Hillside School

A boy who is ready to grow, willing to be supported, and eager to become more independent.

"The biggest thing I would tell every new family is to give your son time to adjust. He doesn't have to arrive at Hillside knowing exactly how to manage everything on his own. Our job is to help him develop those skills. The first few weeks are about learning routines, meeting people, trying new things, and becoming comfortable asking for help. Parents should know that we're here to support their son, but we're also going to encourage him to gradually take ownership of his experience. That's a really important part of the Hillside journey."

"I think one of the things families don't always realize about Hillside is just how individualized the experience is. From the outside, we may look like a traditional boarding school, but because we're a relatively small community, our teachers and faculty really know each student. We combine that personal attention with some pretty unique opportunities—a working farm, an Innovation Lab, the IB Middle Years Programme, and a very strong Tutorial Program. So students aren't just receiving a traditional middle-school education; they're getting a lot of opportunities to discover how they learn best, develop independence, and figure out what they're capable of."