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The Norman Howard School

Basic Information
Address: 275 Pinnacle Rd, Rochester, NY 14623
County: Monroe
School District: Serving 25+ Districts, Henrietta
Phone Number: (585) 334-8010
President: Joseph Martino, President & CEO
Principal: Rosemary Hodges & Nick Fargnoli, Co-Heads of School
School Type: 853 Nonpublic Special Education School, Regents-Level Curriculum
Additional Information
Accreditation: New York Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), Approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
Founded: 1980
Organization Affiliation: Education Success Foundation
Ages/Grades: 5th-12th (ages 10-21)
School Setting:
The Norman Howard School offers a small, structured and supportive learning environment with full access to the general education curriculum.
School Schedule: 8:15 am - 3:17 pm
School days in Calendar Year: 185
School Holidays: Observance of typical holidays
Community:
Socially, economically, racially/culturally diverse students from 25+ school districts and 7 counties
School Size: 100 students
Classroom Size: 8 students
Student/Teacher Ratio: 12:1:1
Tuition:
90% of students have district funded tuition; Rate for Private Placements: $50,000
Financial Aid:
Available to privately-placed students with financial need
Departments:
English Language Arts, Writing, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts & Electives, Physical Education & Health, Foreign Language
Curriculum:
Our High School (Grades 9-12) offers a comprehensive academic curriculum and helps students overcome barriers which they may have faced in their prior schools. Explicit instruction is offered in reading, writing, and math skills, and students participate in physical education and arts programs. High school students are required to earn 22 credits in core courses and electives to graduate. In addition, students must pass five New York State commencement level assessments in core subjects
Our Middle School (Grades 5-8) is a vibrant and accepting environment. Projects and hands-on activities are interwoven into the curriculum and make the material accessible for all learners. Direct instruction is offered in reading, writing, and math skills. The curriculum is aligned with Next Generation New York State learning standards. In addition to core content, students participate in physical education and arts programs.
Support Services:
Daily Reading Intervention (Wilson Reading, Really Great Reading, and Read Naturally), Math Intervention, Speech-Language Intervention, Social Thinking (social-emotional learning curriculum), Student & Transition Counseling, Thinking Maps (school-wide learning strategies), EmPower Writing Strategies
Our smaller class size enables us to differentiate instruction and provide appropriate support to all students including those who are capable of meeting higher academic expectations.
Educational resources include: interactive whiteboards, 1:1 Chromebooks, library, hands-on curriculum materials, and science labs.
After School Programs: Yes
Computer Capabilities:
All students are provided with Google Chromebooks.
School Championships:
Many students participate in their district-provided athletic programs.
School Clubs:
Drama, Best Buddies, Lego POWER, Ski, Music, Photo, Dungeons & Dragons, Science, Swim, Yearbook. LGBTQUIA+ Alliance, Maker Place, Student Council
Notable Graduates/Alumni:
Tal Ronnen, Celebrity Vegan Chef
Paul McCoy, International Mountain Climbing School
Todd Summers, Graywood Companies
Nicholas Kleps, Actor
Parking Spaces/Availability:
Yes
Uniform Guidelines:
NHS has a standardized dress code including:
Shirts - Any solid colored (short or long sleeved) collared shirt, or turtleneck, no writing or graphics; Only t-shirts or hoodies which display the NHS logo
Pants - Navy, black, gray or khaki-colored pants or leggings, excluding jeans and sweatpants
Admissions Deadline: Rolling
Mission Statement:
The Norman Howard School fosters the academic and social-emotional potential of students with learning disabilities. The school’s supportive community promotes students’ development as respectful, responsible, resilient citizens. The school promotes understanding of diverse learning needs and serves as a resource for families and professionals.
Philosophy/Belief Statement:
We understand each of our students as a unique composition whose learning profile is painted from a diverse palette of strengths, interests, characteristics, challenges, and experiences. Provided expert support, understanding, and the right setting, our resilient students learn, belong, and succeed in school and life.
School History: Established in 1980 by parents and area professionals, The Norman Howard School offers a 45 year tradition of providing students from Rochester and the surrounding area an exceptional alternative to public education. Named in honor of Norman Howard, Head of The Gow School in South Wales, NY, whose advice and consultation aided the development of the school, we began by providing individualized education to six students. In 1990, NHS was approved as a Special Program by the New York State Education Department. Today, a vibrant and diverse community of more than 100 students from more than 7 counties thrive in an atmosphere of support and acceptance where an individual’s strengths are promoted and strategies for managing challenges are developed.
Programs and Services:
All Norman Howard Students have IEPs or 504 Plans which guide individualized instruction.
Outdoor Education, Authentic Experiential Learning, Service Learning, Interest-Based Afterschool Clubs, College & Career Development, Maker Place, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education
Notes/School Information:
Hallmarks of The Norman Howard School:
- Strong sense of belonging for all students and families
- Individualized and personalized approach, our caring teachers and counselors consider each student's strengths and areas of need
- IEP and Learning Disabilities Expertise, NHS is the only school of its kind in the region and a longstanding community resource
- Developmental Approach to Reading & Math so that we meet students at their current skill levels
- Separate, daily classes in Reading, Writing, and ELA…because they are not the same thing
- Hands-on projects and experiential learning opportunities include visuals, technology, field trips, and outdoor classroom activities
- School-wide strategies enhance executive functioning, academic and social thinking skills