Question 1

WHAT TYPE OF STUDENTS FIND SUCCESS AT SPIRE?

Accepted Answer

Spire students are bright, college bound students who have gotten “side-tracked”. They are
intellectually capable students who are at risk for significant academic underachievement due to social and emotional challenges oftentimes because of limited coping skills and/or a stressful life event (divorce, loss, trauma, adoption). They are girls and boys ages 11 to 18, grades 6-12. Parents oftentimes describe them as kind, sensitive, capable kids who struggle to meet the demands of everyday life.

Question 2

WHERE DO YOUR STUDENTS COME FROM?

Accepted Answer

Most of our families reside in either Fairfield (CT) or Westchester (NY) counties. The students
may be coming from home and their local private or public school, a wilderness program, recent hospitalization or a therapeutic boarding school.

Question 3

DO YOU OFFER SCHOOL TOURS?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We enjoy meeting with parents and learning about their children as well as
answering questions they may have about Spire. Our admissions process includes not only
meeting with parents when they come to tour, but also meeting the student and spending some time with him/her during an informal interview.

Question 4

HOW LONG DOES THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS TAKE?

Accepted Answer

The process can take anywhere from approximately ten days to a few weeks. Families are
usually notified within a week once the application process has been completed. This includes a tour for the parents and student, the receipt of the completed application and supporting documents, calls completed from the release of information, the student having an interview and the opportunity to spend some time in our classrooms, meeting some of our teachers and students while shadowing classes.

Question 5

ARE THERE DEADLINES?

Accepted Answer

There are no deadlines in the application/admissions process. The Spire School operates on a rolling admissions basis, so that students may apply at any time during the year. Should space not be available, accepted students will be placed on a waiting list.

Question 6

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

Accepted Answer

We are located at 201 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905. For more information please call (203) 661-1609, extension 204 or email us at admissions@spireschool.org

Question 7

DOES YOUR SCHOOL CALENDAR MATCH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OR IS IT MORE LIKE A PRIVATE SCHOOL CALENDAR?

Accepted Answer

As we are a state approved, special education program, our calendar is more similar to the local public school districts, but does vary a bit.

Question 8

WHEN IS SCHOOL IN SESSION?

Accepted Answer

Spire’s school year begins in the early fall, usually late August/early September, and runs until
the middle of June. We also have an Extended School Year (ESY) program in July.

Question 9

WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS?

Accepted Answer

Our normal school day runs from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM to 12:15 PM on Fridays.

Question 10

HOW IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED?

Accepted Answer

Students who are placed at Spire by their public school district are typically provided transportation by their district as a part of their placement. Students who are privately placed at Spire provide their own transportation; this may include forming a carpool with other Spire families. With parent permission, eligible students may drive themselves.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS