Private School Spotlight: Eagle Hill
In this installment of our feature series, we are pleased to share about our experience visiting Eagle Hill, a private school in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Demographics
Eagle Hill’s average student has above average cognitive intelligence and struggles with language-based learning. Many students behind in reading, writing, and math come to Eagle Hill with classifications such as:
dyslexia;
dyscalculia;
dysgraphia;
auditory processing disorder;
executive functioning disorder;
ADHD; and/or
receptive-expressive language deficits.
The school is distinct from many private schools in that it views itself as a transitory program. Generally, students spend about three years attending the school before they graduate to a mainstream private school, public school, or a general education program with added support.
Eagle Hill has a fascinating history. Upon arrival, you are immediately struck by the beautiful grounds, which happen to be an estate built by former cereal magnate, C.W. Post. The manor’s original buildings and its carriage house contain a lot of the classrooms and administrative offices. There are a number of new buildings mixed in as well; and despite the age of the estate, recent renovations make the school feel new.
There are approximately 250 students and 100 faculty members on campus, and the school is divided into three distinct sections.
Foundations Program
The newest addition to Eagle Hill, the Foundations program is for early elementary school students aged five to seven. True to its name, this program helps students build school habits, develop self-regulation skills, and learn how to problem solve. Students are provided with executive functioning instruction throughout the day as well, as opposed to in an isolated executive functioning training session. This encourages Foundations students to apply the organizational skills they’re learning across different contexts and apply them in their everyday life.
Lower School
Once a child turns six, he or she is eligible to move up to the Lower School. This program caters to students who are between six and eleven years old and have language-based difficulties. The program is designed to strengthen listening, speaking, reading, writing, and math skills. Teachers provide individualized instruction and effective small-group learning activities in classes with low student-to-teacher ratios (six children per teacher on average).
In addition, the teachers utilize multi-sensory activities to engage students — an approach that can be particularly helpful with students who struggle with attention difficulties or who may disengage due to low self-esteem.
Upper School
At age eleven, students are eligible to receive instruction in the Upper School. Similar to the Lower School, multi-sensory activities, individualized instruction, small classes, and small group sizes allow students to learn at their own pace, build confidence, and master concepts and skills that were difficult for them to learn in a large setting or general education classroom.
Related Services & Specials
In addition to the small class sizes, Eagle Hill provides a multitude of other services including:
Speech-language therapy provided either in small group pull-out sessions or consult sessions in the classroom;
Motor training/occupational therapy that addresses fine and gross motor deficits; and
Psychological services provided as needed by school psychologists and social workers.
Eagle Hill has the typical specials and activities that schools offer including music, art, and athletics. However, there are also some unique offerings as well such as:
Ballet;
Karate;
Robotics; and
Gardening, to name a few.
The school’s philosophy is to provide an individualized approach to learning for each student. By having a wide range of activities and teaching approaches, there is truly something for everyone.
Jonathan Gottlieb
Partner
195 Montague Street
14th Floor
Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201
Jonathan@GottliebFirm.com
(646) 820-8506