It’s a great time to apply to Riverview School.
We are accepting applications for the 2024 Summer Program and the 2024/2025 Middle School/High School and GROW School Year programs.
Check out our Guided Tour of Riverview Campus with Admissions Associate, Lauren Spencer.
Finding the Right Fit
Riverview School places great importance on the appropriateness of a candidate’s total application. This includes the application and accompanying documents (IEP, Progress Reports, and Testing). Along with these documents, we also consider the number of openings in each grade and dorm, and weigh our decision heavily on the student’s interview and calls with professionals who know the student well. This ensures that they will thrive academically and socially within their peer group among students who are currently enrolled.
Riverview has a long standing commitment to neurodiversity and continues to enroll students who are neurodivergent. Our curriculum supports a variety of children and young adults who learn differently.
If your child meets the following criteria, they may be a candidate for Riverview:
Is described as gentle, friendly, kind, and naive
Diagnosed language, learning and cognitive disabilities
Desires to make friends and is interested in forming relationships with others
Seeks social and extracurricular opportunities such as playing on sports teams, attending dances, participating in drama, music, art and student government
Responds well to a structured, supportive, predictable environment
Capable of greater success in the academic environment
Has mastered basic daily living skills and personal hygiene and self-care
Mild medical issues that complicate—but not compromise—daily activities
IQ and Achievement scores between 65–90 or functional abilities within that range (many times there is great variability)
Please Note: Students demonstrating a history of emotional, behavioral, psychiatric disorders, or requiring a therapeutic environment, are not able to be considered.
If you feel Riverview may be appropriate for your child, please fill out the inquiry form or call us with any questions you may have.
Please take a moment to fill out an inquiry form.
Upon receipt, one of our admissions representatives will get in touch with you to learn more about your child and determine next steps.
Parent FAQs
Completed application form
Most recent IEP and progress report
Neuropsychological report (IQ and achievement tests)
Transcript
Life Skills Profile
Service reports (PT, OT, S/L, etc. if applicable)
Camp report (if applicable)
Once documents are received and reviewed, an Admissions Associate will contact you within 7-10 days with information regarding next steps. During this period, part of the process is to reach out to professionals you have listed who know your child best. If we feel that we may be able to meet your child’s needs, the next step is a Zoom Interview.
Yes – the interview is typically about an hour and is done via Microsoft Teams. We have found that these meetings are better for your child in the mornings rather than after a full day of school, so we ask you to keep that in mind when finding a suitable time. A parent is generally close by in case the child gets 'stuck'. The conversation is very casual and questions include information about daily schedules, eating habits, likes and dislikes etc. There is also the opportunity for the child to ask questions. Interviews are conducted Monday – Friday mornings.
We suggest that you and your child visit our website and take the Virtual Tour together. This helps them get a visual of our campus and may prompt them to come up with questions to ask during the interview. Interviews will be with Nancy Hopkins, Director of Admissions, and Lauren Spencer, Admissions Associate.
Once your child has been interviewed and Admissions and families agree to proceed to the next step, your child will be invited to participate in an on-campus visit. If applying to the Day program, your child will visit for two days (consecutively). If applying to the Boarding program, your child will visit for three days (consecutively). These visits are intended for your child to immerse themselves in our program. Visits are scheduled Monday through Friday and begin with a campus tour for you and your child.
The academic day dress code requires neat and clean clothing, no clothing with profanity or offensive language, and no sleepwear, pajamas, or excessively ripped clothing. Footwear must be low-heeled and secure to the foot. The attire must be weather-appropriate.
Visiting students should bring a change of clothes for gym and/or afternoon activities (e.g., sweatpants, shorts, sneakers). They are allowed to bring their cell phones, but they are to be kept in their backpack or coat pocket and shut off during the school day (this does not apply to GROW visitors). A time will be scheduled for calls home for middle, high school, and GROW students.
After the tour has concluded, you will meet with a member of the Admissions team. If everyone is comfortable and in agreement, your child will start the visit and participate in the program they have applied to. Families will say goodbye and leave the campus. The tour and meeting take approximately 1 ½ hours. Families will be asked to pick up their child at the agreed-upon time at the end of the visit.
The academic and residential team collects information from your child’s visit. The information is reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and a decision regarding acceptance is usually made within a week of the visit. The Admissions team will contact you within 24 hours of the decision.
Yes, we always maintain our 8:1 ratio in the dormitories.
Medications are checked in through the Health Care Center. Students will visit the health care office for medication(s) if needed while on campus.
Student FAQs
They are gentle, friendly, and kind. They want to be successful in the classroom, have friends, play sports, go to dances, and learn to be independent.
You will be placed in classes such as history, math, reading, writing, and electives with students in your grade. We will not be testing you; we encourage you to participate in class if you are comfortable. A copy of your schedule will be provided to you before you arrive.
We ask questions about:
morning routine, school day schedule, homework, after-school activities, etc.
responsibilities at home such as chores, room care, cooking, laundry, pets, work experience, etc.
your friends, interests, weekend activities, and what you like to eat.
strategies you use when stressed or frustrated at home or school.
technology (cell phone, social media, and internet)
Yes, someone will help get you to classes and activities.
In middle and high School, we offer a variety of nutritious foods at each meal to appeal to all teenagers. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in our dining room, where a salad bar, fresh fruit, and homemade soups are options in addition to the main meal.
In the GROW transition program, students prepare their own individual breakfasts, eat lunch on campus in Hunter Commons, and prepare dinner as a small group in their dormitories.
We encourage you to stay in touch with your family during your visit. Cell phones are allowed on campus but must be kept in the student's backpack or coat pocket and shut off during the school day (this does not apply to GROW visitors). There will be time scheduled for calls home for middle, high school, and GROW students.
No. Visiting students are not assigned homework.
Join us for an Information Session
In-Person Information Sessions are held Friday mornings from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM. Designed for parents and professionals, Admissions Staff welcome visitors to our campus, and introduce guests to our Middle & High School (grades 6-12) and GROW (Getting Ready for the Outside World) Transition Program in a presentation, including a Q&A Session and Campus tour.
Virtual Information Sessions are held on Wednesday’s at 4:00 PM once each month. Designed for parents and professionals, Admissions Staff welcome visitors to our virtual campus, and introduce guests to our Middle & High School (grades 6-12) and GROW (Getting Ready for the Outside World) Transition Program in a presentation, followed by a Q&A Session.
Get in Touch
Riverview School is dedicated to supporting students, parents, and families. Please reach out to our Admissions Office with questions about the admissions process, whether Riverview is right for your student, or any other inquiries you may have.
Riverview School
Attn: Admissions Office
551 Route 6A
East Sandwich, MA 02537
Phone: 508-888-0489
Email: admissions@zzctz.com
Learn More: For information about applying to Riverview, contact our admissions team or fill out an inquiry form.
Tuition Information
| Program | Tuition | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| School Year (Day) - 2024/2025 | $63,501 | $7,000 |
| School Year (Residential) - 2024/2025 | $109,473 | $10,000 |
| Summer (Day) - 2024 | $6,814 | $2,500 |
| Summer (Residential) - 2024 | $11,170 | $3,000 |
What does tuition at Riverview cover?
Tuition covers the people and programs that make Riverview a leader in educating extraordinary students:
Maintaining an 8:1 student-teacher ratio in all classes and dorms so students can receive the individualized attention they need
Speech & Language, Social Learning, and executive function support
After school and weekend Enrichment opportunities that include arts, athletics, special events and extracurricular activities
All meals and snacks on and off campus
Students weekly allowance used for wants/needs shopping
Two years of Project Forward at Cape Cod Community College
A robust vocational program that includes employment preparedness training, on and off campus internship experiences, and a wide variety of opportunities to try different fields of employment and practice skills.
Our staff of talented teachers, counselors, credentialed specialists, and administrators
Tuition also covers the day-to-day academic needs including books, curriculum, technology, field trips, and basic classroom supplies.
We recognize that attending Riverview is a significant financial investment. We offer financial aid to qualifying families; read below to learn more.
Financial Assistance
Riverview utilizes the School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid in Randolph, MA, in the analysis of applications for financial aid. While the aid program is modest, it does provide some assistance to those families who demonstrate clear financial need. For information about financial aid, loan programs or if your child receives third party funding, please contact Richard Dalrymple, Director of Finance, at rdalrymple@zzctz.com or 508-888-0489 ext 214.
For most of our families, Riverview’s tuition, fees and related costs, such as transportation, may be fully tax-deductible as a medical expense. This reduces the effective cost to families by thousands of dollars each year. Individual circumstances will vary, so please consult your individual tax advisor regarding this deduction.
Financial Aid Policy
The Riverview School offers financial assistance to families who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of a Riverview education. We offer financial aid because we believe that economic diversity is part of Riverview’s strength and definition, and that financial aid, offered to qualified families, can assist us in enhancing the many dimensions of diversity in the Riverview community.
Financial Aid: Financial aid is an outright grant, used to offset the cost of tuition, which the family does not need to pay back to the school. All financial aid at Riverview is based exclusively on demonstrated financial need. The School will try to accommodate as many families as possible within the financial aid budget.
Financial Aid Committee: The Head of School will appoint members of the Committee which will be chaired by the Director of Finance. The Committee will recommend operating policies to the Head of School, set working procedures, review applications and grant awards.
Eligibility for Financial Aid: All recipients of financial aid must be accepted for admission or re-enrollment to The Riverview School. (Students must provide documentation of financial need and also demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and school citizenship.) Timely completion of all procedures is necessary for student eligibility.
Amount of Award: The Riverview School expects that a family will have researched all of its own resources before coming to the school for financial assistance. The value of a financial award will be determined by the financial need of the family and the total amount of funds available for use by the Committee.
Continuation of Eligibility: Each family must reapply annually for financial aid using the forms and procedures determined by the Committee. Renewal of assistance is contingent on the family’s continued demonstrated financial need and all student accounts must be current before the Committee can consider requests for continued financial assistance.
Sources of Funds: Financial aid will be disbursed from sources such as the school budget, endowment, income from named scholarships and annual gift and memorials. The Board of Trustees will set the budget for financial aid at its annual winter meeting.
Use of Section 529 plans to pay tuition
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contains a provision that allows use of Section 529 savings to pay for private K–12 education up to $10,000 per year, per child starting in 2018. Establishing and funding a Section 529 plan can provide significant tax benefits. See your investment advisor and accountant for more information.
Any questions regarding tuition or financial aid, please contact Rich Dalrymple at rdalrymple@zzctz.com or 508-888-0489 ext 214.