Is Gow Right for My Child?

Gow is designed for bright students with language-based learning differences who thrive in small class sizes with structured instruction and a community that understands how they learn. Students who are successful at Gow can work independently with support, engage in class without behavioral disruptions, form positive relationships with peers, and follow a boarding school schedule with some guidance.

Gow is small by design. The average class has four students. Gow maintains a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and students are grouped by skill, so every teacher knows how each student learns.

Yes, a recent psychoeducational evaluation is required to help us assess whether Gow is the right fit for each student. If you are still waiting for an evaluation or aren't sure where to start, contact us! We can talk you through the process and refer you to trusted diagnostic partners.

We need a psychoeducational evaluation completed within the last three years, including cognitive and achievement testing with all scores. See the application process for exactly what the report should include.

The process begins with an inquiry and a conversation. Families share their student's history and complete an application, followed by a campus visit. During the visit, students complete a short assessment that helps us understand how they learn. See the application process.

Yes, and we encourage it. Email [email protected] and we will connect you with a current family.

Both programs are structured, explicit, multisensory remediation programs for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. The difference at Gow is how the method is used: every student takes a daily class alongside other core subjects, every teacher is trained in the method, and its core skills and strategies are woven into our entire curriculum. Dr. Samuel Orton collaborated with Peter Gow, Jr., founder of The Gow School, to design The Gow Method. Our teachers have refined it over 100 years, rather than offering it as a separate tutoring session. Decades of research and assessments reinforce the impact of The Gow Method.

Yes. The Gow Method of Reconstructive Language grew from Peter Gow, Jr.'s work with Dr. Samuel T. Orton, and Gow's teachers have refined it every year since 1926. It is a multisensory, structured approach to phonics, spelling, vocabulary, and reading. The results show: 100% of Gow seniors are accepted to college, and alumni include architects, artists, chefs, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and an Olympic athlete. See Outcomes.

Most Gow students board, and the structure of boarding life (supervised study, faculty close by) is part of how students make progress. Day students take part in the same program. We'll help you decide what fits your family.

Days are full and structured. Students wake around 7:30 a.m., eat breakfast together, and start classes at 8:30. Classes run about 45 minutes with three to seven students each, and every student takes The Gow Method. After lunch and afternoon classes come a 30-minute tutorial, athletics, dinner, and a supervised study hall from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for grades 5 to 8 and to 8:30 p.m. for grades 9 to 12 Walk through it hour by hour in A Day at Gow.

There is no gym class at Gow. Instead, every student plays a sport each afternoon, across three athletic seasons. Options include basketball, flag football, golf, ski racing, soccer, squash, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Coaches are Gow faculty who understand learning differences. See Athletics.

Plenty. Evenings bring free time in the dorms and the Gow Center. Saturday afternoons offer trips to stores, movies, ski hills, pro and college games, theaters, water parks, and Niagara Falls, plus traditions like Winter Carnival and Spring Fest. See Weekends and Traditions.

Dorm life is close-knit: faculty live in the dorms with their families, and often their pets, so there is always a familiar adult nearby. Your child's academic advisor is matched before they arrive. Talk with us about what worries you most; we are glad to help. See Boarding at Gow.

Safety is built into daily life. Campus has a network of security cameras and an all-school alert system, faculty are trained in safety procedures, and Gow works closely with local police and the South Wales Fire Company. See Support and Safety.

Families are responsible for making tuition payments during the school year. Gow accepts one annual payment, two semester payments, or eight monthly payments.

Families can apply for need-based financial aid and in some cases, funding from their home school district. Our team works closely with you to explore options and help you understand what is possible. See Tuition and Financial Aid.

Families apply online through Clarity. The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee makes decisions based primarily on financial need, and also considers a student's attitude and contribution to the community. Aid is reviewed each year and is not guaranteed. Apply early. See Tuition and Financial Aid.

Yes. We guide families through logistics like visas and travel, and support students as they adjust to life on campus. Students remain connected and supported throughout the year, including during shorter breaks. See International Families.