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Middlebridge School is the closest American students can get to a real-life Hogwarts. Located in Rhode Island’s Hazard Castle and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this 19th-century neo-gothic revival landmark exudes an almost magical feel to it, with students here being as extraordinary as their setting. The school specialises in working with students who have attention disorders, anxiety, and language-based learning differences, thus earning them recognition as one of the country’s best ADHD boarding schools, according to US News & World Report.
Middlebridge School is a college preparatory coeducational boarding and day school for students ages 13 to 18 and postgraduates. It works with students who thrive with additional attention and support for study skills. In this “place to belong and become,” class sizes are small to enable highly individualised programming. There are about 75 faculty to 75 students; that is a 1:1 staff-to-student ratio which allows students to learn more and learn faster. Their daily tutorial courses emphasise study skills, executive function, and metacognition (thinking about thinking). These are paired with over 250 enrichment electives, plus competitive and club sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis, baseball (which is starting in the spring), e-sports, and surfing.
Middlebridge School’s location is an added advantage. It is in the oceanside town of Narragansett in the US state of Rhode Island, with access to ports, beaches, and recreational areas only seconds away from the coast. It’s a soothing environment that directly and indirectly provides excellent enrichment for Middlebridge School students.
Middlebridge School is near Boston and Providence, home to many museums, concerts, and athletic events for students to experience. Source: Middlebridge School
What sets Middlebridge School apart from other schools is its emotional intelligence courses. This allows students to focus on their potential for inner development, understanding of psychology, mindfulness, growth mindset, and resilience. Learning metacognition (“thinking about thinking”), real-time feedback, role-playing, improvisational theatre, mindfulness and meditation techniques, and reflexive exercises empower students to realise their academic goals and needs. These exercises can develop interpersonal skills too, leading to healthy relationships and satisfying careers.
Thanks to Middlebridge School, many students are well-prepared for college and university. Some even start a career after graduating, a transition that would not have been possible had it not been for their alma mater’s wide range of college courses, internships, job shadows, and resume-building initiatives. Provided by the Lighthouse Internship Programme, these are multi-faceted experiences that explore potential areas for future study at college and develop personal hobbies and passions.
The Lighthouse Internship Programme helps students dive into resume building, work experience, and finding their interest in college and the real world. Source: Middlebridge School
The Lighthouse Internship Programme comprises four integrated components: career awareness, career exploration, self-exploration, and occupational training and skill acquisition. The goal is for students to understand the various possibilities for long-term employment, research their career options, learn more about themselves and their choices, and finally, educate them on what it takes to realise their career goals respectively.
For example, student Brent, Class of ’20, has experienced more than one internship placement, but Sweet Cakes Bakery is his favourite. This was where he was introduced to many aspects of owning a local business, including how to create and forecast a healthy budget. His peer Ryan interned with Habitat for Humanity, where he discovered a passion for engineering. He would later join the New England Institute of Technology to study robotics and engineering.
Given the proper training and practice through the programme, students are set to transition to and thrive in their future careers. “I look forward to my internship every week; it’s genuinely one of my favourite places to be,” says Natalie, Class of ’24, a senior at Middlebridge School. “The people are amazing, their jobs are fun, and honestly getting to give back to the community is just a great bonus.”
Like Natalie, current students who continue to give back in community service over their summer breaks report higher levels of happiness, connection, and satisfaction with their communities. This is the central Middlebridge School experience. Experiential learning not only engages and benefits everybody, but it also fosters citizenship and ethics through positive interactive engagement.
The Lighthouse Internship Programme comprises four integrated components that will help students transition to and thrive in their future professional careers. Source: Middlebridge School
There are more than 58 local businesses and organisations contributing their time and efforts to the Lighthouse Internship Programme. Each offers distinct opportunities for students to gain insights into their future workplace, build confidence, and increase their participation in the community.
Many students with learning differences may not experience a traditional pathway to their high school graduation, let alone a professional career. But at Middlebridge School, students often feel that it is the first place they can truly be themselves in and out of school, true to its motto: “Belong and Become.”
To apply to Middlebridge School, up-to-date (within two years) neuropsychological, psychological, or psychoeducational tests with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children scores are required for review. The admissions team then proceeds with a Zoom interview, brief testing to assess readiness and fit, and then an in-person tour or meet and greet. Apply today.
