disruptive to the other students and the teacher frequently has to stop to discipline or redirect them then it isn't neccessarily good for all and in fact it's not fair to the other students.

I think you misunderstand ADHD. Being disruptive or hyperactive is not present for most students with ADHD, especially because many of them are on medication which helps with impulse control. OP said her child had inattentive type, so he does not have that challenge.