Q. Who are the students enrolled at Arlington School?
A. Students come to Arlington School with a variety of mental health issues that have interfered with their previous educational experiences. Students often bring to us inconsistent educational histories, complex learning styles, and emotional issues affecting their academic productivity and self-esteem. Students at Arlington School are average to above average in intelligence and many are gifted in the Arts. Because many of our students have vaulted out of the mainstream, they come to Arlington School stressed and vulnerable. Many are coping with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, attentional and other issues.
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Q.Do you offer tuition assistance?
A. We are not permitted to offer tuition assistance, because tuitions for the majority of students are paid for by the referring school district. Occasionally a family will privately pay the school tuition. They are required to pay at the same tuition rate that school systems are charged, according to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regulations.
Q. What accreditations and approvals do you have?
A. We received full accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the summer of 2009. The full NEASC report is available at NEASC Home | New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In addition to our NEASC Accreditation, the school also has full approval from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a Private Special Education Day School Program.
Q. Can I visit the school?
A. Once a referral packet has been received and the admissions committee has determined that we have the resources for a student to be successful, we invite the student and family to visit the school. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate the many requests for visits we receive from families who are just beginning their school search process prior to an out of district determination by their school system. We are happy to speak by phone and try to answer any questions about the school and the appropriateness of specific students.
Q. How long does the admissions process take?
A. Once a referral packet is received we make every attempt to have a quick turn-around time. An interview can usually be scheduled within a week, a class visit within a few days after that and then a decision can usually be made within 24 hours after the school visit.
Q. What is the average length of stay for students?
A. The length of stay generally depends on the age and grade that a student enrolls in the school. When students come to us in the upper grades, they often will finish their high school careers with us. If they have started in the earlier grades, a proportion of the students will seek to return to their public high schools or transition to a small private school.
Q. What is the ratio of girls to boys?
A. For the 2009-2010 school year the ratio is weighted a little more towards girls, about 60% : 40%.
Q. Do you do 45-day assessments?
A. Yes.
Q. What percent of students go on to college?
A. About 85-90% of students attend two and four year colleges immediately after graduation.
Q. Do you have after-school activities?
A. We try to build extra-curricular activities into the school day as students’ cabs arrive at the close of the school day to transport them home. Some students have had success joining after-school activities and sports within their home school districts.
Q. Will health insurance cover tuition?
A. We are an academic institution and health insurance does not cover the cost.
