If you have a child who has been diagnosed with a learning disability, you have no doubt given a lot of thought to the school they should attend. Although most public school systems have classes and programs to deal with learning disabled students, most of them do not come close to the quality of care and education given from a private institution. It can also be a much more viable option if your state will provide all or a portion of the tuition in place of public education. If it is at all possible and you are considering a boarding school for the education of your learning disabled child, below you will find reviews for four of the most prestigious and recommended boarding schools in the country that specialize in the education of the learning disabled, which generally includes such disorders as: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), Dyslexia, Aphasia, and Dysphasia.
Brehm Preparatory School has been operating since 1982 and was recognized in 1992 by the Department of Education as Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. They have had students from 41 states and four other countries enrolled in their holistic education program that integrates not only academic needs, but also social and emotional needs. On their website it is said that Brehm “addresses a broad spectrum of learning disabilities [including] processing, perceptual, or conceptual deficits, which occur in visual, auditory, or motor functioning” in both the classroom and individualized support. They have a capacity of 10 students in their Junior High and Senior High programs and an additional capacity of 30 in their post-secondary OPTIONS program. Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year was $56, 280. Contact Brehm at:
Contact Brehm
1245 East Grand Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901
Tel: 618-457-0371
Fax: 618-529-1248
admissionsinfo@brehm.org
Cedars Academy – Bridgeville, DE
For those students and parents interested in green living and care about the environment and the outdoors, then Cedars Academy may be right for you and your child. Cedar’s Academy is a small private boarding school emphasizing college prep with a capacity of 40 students. They are located on 73 acres on the Delmarva Peninsula. They are licensed by the State of Delaware and accredited by CITA. They profess to build “confidence and competence” in a family environment. Students attend classroom courses in English, Science, Social Studies, and Math while also participating in electives such as art music, and foreign languages. Cedars Academy is a year-round boarding school with post-secondary programs available. Tuition is $6200 per month with a one-time enrollment fee of $2500 (you can always apply for scholarship). For more information, contact Cedar’s Academy at:
Cedars Academy
P.O. Box 103
Bridgeville, DE 19933
Tel: 302-337-3200
Fax: 302-337-8496
Admissions: 1-866-339-0165
The Vanguard School – Lake Wales, FL
The Vanguard School is accredited by both the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). With small class-sizes where strengths are recognized over weaknesses, they boast that over 95% of their students go on to college. The Vanguard School has been in operation for over 40 years now and has a history of successfully preparing students with learning disabilities for college and beyond. The school takes applicants from 10 years of age and on through High School. They also have a “13th Year” post-secondary program. The typical student at Vanguard has an average IQ but has not succeeded at public school because of their disability. Besides a comprehensive education program with class sizes between 5 to 8 students, they also have an excellent recreation and athletics program. Tuition at Vanguard for the 2008-2009 school year was $41,500 with an additional $650 materials fee. For further information contact The Vanguard School:
The Vanguard School
22000 U.S. Highway 27
Lake Wales, FL 33859
Tel: 863-676-6091
Fax: 863-676-8297
vanadmin@vanguardschool.org
The Forman School – Litchfield, CT
The Forman School is a co-ed special needs school that has been in operation since 1930 and provide both boarding and day school options. They focus on partnering with individuals who have shown excellence in their field to prepare their educational programs. Such individuals have included Samuel Orten and Albert Einstein in the past. Forman uses one-on-one work, small group co-op learning, round-table discussion groups, and hands-on experience. Forman is one of the premier schools in the country for children with learning disabilities and accept students from grades 9 to 12. They have a current enrollment of 179 with a student/Faculty ratio of 3 to 1, and an average class size of 8. Tuition for the boarding school option is $53,000 and day school is $43,500. Contact The Forman School at:
The Forman School
12 Norfolk Road Box 80
Litchfield, CT 06759
Tel: 860-567-8712
Fax: 860-567-8317
beth.rainey@formanschool.org
If you are considering a private boarding school to the most for your learning disabled child, these four schools are the best of the best in the USA.