ADHD and Learning Evaluations for Private School Teens

Short answer: an ADHD or learning evaluation may help when a private school student is working hard but grades, test scores or teacher feedback keep saying something is not adding up. Blackburn Clinical Services offers comprehensive ADHD and neuropsychological testing for teens in our West Los Angeles office, with a written report and a feedback session to help your family and your teen’s school plan next steps.

Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Email info@blackburnclinical.com.

Who this is for

Parents of teens ages 13 to 17 at private and independent high schools, Catholic high schools, boarding schools and college prep schools in West Los Angeles and across Southern California. It is also for teens who suspect, on their own, that something is making school harder than it should be.

When a high schooler may need an evaluation

Grades dropped after the jump to high school, even though your teen understands the material.
Teachers describe your teen as bright but inconsistent, distracted or disorganized.
Homework takes far longer than it should, or big projects fall apart.
Reading, writing or math has always felt harder than it does for peers.
Your teen runs out of time on tests or freezes under pressure.
The school has suggested an evaluation, or the family is thinking about testing accommodations on the SAT, AP Exams or ACT.
Your teen was evaluated years ago and the results may no longer reflect how they learn now.

Focus problems are not always ADHD. Anxiety, depression, sleep and learning differences can all look similar, and they often overlap (NIMH on ADHD). Our page on executive function struggles in high school walks through the differences.

Why private school students have extra steps

In public school, a family can ask the district for an evaluation that may lead to an IEP or 504 plan. Private schools are generally not bound by those rules in the same way, and many use their own learning plans instead. Families often arrange a private evaluation so the school has something clear to work from. Our guide to IEPs, 504 plans and learning plans in private vs public schools explains the differences, and our guide to SAT, ACT and AP testing accommodations covers standardized tests.

What the process looks like at Blackburn Clinical Services

Our ADHD and neuropsychological testing is a comprehensive evaluation, not a quick screening, done in person at our office at 12326 Venice Blvd. For a high schooler, it usually looks like this:

Initial consultation. We learn about your concerns, your teen’s school history and what you hope to understand.
Testing sessions. In-person, standardized evaluations over several hours, scheduled Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Written report. Clear findings and practical recommendations.
Feedback session. A detailed review of results and next steps for treatment, school accommodations or planning.

Testing looks at attention and concentration, memory and learning, language, problem solving and executive functioning, visual-spatial processing, and emotional functioning. It can help clarify ADHD, learning disorders, anxiety, depression and other conditions that affect how a teen learns.

What to bring

Report cards and transcripts from the last few years, including middle school if you have them.
Teacher comments, emails or progress notes that describe what your teen struggles with.
Any school learning plan, IEP, 504 plan or list of current supports.
Prior evaluations or testing reports, even if they are old.
Standardized test score reports, if your teen has taken any.
A short list of your own observations and questions, and a list of current medications.

After the evaluation

Results are meant to guide a plan. Depending on what we find, next steps might include one-on-one therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California, family sessions, skills support at home, or a conversation about school supports. When clinically appropriate, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school. We share information with a school or counselor only with your written permission.

What parents can do now

Start gathering the documents above in one folder.
Ask the school what it would need from an outside evaluation.
Talk with your teen about why you are considering an evaluation. Frame it as figuring out how they learn best, not as a judgment.
Call us to ask questions. We are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

When to get help right away

If school stress comes with hopelessness, self-harm or talk of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Questions

How do I know if my high schooler needs an ADHD or learning evaluation?

Common signs include grades that do not match effort or ability, teacher comments about inconsistency or disorganization, homework that takes far too long, running out of time on tests, or a school suggesting an evaluation. Anxiety, depression and sleep problems can look similar, which is one reason a full evaluation helps.

What does the testing process involve at Blackburn Clinical Services?

An initial consultation, in-person testing sessions over several hours at our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, a written report with recommendations, and a feedback session to review results and next steps.

What should we bring to the first appointment?

Report cards, teacher comments or emails, any school learning plan or list of supports, prior evaluations, standardized test score reports, a list of current medications and your own notes and questions.

Can the results be shared with my teen’s private school?

Yes, with your written permission. When clinically appropriate, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school. We do not share information with a school or counselor without written permission.

Will an evaluation guarantee accommodations at school or on the SAT or ACT?

No. Schools, the College Board and ACT each make their own decisions. An evaluation gives a clear, current picture of how your teen learns, which those decisions often rely on.

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