choosing high school

[lauraasri]

HI I"M new with 13 years old girl ADHD ODD.

How to choose high school when no interest in studying.

[123K]

Your child just got an diagnoses at 13 years old. Was their any hyperactive behavior when she was young.

[lauraasri in reply to 123K]

She has been diagnosed at age 7 and since she has tried ritalin strattera zoloft and psychotherapy the last 4 years. She has a tutor 4 days a week but will do nothing on her own. Never been too hyperactive. My question is about how to choose a high school that can somehow interest her without too much studying and morepractical learning.

[outnumbered1 in reply to lauraasri]

I have a very similar history with my daughter who is now 13 (tried all the same meds and therapies you listed). My daughter also is bright but needs someone almost all the time, one on one, for her to get her school work done. I'm facing the same question about school possibilities.

Don't know if you live in southern California (I don't) but there is a group of charter schools called High Tech High that are supposed to be better for kids with ADHD and/or similar challenges. (Very popular though, lottery required for admission and ten students apply for every one accepted) I read about it in the book Square Peg by Todd Rose. He has ADHD and flunked high school but then went on eventually to Harvard.

You could look at High Tech High and see if there are any schools in your area modeled after them. Our daughter currently goes to a charter school that is pretty innovative, but they still have to teach the Common Core and she struggles with the more traditional/boring stuff. I've also looked at a charter school here that focuses on farming and agriculture science. One year, she did a blended learning schedule where she did math/science/electives on campus and learned the rest at home with a tutor. It's not available anymore in middle school but it could be a great approach for high school (where it is available at more and more schools)

Also if you don't already have her on a 504 plan or an IEP, consider this before high school so she gets the support she needs.

Good luck and please let me know what you find out