Want your teen to stop procrastinating and get their schoolwork done without arguing?
Grayson Executive Learning specializes in executive function coaching for high school students and helping teens build the skills, confidence, and habits that drive academic success and lifelong independence.
Help your teen go from “I’ll do it later” to “I got it done”
Why Do Smart Students Still Struggle?
Many families come to GEL feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and stuck in a cycle of nightly homework battles. When a teen’s academic challenges dominate the household, it can create tension, strain relationships, and impact a student’s self-esteem.
But this cycle can be broken.
GEL understands that poor academic performance isn’t about laziness or lack of intelligence. Our ADHD/executive function coaching for high school students and teens helps students break free from the cycle of underperformance and achieve the consistent success that eludes them.
Our experienced coaches get to the root of these issues, helping students understand why their behaviors occur, and more importantly, how to change them. Through compassionate coaching and skill-building, we guide teens to take control of their learning with confidence.
Executive Functioning Skills for High School Students
Our coaching helps strengthen the following essential executive functioning skills for high school students:
Time Management
Learn to prioritize tasks, avoid procrastination, and create realistic schedules
Organization
Develop systems for keeping track of assignments, due dates, and study materials
Goal-Setting & Planning
Develop systems for keeping track of assignments, due dates, and study materials
Task Initiation
Move from “I’ll do it later” to “I’ll do it now” without parental reminders
Emotional Regulation
Manage frustration, anxiety, and stress around schoolwork
Self-Monitoring
Reflect on progress and make adjustments when needed
Working Memory
Hold information in mind and use it effectively while working
Focus & Attention
Stay engaged during classes and study sessions, even with distractions
We teach practical executive function strategies for high school students so teens not only learn these skills but use them consistently.
When teens build these skills, they gain more than just academic improvement; they experience increased confidence, independence, and a sense of control over their own future.
The GEL Approach
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Our foundation in evidence-based interventions, combined with a delivery deeply rooted in compassion, empathy, and understanding, is why our students regularly experience exceptional results.
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The effectiveness of the GEL Approach begins with our coaches. Each coach holds at least a Master’s or Doctorate degree in education or a related field and is highly trained in coaching principles and delivering research-based executive function strategies for high school students.
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The effectiveness of the GEL Approach begins with our coaches. Each coach holds at least a Master’s or Doctorate degree in education or a related field and is highly trained in coaching principles and delivering research-based executive function strategies for high school students.
Chronic procrastination doesn’t stem from laziness or a lack of motivation, it’s driven by an ingrained thought pattern that says, “I’m not in the mood to work right now; I’ll do it later.” Breaking free from this mindset can be extremely difficult. The struggle to overcome procrastination through sheer willpower or discipline often leads individuals with ADHD to doubt their abilities and lose confidence in themselves. GEL coaches help students develop structure, routines, and consistent habits that make it easier to get work done, bypassing the brain’s strong tendency to delay tasks without depending on willpower or self-control.
Although establishing a solid structure for completing schoolwork is a powerful way to reduce procrastination and boost task initiation, structure alone is often insufficient for students with ADHD to meet deadlines consistently. These students benefit from strategies that enhance time management, simplify complex assignments into manageable steps, limit distractions, track due dates, strengthen study habits, and build effective routines. GEL coaches help clarify what academic success looks like and equip students with practical tools and strategies that lead to consistent, dependable progress.
One of the most impactful elements of the GEL Approach is how it integrates student-centered accountability into the coaching process. Research consistently highlights accountability as a highly effective strategy for promoting behavioral follow-through. What makes the GEL Approach unique is its use of two complementary layers of accountability. The first involves students taking ownership and holding themselves responsible for completing the commitments they make. The second layer emerges through the collaborative partnership between the student and their coach. Importantly, students are not accountable to their coach, but rather accountable with them.
How Executive Function Coaching Helps
Our Science-Backed Approach
Rooted in proven strategies, the GEL Approach equips students with tools to thrive in school and beyond.
Beyond Tutoring: The Value of Coaching
Academic coaching focuses on time management, planning, and organization, not just on subject mastery.
Why Executive Skills Matter
Strong executive functioning supports independence, resilience, and confidence in both academics and life.
Case Study
Billy began 9th grade on a declining academic and personal trajectory. After engaging in executive function coaching with GEL, he not only reversed course but went on to graduate from a highly regarded preparatory high school with a 4.25 GPA. In addition to his academic success, Billy’s growth was recognized by his peers and educators when he received his school’s Unsung Hero Award at graduation. Billy continues to excel in college and in his personal life years after concluding coaching services.
Jason Smith
Tina Nohinek
Margaret Carroll
Andrew Brinen
Academic Improvement Across the board
Students saw a significant improvement in grades
Students saw a significant reduction in missing assignments
Parents said they would recommend GEL to a friend
Students said they experienced a reduction in anxiety
Parents saw an improvement in parent/child interaction around schoolwork
Frequently Asked Questions
Executive function coaching for high school students is a personalized support system that helps teens strengthen skills like organization, time management, planning, and follow-through. Instead of focusing on academic content like a tutor, a coach teaches students how to learn, prioritize, and manage responsibilities more effectively.
Many high school students struggle with procrastination, missing assignments, and difficulty balancing academics with extracurriculars. Executive function coaching for high school students gives them the tools and structure they need to stay organized, reduce stress, and become more independent learners.
Some effective executive function strategies for high school students include breaking large projects into smaller steps, using planners or apps to track assignments, setting up study routines, and practicing self-checks for focus. Coaches tailor these strategies to each student’s learning style, making them practical and sustainable.
Parents can encourage routines, provide consistent reminders, and model good organizational habits. However, many teens respond best to outside guidance. That’s why executive function strategies for high school students are most effective when supported by professional coaching that builds student accountability and independence.
The most important executive functioning skills for high school students include planning ahead, organizing schoolwork, managing time, staying focused, and adapting to challenges. Strong executive functioning skills help students perform better in high school and prepare them for the transition to college or the workplace.
Coaching provides students with hands-on strategies and consistent accountability. By practicing tools like time-blocking, prioritization, and self-monitoring, students steadily build their executive functioning skills. Over time, high schoolers become more confident, capable, and ready to tackle academic and personal challenges.
Yes. Many of our students have ADHD, and ADHD/executive function coaching for high school students is designed to meet their unique needs. Coaches provide ADHD-friendly strategies that address challenges with focus, impulse control, and organization while also building strong executive functioning skills.
Tutoring focuses on subject-specific content, while ADHD coaching for high school students builds life-long learning skills like planning, time management, and emotional regulation. This kind of coaching empowers students to stay motivated and succeed across all areas of school and not just in one subject.
Many students with ADHD feel discouraged by missed deadlines and poor grades despite working hard. ADHD coaching for high school students helps them discover strategies that actually work, giving them a sense of control over their learning. This boosts confidence, reduces stress, and increases motivation to succeed.
Absolutely. Executive function strategies for high school students not only improve school performance but also prepare teens for real-world responsibilities. Skills like organization, problem-solving, and time management carry over into sports, jobs, and eventually college and career success.