About Centerpoint School

Centerpoint School is an Independent, Special Education School approved by the Vermont Agency of Education serving both Middle School and High School students. With campuses in South Burlington and Winooski, the Centerpoint School serves 50 students with the support of 48 staff. The small size of our school, as well as the high student to staff ratio, allow us to focus on building strong relationships informed by an in-depth understanding of each student as an individual—both academically and therapeutically.

Students who attend Centerpoint School are faced with a range of social, emotional, educational or mental health challenges as they strive to complete their middle and high school education, as they work to improve their lives, and as they prepare themselves for successful adult living in our communities.

We build highly individualized and student-specific plans that include grade-matched, age-matched, and developmentally-matched academic classes, specialized counseling and treatment services, individualized and group-based activities, social skill development, therapeutic recreational activities, community-based programming, family support, and coordinated case management. The majority of these experiences are experiential and hands-on in nature.

Academics in a Therapeutic Setting
Centerpoint School programming includes a wide range of academics fully integrated with specialized treatment and support services to address a variety of issues, including:
  • Adolescent trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
  • Attachment and other relational challenges
  • Adolescent oppositional, defiant, and conduct disorders
  • Family communication and conflict
  • Attentional difficulties, learning disabilities, and mild learning impairment
  • Adolescent substance abuse
Our qualified, skilled and compassionate staff is made up of House Leaders, Social Workers, Special Education Teachers and Counseling teachers—all of whom work with students on their therapeutic goals throughout their school day.

Building on Student’s Strengths with a Personalized Academic Plan
Centerpoint School emphasizes personalized learning and multiple pathways for all of our students. Each student’s academic plan at Centerpoint School is different, based on what they need, where they are coming from and where they are headed.  
Students attending Centerpoint receive credit toward high school graduation and participate in academics in accordance with standards set by the Vermont Department of Education. Curriculum focuses on academic skill building at each student’s level, which is explored through content areas of student interest. In addition, Centerpoint School students gain skills to grow and thrive in their world, including skills in the areas of:
  • Problem-solving and decision-making
  • Wellness, coping skills, and stress-reduction strategies
  • Healthy teen and adult relationships
  • Positive social skills and communication

How Long do Students stay at Centerpoint School?
While students can (and do!) graduate high school through Centerpoint School, for many, enrollment at Centerpoint School is but one step in their educational path. For some of our Centerpoint middle-school students, enrollment at Centerpoint helps them build new skills and address challenging issues to support their return to a public school setting. Some of our high-school students transition from Centerpoint School to local Technical Center programs, part-time schedules at their sending school or a local college. Others establish teacher supported, field-based mentorships and internships through their Centerpoint Schooling that turn into paid employment opportunities. With student-centered plans, Centerpoint School is truly able to craft programming that allows for individualized opportunities and possibilities as our students move toward adulthood and self-sufficient community life.
If students and their team decide that Centerpoint School is the perfect fit for the remainder of their educational experience there are multiple pathways toward graduation. Students can take our classes and apply that credit toward their sending school’s diploma credit requirements or toward Centerpoint School’s diploma credit requirements or through meeting proficiency-based graduation requirements.

Sounds great! How do I learn more?
Requests and inquiries regarding Centerpoint School enrollment may come from any source, however, referrals for admission are generally coordinated through a student’s special education program with tuition provided by the sending school district (local education agency). If you are interested in learning more, please contact:
Lorcan Ackley, School Director of Centerpoint School
phone: (802) 324-4790
email: LorcanA@CenterpointServices.org
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