ACADEMICS
High school
Empowering Every Learner, Every Day
At Riverview, we meet students where they’re at, academically and developmentally, to ensure meaningful learning. Our curriculum maintains age-appropriate content while providing the right modifications for every individual student’s needs, so they can gain a full understanding of the material and build lasting confidence.
OUR APPROACH
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Curriculum
High school students receive daily instruction in reading, writing, math, history/social studies, and science (or Transition Seminar), along with engaging electives. Students are grouped by grade level into small teams with a maximum 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for highly individualized instruction.
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Integrated, Thematic Coursework
Lessons are designed around central themes that connect literature, writing, history, the arts, and experiential learning through field trips and hands-on activities. This cross-departmental curriculum ensures students learn real-world applications of the skills they learn in the classroom.
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Innovative Teaching & Technology
Riverview fosters a dynamic teaching environment guided by creativity and flexibility, helping each student reach their fullest potential. Instruction is supported by the latest educational technologies and teaching innovations to enhance student engagement and understanding. Teachers meet daily to plan, share insights, and ensure a consistent, student-centered learning experience.
Inclusive Support Services
Specialized services such as speech and language therapy, targeted reading instruction, and social skills training are embedded throughout the curriculum. All students receive these services at no additional cost to the family.
In Middle and High School, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) focus on developing students’ foundational communication and learning strategies. Students actively engage in meaningful projects that connect to the school or a broader community while targeting specific speech and language goals. SLPs work closely with staff to adjust individual supports, such as cueing techniques or visual aids, and provide practical tools that help students transfer classroom skills into functional, everyday use. Services are delivered in the classroom, during off-campus trips, and in less structured social environments such as homeroom and lunch.
One-on-one reading assessments are conducted three times a year to inform instruction and guide class placement. Our Reading Specialists are certified dyslexia instructors following the Wilson Reading System, and work with all students to empower them to be active readers.
Riverview’s reading program is designed to meet each student at their current level, providing personalized instruction to support growth across all stages of reading development. Our readers build essential foundational skills, while deepening their understanding through text analysis and independent thinking. Students read age-appropriate adapted texts, giving them the ability to have the same educational experience as neurotypical students their age.
Each student is assigned an advisor to work on an established goal. Whether addressing coping strategies, problem-solving, advocacy, boundaries, friendships, or other areas, advisors collaborate with the student’s team to provide individualized support tailored to achieving this goal. Once a foundation is established and skills are developed, students are encouraged to problem-solve independently, fostering greater independence and self-confidence.
dorm life
Dorm life at Riverview is a powerful space for learning and growth, and is an important part of our educational model. With guidance from dedicated residential staff, students build strong social bonds and develop essential life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and even how to manage their free time with meaningful activities. Living alongside their peers, students gain hands-on experience in responsibility, independence, and building a community.
day students
Day students participate fully in academic classes and after-school activities alongside their boarding peers, ensuring a rich and immersive school experience. Once a month, they stay into the evening for special events such as school dances or school performances, helping them strengthen social connections with their peers. Families receive consistent communication, including monthly emails from the Day Student Coordinator, academic updates from their student’s academic lead, and social-emotional updates from a member of our clinical team.
