The Hillside School is specifically designed to serve students with language-based learning differences, mathematical reasoning challenges, and executive functioning needs. Our faculty receives ongoing professional development in evidence-based interventions for dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and related learning profiles. When students thrive at Hillside, it’s because their primary areas of need align with our areas of deep expertise.
Hillside is an excellent fit for students whose primary learning challenges center on:
| Area of Need | Related Challenges |
|---|---|
| Reading Acquisition and Comprehension | Dyslexia and language processing disorders |
| Written Expression | Dysgraphia and difficulty organizing thoughts on paper |
| Mathematical Reasoning and Computation | Dyscalculia and other math-related learning disabilities |
| Executive Functioning | Organization, planning, time management, task initiation, and cognitive flexibility |
| Working Memory | Difficulty holding and manipulating information, following multi-step directions, or completing complex tasks |
| Processing Speed | A slower pace when taking in information, responding to questions, or completing assignments |
Autism spectrum disorder includes a wide range of strengths, challenges, and support needs. Current research, including work from the Simons Foundation involving more than 5,000 children, reinforces that autism is not a single or linear profile. Students may differ significantly in areas such as social communication, sensory processing, repetitive behaviors, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.
An autism diagnosis alone does not determine whether a student is an appropriate fit for Hillside. Our admissions team considers the student’s complete learning profile, primary educational needs, and the level of support required to participate successfully in Hillside’s academic program.
Some students with autism may thrive at Hillside when their primary needs involve:
Hillside is an academic learning-support school and does not provide intensive autism-specific, behavioral, therapeutic, or social-communication programming.
Hillside is not equipped to serve as the primary educational placement for students whose:
These limitations reflect Hillside’s mission and areas of professional expertise. They are not a judgment about a student’s abilities, value, or potential. Students deserve an educational placement with the staffing, programming, and expertise necessary to meet their primary needs successfully.
During the admissions process, we work closely with families to understand:
We believe honest, thoughtful conversations about mission-appropriate fit serve students best.
When families need guidance finding specialized autism programs or other placements better suited to their child’s primary needs, we are happy to offer resources and recommendations.