Anonymous wrote:New McLean parent here--to MS DS with some executive functioning issues and extremely visual spatial learner. He is also extremely outgoing and athletic; plays football, water polo and lacrosse.!

Hi McLean parent, if you're still on this thread.

I'm a new McLean parent as well -- my son starts this month as a ninth grader.
We've also had to forfeit football to attend, and are looking for ways to keep him active in the sport.
Could you share with me how you've done this? Is
your son's a club team in No.Va?

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard there has been a lot of turnover with the teaching staff in the past couple of years so hopefully the mediocre teachers have left.

As a current McLean student, I can say they have not left. In fact, more mediocre teachers have come in. The work is not challenging and 50% percent of the teachers hate their jobs (and it shows).

And, why do you stay if your child is exposed daily to teachers who are mediocre and hate their jobs? I would think that would be a dreadful environment for my child.

they

The poster said they were a student, not a parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard there has been a lot of turnover with the teaching staff in the past couple of years so hopefully the mediocre teachers have left.

As a current McLean student, I can say they have not left. In fact, more mediocre teachers have come in. The work is not challenging and 50% percent of the teachers hate their jobs (and it shows).

And, why do you stay if your child is exposed daily to teachers who are mediocre and hate their jobs? I would think that would be a dreadful environment for my child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard there has been a lot of turnover with the teaching staff in the past couple of years so hopefully the mediocre teachers have left.

As a current McLean student, I can say they have not left. In fact, more mediocre teachers have come in. The work is not challenging and 50% percent of the teachers hate their jobs (and it shows).

Um, this doesn't make sense. If they hate their jobs why haven't they left?

The teachers I've spoken to very much like working there.

Anonymous wrote:I have heard there has been a lot of turnover with the teaching staff in the past couple of years so hopefully the mediocre teachers have left.

As a current McLean student, I can say they have not left. In fact, more mediocre teachers have come in. The work is not challenging and 50% percent of the teachers hate their jobs (and it shows).

I have visited and spoken to the admissions folks and have not gotten any indications to the contrary, so will be very surprised if they do not accept DS. I did attend an information session where a mother descirbed her son and the admissions official told her point blank McLean was not the school for her child.

Anonymous wrote:Ok, my DS is ADHD, no impulsive behavior thanks to meds, no dyslexia or dysgraphia but mostly focus. Needs smaller learning environment and some individualized instruction. From the formula above, he appears to fit?

I would say yes, but I agree that you should visit and speak with their admissions office to be sure.

McLean is selective in the sense that sometimes parents apply for kids who have behavior issues or who need more supports than McLean can provide, in which case they will reject them regardless of how many slots they have. However, it the school is the right fit they will take them mid-year, if necessary.

I have applied.

Anonymous wrote:Ok, my DS is ADHD, no impulsive behavior thanks to meds, no dyslexia or dysgraphia but mostly focus. Needs smaller learning environment and some individualized instruction. From the formula above, he appears to fit?

Truly, the only way you will know this is to apply and go in and talk with the admissions director. That is much better than relying on DCUM for this.

Ok, my DS is ADHD, no impulsive behavior thanks to meds, no dyslexia or dysgraphia but mostly focus. Needs smaller learning environment and some individualized instruction. From the formula above, he appears to fit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This question may have been answered on this string previously but I went to an open house at McLean in the Fall and they implied that they have rolling admissions and will take a child mid-year if things are not working out at his/her current school. Yet, I have read elsewhere where McLean is very selective in who they take. This sounds inconsistent to me. Can a current parent or someone knowledgeable explain these seemingly diametric positions.

I don't see these statements as diametrically opposed. I understand it as McLean being willing to accept a student mid-year if the student is a good fit for McLean and vice versa. Bright kids can really struggle and lose confidence due to an unrecognized LD, and for some kids, it might make a real difference to be in an environment where an LD is accepted and readily accommodated.

I agree. McLean is selective in admissions, as they will not take kids who are unlikely to be successful. If the child is a good fit, they will accept at mid-year (assuming there is space).

As for who they take, I think that was covered earlier but my understanding is that the students are of average to above average intelligence, are not too far below grade level in any area, do not have significant behavioral issues, and do not have multiple learning disabiltiies. So a dyslexic kid who is a year below grade level would fit. An ADHD kid who struggles to stay on grade level would fit. A dyslexic, ADHD kid who is very impulsive and is three years below grade level probably needs a higher level of services (say, Lab or Kingsbury).

Are you a current parent? And, what LDs are accepted by McLean?

Anonymous wrote:This question may have been answered on this string previously but I went to an open house at McLean in the Fall and they implied that they have rolling admissions and will take a child mid-year if things are not working out at his/her current school. Yet, I have read elsewhere where McLean is very selective in who they take. This sounds inconsistent to me. Can a current parent or someone knowledgeable explain these seemingly diametric positions.

I don't see these statements as diametrically opposed. I understand it as McLean being willing to accept a student mid-year if the student is a good fit for McLean and vice versa. Bright kids can really struggle and lose confidence due to an unrecognized LD, and for some kids, it might make a real difference to be in an environment where an LD is accepted and readily accommodated.

This question may have been answered on this string previously but I went to an open house at McLean in the Fall and they implied that they have rolling admissions and will take a child mid-year if things are not working out at his/her current school. Yet, I have read elsewhere where McLean is very selective in who they take. This sounds inconsistent to me. Can a current parent or someone knowledgeable explain these seemingly diametric positions.

Those describe markedly different schools.