Application Process

Applying to Gow

Admission to The Gow School is a two-way street. While prospective families learn about us, we learn about prospective students and their particular needs and goals. Our mutual purpose is to discover if Gow can help them attain those goals and reignite their lives, as we have for generations of graduates.

The Gow School is currently accepting coed boarding and day students in grades 6–12. We encourage interested families to get a feel for the school from our website, social media, and viewbook and to talk with our Director of Admissions so that we can begin to determine if Gow is the right learning environment for them. Submission of an assessment and test results and the Application Packet provides clarification. Where a good fit seems likely, we invite families to visit our beautiful campus and meet our united community, after which an admissions decision is made.

student standing outside smiling on campus of The Gow School, our new york learning differences boarding school
Step 1

After exploring our website, social media, and viewbook, complete the online inquiry form requesting admissions material to be sent to you. 

students walking on campus of The Gow School, our new york learning difference boarding school
Step 2

Send in a full report of a Psychoeducational Evaluation conducted within the last three years. The report should include all composite and subtest scores (standard scores and percentile ranks) for a comprehensive test of cognitive abilities e.g., Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), or Woodcock-Johnson IV Normative Update (WJ IV NU) Tests of Cognitive Abilities and a test of achievement skills e.g., Woodcock-Johnson IV Normative Update (NU) Tests of Achievement or Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III). 

Testing can be sent to anyone in the Admissions Office by email, fax or directly to the admissions email at admissions@gow.org

pins and awards shown on student at The Gow School, our LD boarding school new york
Step 3

Once the Admissions office is able to review the testing, someone will be in contact with you typically within 24 hours. 

If we review the testing and it does not look as though we are the best fit for your child, we will give you a couple other schools to look at so that you are not left empty handed. 

If the testing is a match for our profile and we think your child will thrive at Gow, we will send you the link to the online application, recommendation, and a release of records. 

This whole process moves at pace that is comfortable for the family. This is a big decision and we never want you to feel rushed.  Decisions are made on a rolling basis, but enrollment may be limited by grade. A few additional steps are necessary for international students before matriculation.

Families wishing to apply for financial aid should complete the application process as early as possible.

student working on computer in classroom at The Gow School, our LD boarding schools new york
Step 4

Visit campus.

Once we have all of the paperwork needed for the application, someone from the Admissions Office will reach out to schedule a visit.

Our visits start around 9:30 a.m. and conclude around 3:00 p.m. During your visit you will meet with the Director of Admissions, Head of School, Head of the Upper or Lower School, get a student led tour of campus, and get a feel for what it is like to be a part of #GowUnited. 

The visit will also include about an hour and a half of the prospective student taking a series of reading, writing, and spelling tests. This test acts as a baseline for the student and is used when coming up with a schedule, specifically in Reconstructive Language. It is not graded, it is not an entrance exam, it is not pass or fail. The goal of this is to see where our students superpowers lie. Every spring students will then be retested to see how their skills have improved.

Families will leave their admissions visit with a copy of the testing that is scored and then receive updates every spring. 

For more information or to submit materials:

Todd Avis, Interim Director of Enrollment Management
The Gow School
2491 Emery Road
South Wales, NY 14139
p 716.687.2001
f 716.687.2003
admissions@gow.org

The Gow School admits students of any race/color, ancestry/national origin, religion/creed, and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race/color, ancestry/national origin, religion/creed, and sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic, and other school-administered programs.