I am looking for a boarding school that that has great history of supporting LGBTQ kids, respecting pronouns and in a perfect world, has non-binary dorms. My child has severe executive functioning deficits with sensory issues (finds large crowds and loud noises to be very overwhelming). Above average IQ except working memory. Test scores are usually As. Homework is often not turned in resulting in A to C+ overall grades. Child is in 8th grade. Looking for 9th grade but we don’t love their 8th grade boarding school. Thanks!
I don’t know of schools that would be a “good” fit for that situation. But, if there isn’t a parent job situation that has made BS necessary, I would seriously reconsider BS at all, given the circumstances you describe.
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Does this even exist? A “great history” when all of those things, in the grand scheme of things, and the history of BS, are a fairly new phenomenon.
You might try New England Innovation Academy - I know that they are very LGBTQ supportive and I believe they offer good support for learning differences. It would be worth talking to them to see if they would be a good fit.
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It’s a lack of schools in the area where we currently live that can accommodate those things and jobs/other kids in high school that prevent moving to find an appropriate day school. They are doing well at 8th boarding but I think we could do better for 9th. Emphasis on arts and theater a plus.
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Ok. A recently good history. Phillips Exeter and other competitive schools (and many many colleges) have very positive LGBTQ environments with non-binary dorms, etc. Someone has to recognize this market for high school boarders that aren’t Groton-bound.
Maybe Masters??
George School is very LGBTQ friendly and has excellent theater.
I don’t know that it’d be my first choice for a kid with executive functioning issues. There are some things that are good for that (schedule) but it really depends on how much ownership your child takes. It’s not a place that has tons of structure in terms of required and supervised study hall.
I think the sensory issues could be a challenge at most BS, but it sounds like you are living that already.
Have you looked at Putnam? How does that style of learning seem?
Pennington has a smaller boarding population and is good with many learning differences. Not necessarily a top choice for LGBTQ or theater.
Cambridge School of Weston might be worth a look. Similar to George in terms of schedule.
Agree with taking a look at CSW. Seems to have phenomenal offerings for visual arts and theater. At the open house, many students specified their pronouns. One or two dorms may be mixed gender. Having said that, I don’t know if the pace of their Module system (classes rotate every 6 weeks) would be conducive to ADHD kids with executive functioning deficits…Perhaps taking only 3 focused classes at a time makes workload manageable.
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For an above average IQ kid with executive functioning issues, I would consider reaching out to the Admissions team at the Frederick Gunn School in Washington, CT (Litchfield), and possibly Millbrook School (NY).
@cinnamon1212 , would you agree re: Millbrook?
I would agree, the only thing stopping me posting about Millbrook earlier is that I don’t think they have nonbinary dorms. They are very supportive of LGBTQ kids, and are all about “meeting kids where they are”. I am sure some kids are beyond the scope of what Millbrook offers, but I would hope the school would know that and counsel families accordingly.
OP, I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but what about schools that specialize in ADHD etc? I can’t tell from your post just how severe the ADHD (etc) is.
Do you mean Putney? I’m not finding a Putnam. If you mean Putney in Vermont, the whole " we don’t have many maintenance workers we do it ourselves" is not my kid’s vibe. Looked like a bit too much nature and not arty enough?
We looked at Pennington for 8th. While they have boarding for 8th, it was like two kids. LGBT friendly and executive function support are the most important. The school just needs arts and theater - it doesn’t have to be super strong - just as available classes/activities.
I’ll check out Cambridge. What do you know about it? Thank you!!!
Thank you!
The ADHD is severe in terms of impulsiveness and severe executive functioning deficits - the least organized kid alive and resistent to those that try to make them organized. However, on interim report cards social studies and algebra teacher report them as the best in the class. They are struggling with the all girls school - even thought I would say it’s LGBTQ friendly for sure - with a lot of “let’s go ladies/girls.” The school they attend now also seems a bit formal (all adults seeming to call each other Mr/Mrs whether it’s faculty or parents). Are there any ADHD specific schools? Schools like Eagle Hill have been discounted because they’ve been deemed to not have enough LD. But the ADHD is very severe - lack of ability to control emotions, room is a mess, etc. Current school seems to think that clothes on the floor is a really big deal. I understand they need to meet room checks but I’ve never met a teenager without clothes on the floor of their closet.
Any thoughts on Solebury School in PA?
Or Wasatch in Utah?
White Mountain or Dublinin NH?
Westtown in PA?
Christ Church in Va?
Thank you so much!
Their website is intriguing. What do you know about them? Are they a new school? I can’t seem to find how many students they have or how many boarders they have. Photos look like renderings - is the school even built? I’m interested but I’m not finding some basic facts online. Can you tell me what you know?
Check out Forman School in Litchfield CT - great for kids who need support in developing Executive Functioning skills.
You might want to also check out Darrow School.
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Yes, look at Solebury. Small but could be a good fit. It’s local for me, and I have seen a lot of kids succeed there who were struggling elsewhere.
Yes, I meant Putney. Aurocorrect got me! But if it’s not your vibe, NM. The hands-on nature works well for a lot of kids who resist the classroom structure.
Westtown and George are similar in vibe. I don’t think either would be great for LD. Both probably have too much emphasis on individual accountability for a kid who needs more structure (even if it’s not rigid.)
Take a look at Kents Hill in Maine.
I think, based on your description, that getting the learning support piece right needs to be the first screen and that you can then sort by vibe, LGBTQ, theater. That’s going to be the most important part for success and is probably going to be the hardest part to get right.
As for the question about CSW and whether the format is good for kids with executive functioning issues, apparently it is. Having fewer classes at one time and more “fresh starts” during the year seems to be beneficial for many learners.
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Thank you! Do you have thoughts on Eagle Hill? They seem great there. I agree with ADHD first but the gender thing is very important to them too. My ed consultant (who I love) thinks they might not be challenged at Eagle Hill but I think if someone understood their sensory issues (hate large gatherings, loud noises - last thing they would ever do is go watch a school football or basketball game) that would go a long way. Here’s the kid: always wants to dye hair a different color; would rather be misgendered as a boy than as a girl; LOVES art; has loved doing stage crew/set design at current school; tends to befriend mostly other arty LGBTQ quirky kids; smaller the environment the better (as long as it still has things like art and theater); the less rigid and most understanding the environment the better. Kid has been tested for ASD twice and second time (Jan 2021) it was still not diagnosed but was left open to revisit during teen years. They don’t trust adults/educators due to some very bad experiences in the past. Current school is SO good in many ways but the Dean of Students is straight from the depths of hell IMO. I don’t see doing 5 years there and I think we could do a lot better once we’re looking for 9th grade boarders v 8th grade boarding schools.
NEIA is new this year, I believe they have 70 students this year (20 boarding) with a goal of 140 next year and 280 in year 3. Parts of the school are still under renovation/construction, the majority of Phase 1 work should be done soon - I think in early December? The facilities used to be a Comcast training center so the current dorm rooms are pretty nice, my son’s room is large with desk & closet and he and his roommate have their own bathroom. I think they are moving to the new dorms in December so I can only guess that they will be even nicer. They are using existing offices for classrooms currently, which again are fine, but the new space will be really open and airy, I think there is an open house tour of the finished space coming up soon? I am pretty sure the new classrooms/space will be available in early December but I haven’t read the emails too closely because what they are using is fine so I haven’t been concerned about it. I do wish we had found this school for my older son who has learning disabilities, I think he would have really thrived there as opposed to just surviving our public high school. I can’t really speak to the levels of support there, but I definitely think it would be worth calling and speaking with them about your child. Good luck!
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