Admission requirements?
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Email to friendI am a single parent of a 9 year old boy, he is ADHD and very immature for his age. He is smart but has a hard time remembering things and gets very frustrated with school. He has a hard time with bullies and gets taken advantage of by older kids. For the last two years I have been at battle (or I feel like I have) with public school. I honestly believe my son is slipping through the huge cracks and potholes of the public school sysem. I am afraid for his future if he stays in public school. I know longterm I do not want my child to finish his education in public school. I am not sure, even two years from now he would be accepted into your school. How high are your requirements? What are your requirements? I am very concerned and am thinking about other options with school. I live in Fluvanna County and would also like to know the tuition for Day School.
Hi
I read that your son has ADD. My 15 yo was dx during second grade when he couldn't focus on second column addition. Before that, I didn't believe in the diagnosis. I saw my very bright son struggle, then put him on medication and saw a world of difference! He was Honor roll until middle school.....Too many subjects, too many teachers, too many projects due at the same time. We had tutors, counselors, Sylvan Learning Center, the local private school (only an hour away).....But he would get 100's and 0's. He would pick and choose between projects because he didn't want to not get it finished--he would rather not do it at all! Anyway, he asked us to at least let him try public HS, that he could really do it this time. He got C's and D's. We enrolled him at FUMA with its one subject plan. He has one teacher, one class, one subject and supervised study hall for seven weeks. Then it is over and on to a new topic. He made Dean's List!! He has stayed on course, and altho we miss him terribly, we know that this is the way that he learns, probably the way most boys learn and he is succeeding at FUMA. We were convinced that he would probably not even get out of HS if he stayed in public school. His pediatrician said that most kids with ADHD are very bright, so they know that they are failing and get frustrated with the system. They ususally then fight the system and get in trouble. They are the leaders of the trouble makers....Anyway, FUMA gave my son the opportunity to succeed in the classroom. I think that if your son has ADD that this is a wonderful place for him to be!
Just my two cents!
Tia, thank you for sharing your experience. Between you and "Mrs. Right" and a number of other terrific FUMA parents (and parents of former cadets, Mrs. Todd!), I know I can count on new FUMA families finding the fellowship, support, and ANSWERS they are looking for from other FUMA parents. Thank you all so much for helping make this forum so effective!
The One Subject Plan is a dream come true for many families, and many young men thrive when they are able to concentrate their studies in this way. One note, however, just to be clear: The One Subject Plan is a feature of the Upper School (grades 9 and up), but the Middle School does follow a more traditional schedule.
With the small class size, supervised study hall, resource program, the tutoring and mentoring program using Upper School National Honor Society members, and lots of individual adult attention, the Middle School helps get a lot of 6th through 8th graders on track while keeping them occupied with a variety of activities.
As they settle into the academic rigors of high school, the concentrated curriculum offered by the One Subject Plan helps them tackle tough subjects and achieve where they otherwise might get lost in the process.
Hi
I read that your son has ADD. My 15 yo was dx during second grade when he couldn't focus on second column addition. Before that, I didn't believe in the diagnosis. I saw my very bright son struggle, then put him on medication and saw a world of difference! He was Honor roll until middle school.....Too many subjects, too many teachers, too many projects due at the same time. We had tutors, counselors, Sylvan Learning Center, the local private school (only an hour away).....But he would get 100's and 0's. He would pick and choose between projects because he didn't want to not get it finished--he would rather not do it at all! Anyway, he asked us to at least let him try public HS, that he could really do it this time. He got C's and D's. We enrolled him at FUMA with its one subject plan. He has one teacher, one class, one subject and supervised study hall for seven weeks. Then it is over and on to a new topic. He made Dean's List!! He has stayed on course, and altho we miss him terribly, we know that this is the way that he learns, probably the way most boys learn and he is succeeding at FUMA. We were convinced that he would probably not even get out of HS if he stayed in public school. His pediatrician said that most kids with ADHD are very bright, so they know that they are failing and get frustrated with the system. They ususally then fight the system and get in trouble. They are the leaders of the trouble makers....Anyway, FUMA gave my son the opportunity to succeed in the classroom. I think that if your son has ADD that this is a wonderful place for him to be!
Just my two cents!
I just wanted to point out that as I read this story, it reminded me quite a bit of myself and reinforces the fact that I have never regretted my (that's right, my) decision to come to school at FUMA.
We do accept boys beginning in the 6th grade. In our middle school, it's very hard for boys to slip through the cracks due to our small class sizes and the large amount of individual attention that each young man receives. At FUMA, you will find that those who attempt to "bully" other students will be marching ED (extra duty) for long periods of time while their intended victims are enjoying sports and other recreational free time activities. That pretty much puts a stop to that kind of problem in short order, even though boys will be boys in most any environment!
We do have high admissions standards and will not admit boys in trouble with the law, with drug offenses, or who have certain behavioral conditions (ODD for example). We have had a number of ADHD students who flourish in this environment, and some who do not - that's why we interview each family and screen each prospective student as well as we can. We want the experience at FUMA to be a positive one for all involved.
I encourage you to contact the Admissions Office as your son progresses toward the 6th grade. They can give you more information about our admissions requirments and give feedback on your specific situation. Tuition for day students is lower than that for boarding students, but it does tend to change from year to year depending on current costs.