FAQs

Our day starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:50 pm. Drop-off begins at 7:50 am. Every other Friday, there is a noon dismissal for students so that teachers can participate in professional development.

Kindergarten to Grade 9

Students are grouped based on their learning profile within two grades. For example, 4th and 5th graders may be in the same class if their academic, cognitive and social skills are similar.

Our goal for our students is always independence. Students are working to gain skills and strategies to help them be successful in a less supportive environment. Our average length of enrollment is three years, however this can vary depending on the student’s learning profile and in which grade they initially enrolled.

Yes, Villa is a state approved special education school. In addition, we are accredited by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools. This enables Villa to be accessible to families from all socioeconomic backgrounds and promotes diversity.

As a state approved special education facility, all teachers at Villa Maria are certified in special education. In addition to having this certification, it is crucial that our teachers be highly skilled and dynamic educators who work collaboratively to understand how to best teach each student. All of our teachers participate in professional development twice per month focused on reviewing the latest research and evidence-based programs for instruction. All of our teachers have completed thorough training in PAF (Preventing Academic Failure) for reading instruction, which is an Orton-Gillingham based, multi-sensory, structured decoding and comprehension program.

Villa provides comprehensive, individualized support for reading. All of our teachers have completed thorough training in PAF (Preventing Academic Failure) for reading instruction, which is an Orton-Gillingham based, multi-sensory, structured decoding and comprehension program. Additionally, integrated language support is provided in all classes to fully support comprehension skills.

Villa does not provide bussing. Our students come from 20 different school districts in New York and Connecticut. About half of our students have bussing provided by their home school district and the other half is transported by their families.

Villa has an active Parent’s Association which organizes many community events throughout the year. Some examples include parent cocktail parties, family picnics, and monthly weekend meet-ups for students. Parents are invited into school once a month for “Breakfast with Bill,” a virtual and in person meeting for breakfast and conversation.

No, there is no religious instruction at Villa. Part of our mission and focus is to ensure all of our students become compassionate citizens. Monthly values are taught and integrated throughout the school day.