Every day is different at a therapeutic boarding school
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:39 am
Thomas Ring, the fine arts coordinator at Stone Mountain School, a therapeutic boarding school for boys ages 11-17 who are struggling with ADD, ADHD, nonverbal learning disorders (NLD), and other learning and behavioral issues.
After a few years teaching in public schools and charter schools, and 10 years of educating students in therapeutic boarding schools, Ring vows he’ll never leave the boarding school setting. “Each of these boys has different talents and struggles, and we’re able to tailor the program to suit each of them,” he says. “If I have an idea about something that could help a student, I can implement it that day. Nowhere else can you find that freedom to cater to what the student needs at any given moment.”
Stone Mountain School uses a wide range of assistive phone number data in the classroom, including special software that lets students arrange information visually and organize their tasks, and tools to assist with reading and writing. Whatever interventions the boys respond to best, the staff has the flexibility and resources to give the students more of the tools that help them succeed.
Unlike public schools, where physical education programs have given way to more classroom time, therapeutic boarding schools like Stone Mountain School ensure every student has time to play and exercise. Set in the woods in North Carolina, the Stone Mountain campus has a lake, large grassy fields, and tons of open spaces to play. Half of each day is spent in core academic classes, while the other half consists of hands-on electives that frequently take place outdoors. Every weekend, students head to the forest for experiential trips, camping, hiking, and outdoor adventures.
“One reason this program is so effective is that we have so many ways to reach students,” says the school’s academic director, John Steele. “Young people need active, creative outlets to stay energized, motivated, and challenged. The confidence they build in the adventure challenges translates into academic success, a willingness to take on more responsibility, and better social functioning.”
Freedom to Be Yourself. Boarding school isn’t exclusively about academics; other important goals include improved social functioning, better focus, organization, and commitment, and becoming a well-rounded adult who has not only experienced academic success but also personal and social achievements.
After a few years teaching in public schools and charter schools, and 10 years of educating students in therapeutic boarding schools, Ring vows he’ll never leave the boarding school setting. “Each of these boys has different talents and struggles, and we’re able to tailor the program to suit each of them,” he says. “If I have an idea about something that could help a student, I can implement it that day. Nowhere else can you find that freedom to cater to what the student needs at any given moment.”
Stone Mountain School uses a wide range of assistive phone number data in the classroom, including special software that lets students arrange information visually and organize their tasks, and tools to assist with reading and writing. Whatever interventions the boys respond to best, the staff has the flexibility and resources to give the students more of the tools that help them succeed.
Unlike public schools, where physical education programs have given way to more classroom time, therapeutic boarding schools like Stone Mountain School ensure every student has time to play and exercise. Set in the woods in North Carolina, the Stone Mountain campus has a lake, large grassy fields, and tons of open spaces to play. Half of each day is spent in core academic classes, while the other half consists of hands-on electives that frequently take place outdoors. Every weekend, students head to the forest for experiential trips, camping, hiking, and outdoor adventures.
“One reason this program is so effective is that we have so many ways to reach students,” says the school’s academic director, John Steele. “Young people need active, creative outlets to stay energized, motivated, and challenged. The confidence they build in the adventure challenges translates into academic success, a willingness to take on more responsibility, and better social functioning.”
Freedom to Be Yourself. Boarding school isn’t exclusively about academics; other important goals include improved social functioning, better focus, organization, and commitment, and becoming a well-rounded adult who has not only experienced academic success but also personal and social achievements.