Admissions Process
The Windward School is a school for children with language-based learning disabilities who possess average-to-superior intelligence and are not meeting their academic potential in a regular school setting. The Windward program provides a specialized, language-intensive curriculum, small class settings, and highly-trained teachers who work to build and strengthen academic skills, confidence, and self-reliance in a warm and supportive classroom environment.
While each student’s journey is different, on average, our students spend 3-to-5 years at The Windward School before returning to a mainstream setting. Student progress is monitored throughout their time at Windward by our outplacement department, who work with students and their families to determine when a student is ideally suited for the transition to their next school.
There are often two teachers and approximately twelve students in each academic classroom. This provides maximum time for direct instruction by highly-trained teachers and helps students achieve success.
The Windward School’s faculty is composed of teachers who have received intensive training in the School’s specialized program through the Windward Teacher Training Program and The Windward Institute. Windward’s teachers are accomplished at building and strengthening academic skills in a warm, supportive atmosphere that fosters a student’s self-reliance and confidence. Regardless of education or previous employment experience, new Windward faculty members typically spend two years as an assistant teacher before assuming head teacher responsibilities.
The Windward School makes every effort to ensure that each student who wishes to enroll has the financial ability to do so. Therefore, Windward offers financial aid to qualified applicants based on the individual needs of the families and availability of funding.
Visit our Financial Aid page for more information.
All screened applicants being screened will have the opportunity to visit a Windward classroom. They will join a language arts class as a student in the grade they are currently in. All incoming students will then have an opportunity to tour the campus during the summer. Additionally, new students will be invited to a new student orientation prior to the first day of school, where they will get to meet their teachers, receive their school supplies, and socialize with other new students.
Although returning students have required summer work, there is no expectation for new students. Summer work for returning students is assigned by language arts and math teachers and geared towards their specific needs. Therefore, since your child has not yet started the program, we do not require any specific work. We would recommend reading to your child as much as possible or have them read books that are enjoyable and manageable for them.
Information Sessions are scheduled throughout the school year. Attendance at a session is not required in order for an application to be filed. Families interested in attending a session should reach out to the Admissions Office.
Visit our Admissions page to sign up for an info session.
The Windward School is a school for children with language-based learning disabilities who possess average-to-superior intelligence and are not meeting their academic potential in a regular school setting. The Windward program provides a specialized, language-intensive curriculum, small class settings, and highly-trained teachers who work to build and strengthen academic skills, confidence, and self-reliance in a warm and supportive classroom environment.
Reading, writing, and the content subjects are taught with a strong emphasis on language competence, skill development, and cognitive strategy. Students are grouped within their grade level according to their levels of development in language arts and mathematics. Students are also grouped heterogeneously in other content areas and special-area subjects.
All students have three 45-minute periods of language arts daily. These periods include oral language, reading, spelling, and writing. The Windward School uses the PAF program for reading and spelling, a multisensory Orton-Gillingham-based program. The writing program enables students to develop the skills they need to write clear, linguistically complex sentences, paragraphs, and compositions. In addition to language arts, each student has a daily period of math. The math program is designed to help students develop a strong understanding of the language and vocabulary of math. Concepts are broken down and emphasis is placed on understanding the language of word problems. Additionally, students have regularly scheduled periods of social studies, science, art, music, library, technology, and physical education. All areas of the curriculum are language-based, sequential, and highly structured. Our program gives students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and the confidence they need to return to and be successful in a mainstream school.
To learn more about our curriculum, visit our Academics page.
A direct instruction teaching model is used throughout the School to deliver the curriculum. Teachers follow this direct instruction model—a structured, systematic, and effective research-based methodology—in order to maximize students’ academic growth. The direct instruction model is an explicit approach to teaching that includes both a specific instructional design and delivery procedures. Students are provided with a purpose and rationale for learning a new strategy or skill, clear explanations, demonstrations, and time to practice with teacher feedback until mastery is achieved.
To learn more about direct instruction, visit our Academics page.
Practice and reinforcement of skills help students retain what they’ve learned in the classroom and can promote further progress. You can expect students to be reading every night, completing writing assignments, and continuing to practice what is being taught in their math class. Students in grades 5 and up will also have assignments in other content areas as well. Aside from reading aloud (for younger students), the expectation is that students are completing homework on their own without the help of a parent/guardian. Windward believes that the ability to complete homework is the first step in becoming an independent learner.
There are often two teachers and approximately twelve students in each academic classroom. This provides maximum time for direct instruction by highly-trained teachers and helps students achieve success.
The Windward School’s faculty is composed of teachers who have received intensive training in the School’s specialized program through the Windward Teacher Training Program and The Windward Institute. Windward’s teachers are accomplished at building and strengthening academic skills in a warm, supportive atmosphere that fosters a student’s self-reliance and confidence. Regardless of education or previous employment experience, new Windward faculty members typically spend two years as an assistant teacher before assuming head teacher responsibilities.
The Windward School understands that achieving academic success alone is not enough for our students. To help prepare them to return to mainstream education, we also provide them with opportunities for social and emotional growth. Windward offers special programs for lower and middle school students that are specifically designed to help them. These programs help students: understand and manage their emotions; develop friendships and manage social situations; develop empathy for others; understand how they learn; learn how to advocate for themselves; boost their self-confidence and build self-esteem; and succeed socially and academically in a mainstream environment.
No! In fact, all families are requested to cease all outside tutoring. Windward’s program is systematic and intensive, and we want our students hearing one message. If your student is admitted to the program, there is an understanding that we will offer the necessary remediation. However, some students require speech therapy for articulation only, so this may be the single outside service needed to be continued.
Although returning students have required summer work, there is no expectation for new students. Summer work for returning students is assigned by language arts and math teachers and geared towards their specific needs. Therefore, since your child has not yet started the program, we do not require any specific work. We would recommend reading to your child as much as possible or have them read books that are enjoyable and manageable for them.
While each student’s journey is different, on average, our students spend 3-to-5 years at The Windward School before returning to a mainstream setting. Student progress is monitored throughout their time at Windward by our outplacement department, who work with students and their families to determine when a student is ideally suited for the transition to their next school.
The Windward School is a school for children with language-based learning disabilities who possess average-to-superior intelligence and are not meeting their academic potential in a regular school setting. The Windward program provides a specialized, language-intensive curriculum, small class settings, and highly-trained teachers who work to build and strengthen academic skills, confidence, and self-reliance in a warm and supportive classroom environment.
Reading, writing, and the content subjects are taught with a strong emphasis on language competence, skill development, and cognitive strategy. Students are grouped within their grade level according to their levels of development in language arts and mathematics. Students are also grouped heterogeneously in other content areas and special-area subjects.
All students have three 45-minute periods of language arts daily. These periods include oral language, reading, spelling, and writing. The Windward School uses the PAF program for reading and spelling, a multisensory Orton-Gillingham-based program. The writing program enables students to develop the skills they need to write clear, linguistically complex sentences, paragraphs, and compositions. In addition to language arts, each student has a daily period of math. The math program is designed to help students develop a strong understanding of the language and vocabulary of math. Concepts are broken down and emphasis is placed on understanding the language of word problems. Additionally, students have regularly scheduled periods of social studies, science, art, music, library, technology, and physical education. All areas of the curriculum are language-based, sequential, and highly structured. Our program gives students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and the confidence they need to return to and be successful in a mainstream school.
To learn more about our curriculum, visit our Academics page.
The Windward School understands that achieving academic success alone is not enough for our students. To help prepare them to return to mainstream education, we also provide them with opportunities for social and emotional growth. Windward offers special programs for lower and middle school students that are specifically designed to help them. These programs help students: understand and manage their emotions; develop friendships and manage social situations; develop empathy for others; understand how they learn; learn how to advocate for themselves; boost their self-confidence and build self-esteem; and succeed socially and academically in a mainstream environment.
The Windward School is a school for children with language-based learning disabilities who possess average-to-superior intelligence and are not meeting their academic potential in a regular school setting. The Windward program provides a specialized, language-intensive curriculum, small class settings, and highly-trained teachers who work to build and strengthen academic skills, confidence, and self-reliance in a warm and supportive classroom environment.
Practice and reinforcement of skills help students retain what they’ve learned in the classroom and can promote further progress. You can expect students to be reading every night, completing writing assignments, and continuing to practice what is being taught in their math class. Students in grades 5 and up will also have assignments in other content areas as well. Aside from reading aloud (for younger students), the expectation is that students are completing homework on their own without the help of a parent/guardian. Windward believes that the ability to complete homework is the first step in becoming an independent learner.
The Windward School understands that achieving academic success alone is not enough for our students. To help prepare them to return to mainstream education, we also provide them with opportunities for social and emotional growth. Windward offers special programs for lower and middle school students that are specifically designed to help them. These programs help students: understand and manage their emotions; develop friendships and manage social situations; develop empathy for others; understand how they learn; learn how to advocate for themselves; boost their self-confidence and build self-esteem; and succeed socially and academically in a mainstream environment.
The Windward School is committed to providing its students with a variety of offerings designed to support their non-academic interests. Extracurricular activities such as athletics, the arts, and clubs are structured to meet the needs of both lower and middle school students and also serve as opportunities for students to build and maintain friendships.
To learn more about our extracurricular activities, please visit our Athletics, Clubs, and Activities page.
The Windward School offers a Monday-through-Thursday After-Care program for lower school students. Families are allowed to pick up their children in the afternoons as late as 5:30 p.m., and students in the program are provided with time for light play, snacks, social engagement, creative pursuits, and homework time.
If a student is not attending an after-school activity on any given day, the After-Care program will provide care for the student from dismissal at 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Students will also have the opportunity to join our after-school activities program until 4:30 p.m. and then transition to the After-Care program until pick-up time at 5:30 p.m.
Families receiving financial aid will automatically receive a subsidized rate for participation through the financial aid office.
The doors open on all campuses at 8 a.m., with an arrival time until approximately 8:25 a.m. Dismissal is at 3 p.m. on Mondays-through-Thursdays, and 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. For those students who participate in after-school activities, 4:30 p.m. is typically the pick-up time.
None! Windward will provide all the school supplies your child will need.
All campuses have fully functioning kitchens in the dining halls. Windward’s food provider is Flik, and the lunch plan is included with the tuition. Each day, there are many options offered, from a hot food entree that includes a vegetable, to sandwiches, salads, and a variety of fruits and desserts. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing their child with a nut-free snack daily, as all students are provided with a break/snack time in the morning hours.
While Windward does not have a uniform, a dress code is required. Clothing may be purchased from any vendor, provided that the clothing meets the School’s dress code standards. The Windward School has a student dress code policy for two main reasons: 1) In recognition that patterns, designs, slogans, logos, and sometimes colors can be attention-grabbing, we want to ensure that student dress is conducive to learning and not distracting for students. 2) We also want to offer students reasonable options for individual expression while minimizing the social pressures and competition that often arise when dress code is unregulated.
View our dress code here.
The Windward School does not provide transportation. For the Westchester Campuses, students arrive to our Westchester campuses via car or bus. For bus services, parents/guardians must request transportation services in writing every year by April 1 directly to public school authorities. For the Manhattan Campus, students may arrive by car, bus, or subway, and walk to our Manhattan Campuses. Families can choose between several transportation methods, including car pick-up service, bussing, carpools, Metro transit, and the ability to self-dismiss in higher grades.
The Windward Parents Association (WPA) connects families to the school community and provides a way for parents/guardians to be involved in their child’s school life. The WPA sponsors numerous events throughout the academic year for both parents/guardians and students.
Learn more about the WPA here.
