Every boy learns differently.

And that's okay. Our mission to educate the whole boy in mind, body, and spirit means giving all bright learners the tools and skills they need to succeed in high school and beyond.

The Upper School helps students with varied learning differences identify their learning styles. Do they learn better by reading text or by listening to a teacher? Our learning specialist helps the boys understand how they learn and what that style requires in each subject. She helps them learn to utilize the instructional accommodations they require to become successful students.

The Upper School student support program aims to meet each boy where he is as a learner through:

• Our state-of-the-art Upper School Learning Center (USLC), a dedicated space where students who learn differently receive tailored, appropriate individual and/or small group academic and motivational supports to become expert learners.

• Articulated placement for all eighth graders the spring before ninth grade, for students matriculating from the Gilman Middle School and students new to Gilman.
• Summer Transition Program, offering academic support programs in multiple subjects.
• Focus on Five Academic Lab for Ninth Graders, mandatory small group and individualized support designed to teach students how to build academic success through executive skills coaching, self-advocacy development, and management of an academically vigorous curriculum while balancing a wide spectrum of extra curricular activities.
• Use of a 1:5 ratio for small group instruction, using a collaborative and supportive approach. A small group may include teachers, advisors, students, and family members.
• 1:1 assistance from teachers or upperclassmen in our Math Lab, Science Help Center, Writing Center, and Senior Brothers program.
• Daily 70-minute end-of-day study period for ninth and tenth graders provides students time to work with their advisors, meet with faculty, complete homework assignments, or work in small groups.

Support for All Boys

The Upper School student support team meet regularly to identify students of concern, determine appropriate measures and/or interventions, and implement an action plan for issues including academic challenges, learning disabilities, and social or emotional struggles.