This content is sponsored by McLean School.
McLean School in Potomac, Maryland, takes a unique approach to its college-prep program of educating bright K-12 students, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia and organizational challenges. Head of School, Barry L. Davis says McLean School’s focus is on what students can do – not what they can’t.
“Most schools will talk about children based on what they cannot do, but what we’re doing at McLean is we’re really speaking to them from where their strengths are, what they can do,” Davis said. “When you talk to a child about what they can do, their self-esteem changes, and it really changes their ability to do a number of different things.”
At the heart of McLean School’s philosophy is what they call the Abilities Model®. This approach shifts the focus away from deficits and emphasizes students’ strengths, while embedding classroom support for academic needs. By highlighting students’ strengths, McLean helps students build confidence and succeed in areas they might not have thought possible, according to Assistant Head of School for Educational Programming, David Roth.
“For some of the challenges they might have, the strengths on the other side are unbelievable,” Roth said. Just because a student struggles with learning to decode, doesn’t mean they aren’t a future entrepreneur or CEO with creative ideas.
McLean’s academic curriculum is described as “rigorous without being rigid,” an approach allowing flexibility in how material is presented. With class sizes averaging 9 to 10 students, teachers employ a variety of research-based best practices, and offer specific support and accommodations tailored to student’s needs.
“Our faculty know who their students are, know what their strengths are and what their challenges are,” Davis said.
Beyond academics, McLean has robust offerings in the visual and performing arts, athletics and service learning that foster the holistic development of each student. Davis takes particular pride in the School’s arts programs, saying the students “do amazing, amazing things.”
These extracurricular activities allow students to express themselves and build leadership and teamwork skills.
Both Roth and Davis believe one of the most telling signs of the School’ssuccess is how its students thrive long after leaving the School. McLean’s graduates over the last 3 years have received more than $20 million in merit scholarships. They are accepted to various highly selective colleges and universities, including Boston College Honors Program, Brandeis, Berklee College of Music, Howard, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Smith College, Syracuse University’s School of Communications, Tulane and Yale, among others.
Roth shared a story of one former student who now works as a NASA scientist. She struggled with dyslexia but found the skills she needed at McLean School to propel her through college – combining her math and art skills. McLean School prepares students not only for academic success but also for self-advocacy, a critical skill for life beyond the classroom.
“When they get to college, we want them to be able to talk to their professors or be able to get the things that they need,” Davis said.
McLean School’s commitment to early intervention also sets it apart: it begins identifying and supporting learning needs as early as kindergarten. The School’s approach is about more than just helping students survive. It’s about enabling them to thrive through an innovative model, personalized education, and focus on student strengths.
“I think the surviving versus thriving phrase is apparent,” Roth said. “They come to McLean School, and they really do thrive.”
