Founded in 1983, The Hillside School has become recognized as a benchmark institution for the support of children with learning disabilities. The mission of The Hillside School is to maximize the potential of the child with learning disabilities through excellence in education. From the beginning, this non-profit elementary school established a two-fold vision to accomplish its mission: the first is to be a leader in the education of children with learning disabilities, the second is to educate and develop community awareness of the needs of children and adults with learning disabilities.
Eight students in each classroom are instructed using multisensory learning strategies in a stimulating academic environment. An on-going program of diagnosis and evaluation allows students to make continuous progress and prepares them to return to a mainstream private or public school setting. The students’ individualized programs are designed for each area of the curriculum and particular needs, whether accelerated, developmental, or remedial in nature. The educational program provides opportunities for our students to develop:
· Solid academic skills
· Strategies and skills necessary to function in a conventional classroom
· Organized, realistic approaches to life
· Abilities to relate cause and effect, and to generalize to social, emotional, and academic experiences
· Improved self-esteem and self-advocacy skills
· Independence as a learner
The philosophy of the school forms the foundation for the school’s curriculum. The philosophy incorporates beliefs that each child is capable of learning through positive approaches, successful experiences, and individualized evaluation. When the child’s ability matches the educational program, learning becomes intrinsically motivating. A valuable by-product of our program is the positive self-concept and self-understanding that serves as a catalyst for more learning.