LD Resources

Posted in K-12 Schools | 26 Comments

26 Responses to “Mill Springs Academy”

1. on 16 Jun 2006 at Jun 16, 20061Keith

   This school saved our daughter’s life! They are SO supportive & have the resources & the small size to give each student the type of attention they need. The “Levels” program - ask about it - is wonderful & supports the entire person, not just the academic side. The school is expensive but well worth it. Can you really put a value on your child’s self-worth or on their life?

2. on 25 Jul 2006 at Jul 25, 20062Mill Springs Dad

   Our daughter has been at Mill Springs since 2nd grade. It has been a very positive change for her. In a larger class room she just could not get the more individualized attention she requires with mild LD and neuro issues. I agree that the Levels System they use at all grade levels really works great and develops good citizen-students, well-behaved and courteous young people. It is student-driven and teaches them personal responsibility. All in all we are very pleased with Mill Springs.

3. on 30 Nov 2006 at Nov 30, 20063Drew

   How is it for high schoolers?
   Thanks Drew

4. on 26 Jan 2007 at Jan 26, 20074Gala

   We are considering this school for our 7th grader. Diagnosed ADD in 2nd grade, each year seems to be a battle with public school, teachers understanding, etc…

   Any thoughts?

5. on 14 May 2007 at May 14, 20075Sandra M. López-Meyers

   This is an excellent school.

   Our daughter is in high school and started attending Mill Springs Academy a year ago, after so many struggles dealing with the public school system. She really likes the school and has made a lot of progress. The teachers and administrators care for the students’ progress and are very knowledgeable. Parents are informed of their daughter/son’s academic progress and required homework and deadlines, on a weekly basis.

   The school not only focuses on academics but also on sports, music and arts. It offers students the opportunity to join basketball, cheerleading, and wrestling teams, among others. The school also has a band, a choir, and a theater club.

   We travel a long distance every day to take our daughter to school but it is worth the effort!

6. on 25 May 2007 at May 25, 20076Julie

   I noticed all the emphasis on the “levels” thing. It seems to emphasize the characteristics my child already has. What she really needs is less attention to complicated and involved extrinsic versus intrinsic (locus of control needs to remain internally driven, not set by external expectations) behavioral guidelines to follow. She already has a very good instinct as to how to behave, a strong sense of justice and a very good personality. What she really needs is a language fundamentals class aside from English class each day in order to focus on reading (comprehension, decoding, fluency, critical analysis) and written expression. She is not a behavioral problem and needs a place where she can also develop some very strong areas such as logic, understanding of physics, patterns (computer programing or robotics), …she is also very interested in discussing ideas, whatever that falls under. Which school in Georgia addresses those areas. I want the behavioral manners protocol demphasized, she already knows that well, she needs enrichment and remediation at the same time in academics. She is what is called twice exceptional, gifted and learning disabled.

7. on 02 Jun 2007 at Jun 2, 20077Julie

   I found out from a parent that spoke to the Mill Springs admission’s director that if you are looking to get reading remediation (regardless of how bright the student is) for a high school aged student, this school is not for you.

   This parent was told that they focus on strategies to help students with ADHD and learning disabilities be academically successful.

   This really limits the choices we have for high school students in Georgia that require reading remediation and at the same time are very bright students.

   I know that the Cottage School provides a Wilson trained teacher as part of their year of school(which is definitely a step in the right direction) if the student needs it. We need a school that remediates reading and written expression disabilities using several approaches.

   While Wilson Reading may address one piece of a reading disability, students with reading disabilities also need fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, critical thinking development as well as very focused written expression work aside from an English class.

8. on 02 Jun 2007 at Jun 2, 20078Sanford Shapiro

   Julie,
   Have you looked at the Howard School in Atlanta?
   Sanford

9. on 02 Jun 2007 at Jun 2, 20079Julie

   Hello Sanford, Coincedentally I just finished writing a comment on Howard. I have considered them.

   Georgians now have a special needs voucher that we can use. Mill Springs and the Cottage School are two schools that will accept it.

   Howard said they will not accept the voucher. If I have to pay for a school, I may as well go to one that offers something closer to what I need. While no school can offer the exact solution, I found some schools outside of Georgia that appear to be the answer.

   I still have not decided though. Howard is a possibility. I will have to weigh out the differences. Howard was one of four I considered equally. They each have their pros and cons.

   I had considered Currey Ingram before I whittled it down to 4 schools, but they do not remediate reading problems in high school either.

   Remediate to me means working to get the weak reading and writing skills up to a certain level (still not sure what that would be such as a standard score or grade level or set some standard to work towards that we could accept would not detract from future college success). Then from there, or in parallel, I would want them to emphasize and strengthen the student’s talents.

10. on 05 Jun 2007 at Jun 5, 200710Kathy Lewis

    I searched in vain for the right LD school in Atlanta, Ga. I visited all the schools mentioned here. I finally moved to Dallas Tx so my daughter could attend The Winston School. It has been a very successful move for her.

11. on 06 Jun 2007 at Jun 6, 200711Sanford Shapiro

    Thanks Kathy. Would you mind sharing what makes Winston a good fit for your daughter?
    Sanford

12. on 04 Sep 2007 at Sep 4, 200712Drew

    Did this person’s child who wrote this have behavior problems?
    Also, I, as a parent, teach my child personal responsibility.

    I am not sure what this school offers except guidelines on how to behave.

    If one’s child is already responsible and does not need behavior issues addressed, then from the way this school is described, a child with these characteristics does not need to attend this school.

    “I agree that the Levels System they use at all grade levels really works great and develops good citizen-students, well-behaved and courteous young people. It is student-driven and teaches them personal responsibility.”

13. on 07 Sep 2007 at Sep 7, 200713Billy

    We are in our 4th week at Mill Springs, and it is like a miracle-our son was so left behind at Walton, it was a sin. I have never seen another school like this, he actually “loves the school”Thank God for Mill Springs

14. on 12 Sep 2007 at Sep 12, 200714John

    I visited the school this morning for the Open House. Our son is in the 2nd grade in public school and has ADHD. Teacher insists on a quiet classroom and is unwilling to provide any accomodations. He tests as gifted, but is not allowed into gifted program due to behavior. For a child that used to love going to school, he is now miserable. We’ve looked at several private schools and Mill Springs seems the best. We were very impressed. Was able to spend significant amount of time with Principal. Two students gave “testimonials” and you just wanted to stand up and cheer for them. This school seems like the best, by far, for children with ADHD.

15. on 21 Dec 2007 at Dec 21, 200715cheri

    What is the tuition at this school? THeir website does not give prices, whcih scares me. I know they must be in the 15K range.

16. on 29 Jan 2008 at Jan 29, 200816joshua haughton

    I think this school rocks! they have great teachers and a good devolpment.

17. on 11 Feb 2008 at Feb 11, 200817Robin

    My son has been tested and there doesn’t seem to be a diagnosed problem. He has had trouble passing tests all through middle school and now, into high school. He understands the work, but can’t pass the tests for one reason or another. He is failing his core classes and has low self esteem as a result. I don’t want him to feel that I’ve placed him with other students that have behavioral issues or physical handicaps. Does anyone out there have a student like mine that would recommend this school?

18. on 08 Mar 2008 at Mar 8, 200818Sarah

    Robin, I attended Mill Springs for the end of 8th and all of 9th grades. I had the same trouble that your son is having. My problem was, I have epilepsy. Mill Springs not only attended my physical needs, but also my emotional and academic needs.

    When I left Mill Springs in 9th grade, I had gotten straight A’s and made MANY friends. I took the SAT class offered there and made HUGE improvements on it when I took it for the second time. I got into half of the colleges I applied to and am now in my Freshman year at Kennesaw State.

19. on 12 Mar 2008 at Mar 12, 200819Brooke Pena

    This school has helped our daughter and brought priceless peace to our family. In third grade she came to Mill Springs with ADHD, a Tic Disorder, chronic hives for 6 years, and few friends. It felt like we had visited alomost every doctor in the Atlanta area for her. Despite medication, She was blinking so much she could barely read, clearing her throat, and sniffing all day. Within a week of attending MS her tics went almost unnoticeable from the stress reduction she experienced. After a year, tics are not an issue, and some medications have been reduced. The support we have received from the teachers and other parents has also been incredible. What a change from the judgemental, critical environment we came from. We have a lot of work ahead, but we are no longer alone!

20. on 04 Apr 2008 at Apr 4, 200820No name

    Wow this is so puzzling that a school that does all this does not have a strong research based reading program in place for the high school level. From what I understand the schools that have this are the GOW and New Community school. While the New Community School can get a student with reading and writing disabilities prepared for college, the GOW seems to focus on students that are headed to college.

21. on 04 Apr 2008 at Apr 4, 200821Richard

    No name: Research based curricula are the hot new thing but the success of such programs depends on the research cited and how it’s turned into a curriculum, not to mention who the teachers are who are putting it all into practice.

    In fact, almost every school in the LD support area has a research based reading curriculum based on the work of Anna Gillingham.

22. on 13 Apr 2008 at Apr 13, 200822Sheri

    I have researched Mill Springs, and so far am pleased with everything I’ve learned. I do however, wonder if anyone has had a son or daughter with Aspergers, that attended this school, and, if so, how did they do socially?
    I did read, that in the summer camp program, they emphasize alot on social skills.

23. on 03 May 2008 at May 3, 200823William

    The Orton Gillingham method really is the most researched based approach for students with dyslexia. It’s the one recommended by the International Dyslexia Association. (The 504 School in Atlanta uses this method to teach elementary students who also have adhd.)

24. on 06 May 2008 at May 6, 200824Linda

    We are considering this school for our daughter. She will start 3rd grade next year. We have heard wonderful things so far. My question is for students with a weakness in math. She has ADHD, is a strong reader-but does have difficulty with handwriting and composition. Does anyone know what kind of programs they have for math.

25. on 07 May 2008 at May 7, 200825Del

    We have a child with Asperger’s who is doing quite well at Mill Springs, both academically and socially. The social atmosphere has allowed her to succeed, and her overall self-esteem is better than it would be at a so-called mainstream school.

26. on 14 Sep 2008 at Sep 14, 200826Sybil

    Sheri - I have a daughter who has been attending Mill Springs for two years now. I can’t tell you how great it is to have a school (faculty & students) who support each other. Aspergers is tough - especially for the child - but the pain it causes a parent to see your child not fit in socially is heartbreaking. We no longer feel that she is alone - she has friends and support from her teachers and other staff that have given her the confidence to do things we never thought possible for her. Academics flourish when your child finds acceptance and much of their stress is removed. Good luck on your search and please visit Mill Springs to see these wonderful students support each other and the happy environement in which they thrive. We searched many, many schools and Mill Springs is one of a kind.

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (hidden) (required)

Website