What Your Child’s Report Card Might Not Be Telling You

Monarch
Jun 16
4 min read

As the school year wraps up, many parents eagerly await their child’s report card, hoping it will offer a clear picture of how their child is doing. Good grades can bring relief, while lower marks may cause concern—but in either case, the report card rarely tells the whole story. Especially for parents of neurodivergent children—those with ADHD, learning differences, autism, anxiety, or other developmental differences—a report card can miss critical areas of growth, struggle, and need. Academic performance is just one piece of the puzzle.

So, what isn’t your child’s report card telling you? And what else should you be focusing on as you reflect on the year and plan for summer or the next school year? Let’s break it down.

What Report Cards Typically Show

Most report cards focus on:

Academic performance in subjects like reading, math, science, and writing
Grades or scores tied to assignments, tests, and classwork
Teacher comments, which may briefly mention behavior, effort, or participation

These are important snapshots, especially when they show progress or decline—but they often don’t give the full picture of what’s happening beneath the grades.

What Report Cards Don’t Tell You (But Should)

1. How Hard Your Child Had to Work for That Grade

A child with ADHD or a learning disability might be earning B’s and C’s—yet be working twice as hard as peers to stay afloat. That A in math? It might have taken daily tears, late nights, and endless parent support. On the flip side, some gifted children or twice-exceptional (2e) learners might get good grades while bored, disengaged, or emotionally struggling in silence. Grades alone can’t reflect the effort, frustration, or burnout a child may be feeling behind the scenes.

2. Executive Function Skills (or Lack Thereof)

Report cards often fail to show challenges with:

Organizing materials
Managing time and deadlines
Starting or finishing assignments
Following multi-step directions

Children with executive functioning differences (common in ADHD, ASD, and some learning disorders) may appear disorganized, inconsistent, or “lazy”—but these are neurological challenges, not character flaws. A child may understand the material but struggle to turn in the homework that reflects it.

3. Social and Emotional Well-Being

Your child’s academic grades won’t tell you if:

They feel isolated or anxious at school
They’re being bullied or struggling to connect with peers
They feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or discouraged

Many neurodivergent children mask their struggles socially or emotionally to fit in. Teachers may not always see the full extent of a child’s inner experience, especially in large classrooms.

4. Sensory or Attention Needs

Report cards rarely mention whether a child:

Has trouble focusing in noisy environments
Struggles with transitions, group work, or sensory overload
Needs movement or quiet breaks to regulate themselves

These factors directly impact a child’s ability to learn, even if they’re not formally recognized in the classroom.

5. Learning Style and Strengths

Most grading systems focus on traditional metrics: sitting still, completing tasks, memorizing content. But some children shine in ways school doesn’t measure:

They might be great at storytelling, problem-solving, or building things.
They might love art, animals, or inventing.
They might have deep empathy, creativity, or leadership skills.

If your child’s gifts lie outside of test scores, their strengths could be overlooked entirely.

So… What Should You Be Focusing On?

Now that you know what the report card might be missing, here are the questions to ask and areas to explore:

1. How Did My Child Feel About School This Year?

Start by asking open-ended questions:

What did you enjoy learning about this year?
Was there anything that made school hard or stressful?
How did you feel about your teacher, classmates, and daily routine?

These answers offer insight into your child’s experience beyond academic scores.

2. Where Did My Child Struggle—and Why?

Instead of focusing solely on subjects with low grades, ask:

Were there organizational issues? Memory? Anxiety?
Did they understand the material but have trouble completing tasks?
Were there signs of burnout or shutdown?

This helps distinguish between content struggles and learning process issues.

3. Are There Hidden Strengths to Nurture?

Talk with your child and their teachers about:

What excites them?
When do they light up in the classroom?
Where do they show resilience, problem-solving, or creativity?

Use this insight to find enrichment activities over the summer and better advocate for your child’s needs in the fall.

4. Is There a Need for Assessment or Support?

If your child consistently struggles with:

Attention and focus
Reading, writing, or math despite effort
Emotional regulation or behavior in class
Completing or organizing work

…it may be time to consider a psychoeducational evaluation or educational testing. (Want to learn more about psychoeducational evaluations). These assessments can reveal whether your child has a learning disability, ADHD, anxiety, or another neurodevelopmental condition—and they provide tailored strategies and support plans.

5. What’s One Goal We Can Focus on for the Summer?

Choose a summer goal that supports your child holistically. It could be:

Developing a self-regulation skill (like managing frustration)
Practicing daily reading in a low-stress way
Building independence with routines and chores
Exploring a new area of interest or passion

This goal doesn’t need to be academic—it just needs to help your child grow in confidence and capability.

You Know More Than a Report Card Can Show

A report card is a useful tool—but it’s not a verdict on your child’s intelligence, potential, or emotional health. As a parent, you have a broader view of who your child is and what they need to thrive. By looking beyond grades and asking deeper questions, you’ll uncover the full picture of your child’s year—and be better equipped to support their growth moving forward.