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Choosing a School for Your Child with Learning Differences
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The Match That Matters Most
It’s admissions season! Schools are putting their best foot forward, showcasing their programs, people, and facilities, while prospective families complete applications highlighting their children’s qualities and accomplishments. Many families start their search with the familiar — where they went to school, or how close it is to home. Some parents focus on location and commute; others weigh size and cost. Eventually, the best match is the one that fits the child, not just on paper but in practice.
For families of students with learning differences, finding that fit requires a few additional considerations. Sara Rosiak, Director of Learning Services at McDonogh School, shares advice for navigating the process.
Understand what your child needs to grow and thrive.
To find a strong fit, start with a clear understanding of the programs and environment that will set your child up for success. Being realistic about the level of academic support your child needs allows you to evaluate different settings with confidence. A school is only a strong fit if it can provide the intervention and support your child requires right now, where they are.
Rosiak explains, “For example, if your child is dyslexic and still a developing reader, you want to find a lower school that provides reading instruction grounded in the science of reading with strong, systematic decoding instruction. If your child struggles with sensory input, look for a school that creates a calm environment or has a plan to help students regulate when overstimulated.”
Know your child’s strengths.
When considering a school placement, your child’s strengths are just as important as their needs. Students with learning differences bring real gifts — and those gifts matter. A student who is academically advanced needs an environment that will challenge them while also helping them navigate areas of struggle. Rosiak points out that students with learning differences are frequently tremendous contributors to athletics, the arts, and clubs. Finding a school that fosters those strengths while supporting individual challenges builds the kind of resilience that lasts well beyond the school years.
Consider what you can learn from your child’s current school experience.
Look honestly at what has and has not worked in your child’s current school to identify programs and cultural elements worth seeking out — or avoiding — in your next one. And don’t overlook your child’s current teacher as a resource. Rosiak says, “Most educators want a child to land in the best possible placement and are willing to highlight things to consider in the next school.”
Determine if a prospective school’s learning services program can meet your child’s needs and if it will foster their strengths.
Cast a wide net: talk to admissions, read the website, review accommodation policies, and ask questions of everyone you meet on tours. “Ask to speak with a learning specialist about their program. They will have the greatest insight into what can and cannot be offered in their setting,” Rosiak advises.
How freely a school shares this information — and from how many different voices — tells you a great deal about how embedded learning services are in the school’s culture. Keep in mind that student tour guides may not be familiar with learning services unless they have personally used them.
What information can you share during the admissions process?
Many parents struggle with whether to disclose that their child learns differently, fearing it could hurt their chances of acceptance. Rosiak says disclosure doesn’t have to mean denial. “Many schools recognize that with appropriate structures and supports, students who learn differently benefit their communities. That said, not every school is designed to help every learner.”
Rosiak suggests asking whether a learning specialist is part of the admissions team and how the review process weighs documentation such as IEPs, 504 Plans, or psychoeducational evaluations — information that helps a school honestly assess whether it can give your child what they need to succeed.
Ultimately, parents and schools alike want their children to thrive. With the right support in place, students discover what they are capable of achieving.
The Match That Matters Most
It’s admissions season! Schools are putting their best foot forward, showcasing their programs, people, and facilities, while prospective families complete applications highlighting their children’s qualities and accomplishments. Many families start their search with the familiar — where they went to school, or how close it is to home. Some parents focus on location and commute; others weigh size and cost. Eventually, the best match is the one that fits the child, not just on paper but in practice.
For families of students with learning differences, finding that fit requires a few additional considerations. Sara Rosiak, Director of Learning Services at McDonogh School, shares advice for navigating the process.
Understand what your child needs to grow and thrive.
To find a strong fit, start with a clear understanding of the programs and environment that will set your child up for success. Being realistic about the level of academic support your child needs allows you to evaluate different settings with confidence. A school is only a strong fit if it can provide the intervention and support your child requires right now, where they are.
Rosiak explains, “For example, if your child is dyslexic and still a developing reader, you want to find a lower school that provides reading instruction grounded in the science of reading with strong, systematic decoding instruction. If your child struggles with sensory input, look for a school that creates a calm environment or has a plan to help students regulate when overstimulated.”
Know your child’s strengths.
When considering a school placement, your child’s strengths are just as important as their needs. Students with learning differences bring real gifts — and those gifts matter. A student who is academically advanced needs an environment that will challenge them while also helping them navigate areas of struggle. Rosiak points out that students with learning differences are frequently tremendous contributors to athletics, the arts, and clubs. Finding a school that fosters those strengths while supporting individual challenges builds the kind of resilience that lasts well beyond the school years.
Consider what you can learn from your child’s current school experience.
Look honestly at what has and has not worked in your child’s current school to identify programs and cultural elements worth seeking out — or avoiding — in your next one. And don’t overlook your child’s current teacher as a resource. Rosiak says, “Most educators want a child to land in the best possible placement and are willing to highlight things to consider in the next school.”
Determine if a prospective school’s learning services program can meet your child’s needs and if it will foster their strengths.
Cast a wide net: talk to admissions, read the website, review accommodation policies, and ask questions of everyone you meet on tours. “Ask to speak with a learning specialist about their program. They will have the greatest insight into what can and cannot be offered in their setting,” Rosiak advises.
How freely a school shares this information — and from how many different voices — tells you a great deal about how embedded learning services are in the school’s culture. Keep in mind that student tour guides may not be familiar with learning services unless they have personally used them.
What information can you share during the admissions process?
Many parents struggle with whether to disclose that their child learns differently, fearing it could hurt their chances of acceptance. Rosiak says disclosure doesn’t have to mean denial. “Many schools recognize that with appropriate structures and supports, students who learn differently benefit their communities. That said, not every school is designed to help every learner.”
Rosiak suggests asking whether a learning specialist is part of the admissions team and how the review process weighs documentation such as IEPs, 504 Plans, or psychoeducational evaluations — information that helps a school honestly assess whether it can give your child what they need to succeed.
Ultimately, parents and schools alike want their children to thrive. With the right support in place, students discover what they are capable of achieving.