Encouragement for Finding a School When Your Child Learns Differently
Deciding on a school for your child can be challenging for anyone. If your child has a learning difference, the choices can feel overwhelming. You’re trying to find a community that not only accepts your child, but understands, supports, and nurtures their unique gifts and challenges, inside and outside of the classroom.
Your most important tools during admissions season are thoughtful preparation and honest communication. With these, you can find a school where your child will truly thrive.
Getting Started
If you’ve determined that your child might be better served by a new school environment, start by reflecting on their journey so far. Gather and review the relevant documentation—recent evaluations, IEPs (if applicable), teacher feedback, neuropsychological reports, and examples of progress. You’ll need these materials for applications, and it’s good to refamiliarize yourself with them ahead of time. Then, think about the kind of school that would support your child. A few things to consider:
What kind of classroom setting brings out their best?
What supports help them succeed?
Where do they struggle most?
What’s important in terms of structure, transitions, and social environments?
The Atlanta area is home to many schools specializing in serving students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences. Many independent schools offer academic support for students with learning differences, even if doing so is not the school’s specialty. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which type of school to seek, and it’s not uncommon for students to spend a few years in a specialty school and transition out a few years later with new strategies to help them learn.
Talking with Admissions Teams
One thing you should never do: hide a diagnosis. Many parents worry that disclosing a learning difference might hurt their child’s chances of admission. But selecting a school that isn’t equipped to help your child learn will only create challenges later. You don’t want to place your child in an environment that you find out later isn’t appropriate for them.
When you talk with admissions officers, you can share particulars about what works for your child. This approach will help school leaders know more clearly whether their environment will set your child up for success. Frame your child’s learning difference in strengths-based language:
“My child struggles with decoding but is a strong creative thinker.”
“With visual support, he stays organized and participates confidently.”
“She thrives when teachers provide clear multi-step instructions.”
Choose Fit Over Prestige
It is crucial to remind yourself that you are looking for fit, not prestige. The “top” school is the one where your child is understood, supported, and valued—not the one with the fanciest name. Instead of asking “What’s the best school?” ask: “Where will my child feel confident, capable, and inspired to learn?” That answer will guide you toward the right learning community.