We are at McLean MS for my DS and I LOVE it. My kid now loves school and has done a complete 180. What seemed insurmountable now seems possible. We have been very pleased with our choice and I have really enjoyed the kids I’ve met that go there. They are kind, bright and eager to learn. I have had zero issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the boys basketball team won the PVAC and the girls made it to the finals. My DD is thriving at the Upper School. ADHD with some quirkiness that made public a nightmare. McLean School has been truly transformational for her and is great for bright kids with mild learning differences. Lots of supportive teachers and counselors. Even the cool kids are accepting of kids with differences.

The PVAC teams would lose to many public MS teams.

Sandy Spring Friends, Burke, Field, McLean - all PVAC schools. If you want a school for sports, none of those will be a top choice for you. But if you have a smart kid with some specific learning or social needs, any of them might be a good fit. Tbh, few kids are such athletic stars that you should choose a school purely on that basis.

Agreed. And many of the schools in the PVA have strong athletes that don’t participate in their school sports. They stick with their super competitive travel teams. If they play a school sport it’s a second sport for cross training purposes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen their sports teams? LOL.

Definitely a reason not to choose a school

My DD left McLean after middle school because of the sports. She went to a competitive high school that is talked about quite a bit on this forum with a top athletic program. She’s now an athletic recruit for college. Had she stayed at McLean, it would not have been possible. PVAC is the weakest athletic conference in the region. If it doesn’t matter to your kid, then go for it.

There are middle schools nearby that aren’t in ANY league.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of add-ons and then hounded by development office to make a financial gift. It’s just not worth it unless you have money to throw away and are ok with your kid going to a low to mid level college.

Judging a SN school by its college acceptances is dumb. I will be thrilled with my kid going to a "low to mid level college" because that is appropriate for her profile -- that's why we were looking at McLean.

Any updates to this thread about McLean? Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen their sports teams? LOL.

Definitely a reason not to choose a school

My DD left McLean after middle school because of the sports. She went to a competitive high school that is talked about quite a bit on this forum with a top athletic program. She’s now an athletic recruit for college. Had she stayed at McLean, it would not have been possible. PVAC is the weakest athletic conference in the region. If it doesn’t matter to your kid, then go for it.

That’s awesome! It doesn’t apply to most kids, but I’m happy for yours if that’s what matters to her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of add-ons and then hounded by development office to make a financial gift. It’s just not worth it unless you have money to throw away and are ok with your kid going to a low to mid level college.

+1. We moved DS to public with an IEP

Not everyone can get an IEP or even a 504 plan. Public is great if it works for your kid. But a lot of kids fall through the cracks in public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS head is the pits. When my kid was there none of the parents could stand him. Very punitive and quick to punish kids for engaging in kid behavior. Sensitive kids coddled too much by MS administrators. Not reflective of the real world. But, then McLean is like a bubble.

I have a child in the middle school and I do agree with this for the most part. Administrative wise it’s not been my favorite four years at the school. It is completely different than the lower school as well as the upper school. I will say that my child had a fabulous experience at the middle school because of the teachers. Now this child is really looking forward next year to starting high school at McLean.

Is it possible your child enjoyed MS less than LS or US, because puberty is just really hard for kids and they're all finding their identify in those years? It's pretty common to hate middle school no matter where you are.

My child liked MS (I’m the above poster). The teachers really made the experience for him. I am the one talking about the not being crazy about the administration. That’s the reason that we stayed—My child got an excellent education in the middle school despite the administration. let me also say that I have another child at another private middle school Who is also getting a fabulous education. However, we don’t have much to do with the administration there. Again, that child’s teachers are the driving force for us to stay. My older child and I are looking forward to a new experience in the high school at McLean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS head is the pits. When my kid was there none of the parents could stand him. Very punitive and quick to punish kids for engaging in kid behavior. Sensitive kids coddled too much by MS administrators. Not reflective of the real world. But, then McLean is like a bubble.

I have a child in the middle school and I do agree with this for the most part. Administrative wise it’s not been my favorite four years at the school. It is completely different than the lower school as well as the upper school. I will say that my child had a fabulous experience at the middle school because of the teachers. Now this child is really looking forward next year to starting high school at McLean.

Is it possible your child enjoyed MS less than LS or US, because puberty is just really hard for kids and they're all finding their identify in those years? It's pretty common to hate middle school no matter where you are.

Anonymous wrote:MS head is the pits. When my kid was there none of the parents could stand him. Very punitive and quick to punish kids for engaging in kid behavior. Sensitive kids coddled too much by MS administrators. Not reflective of the real world. But, then McLean is like a bubble.

I have a child in the middle school and I do agree with this for the most part. Administrative wise it’s not been my favorite four years at the school. It is completely different than the lower school as well as the upper school. I will say that my child had a fabulous experience at the middle school because of the teachers. Now this child is really looking forward next year to starting high school at McLean.

MS head is the pits. When my kid was there none of the parents could stand him. Very punitive and quick to punish kids for engaging in kid behavior. Sensitive kids coddled too much by MS administrators. Not reflective of the real world. But, then McLean is like a bubble.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lots of add-ons and then hounded by development office to make a financial gift. It’s just not worth it unless you have money to throw away and are ok with your kid going to a low to mid level college.

+1. We moved DS to public with an IEP

Yes, lots of add-ons and then hounded by development office to make a financial gift. It’s just not worth it unless you have money to throw away and are ok with your kid going to a low to mid level college.