Student Support

At Forest Ridge, academic support is built on the belief that every student should be known, challenged, and supported. Support is intentionally designed to help students develop the skills, confidence, and independence needed for long-term success. Students are expected to make use of available resources and seek assistance before academic concerns become significant.

Academic support may include:

Classroom Teachers: Teachers are the primary resource for academic questions, clarification, feedback, and additional support.
Advisors: Advisors partner with students to monitor academic progress, strengthen organization and study habits, support goal setting, and promote student well-being.
Student Support Team: For students whose needs extend beyond classroom-level support, the Student Support Team partners with teachers, students, and families to coordinate academic, social-emotional, and behavioral supports. (See Student Support Team)
Learning Support Specialists: Learning Support Specialists provide support to students with Student Support Plans and work collaboratively with teachers, advisors, students, and families to coordinate accommodations and implement individualized support strategies. They also consult with faculty and participate in the Student Support Team to help identify and recommend supports for students whose needs extend beyond the classroom.
Guided Study (Middle School): Guided Study provides structured time for students to complete assignments, meet with teachers, collaborate with peers, and strengthen executive functioning skills.
Academic Intervention (Middle School): Students may be assigned to Academic Intervention on Wednesday afternoons for targeted instruction, skill development, or additional academic support.
Lunch Study Hall (Middle School): Students may be required to attend Lunch Study Hall, supervised by the MS Academic Dean, if they have missing or incomplete assignments in a class
Study Breaks (Upper School): Study periods provide dedicated time for independent learning, teacher conferences, collaborative work, and academic support.

Learning Support

At Forest Ridge, we believe every student should be known, challenged, and supported. Learning Support Specialists partner with students, families, teachers, and advisors to help students develop the skills, strategies, and self-advocacy needed to become confident, independent learners. Support may include consultation, classroom accommodations, individual or small-group instruction, and collaboration with faculty based on a student's documented needs. Forest Ridge does not offer a special education program or modify its curriculum; however, we are committed to providing thoughtful support that helps students access our program and achieve success within the educational experience we offer.

School Counseling

We have two School Counselors on staff who provide services for students and parents navigating the challenges and changes in adolescence. Our counselors, Hannah Moskat and Laura Boismenue, support and grow the social-emotional health of all students through brief, individual counseling, psychoeducation, and consultation with parents and professionals. While School Counselors do not provide treatment or therapy, they are specialists in mental health in the school setting, drawing from experience in independent schools, public schools, and private practice.

English Language Learning Support

Forest Ridge welcomes students from around the world to immerse themselves in speaking, reading, writing and learning in English. Our English Language Learners (ELL) program provides differing levels of support in each division during student’s transition into our English-taught curriculum.

Middle School English Language Learning Support

Based on their English proficiency, students entering fifth through eighth grade will engage in either a formalized English Language Learning (ELL) curriculum as a separate class, or they will receive support from a specialist pushing into their English-taught classes. The level of support is determined by the school administration through a variety of information, including teacher recommendations, previous coursework, WIDA Screener ®, and TOEFL® scores and is evaluated on an ongoing basis. The goal of the middle school ELL program is to grow students’ confidence in both interpersonal communication skills and academic success. Students with low or emerging English proficiency may be encouraged to complete a Forest Ridge approved summer course prior to enrollment.

Upper School English Language Learning Support

Beginning proficiency in English, as measured by TOEFL® and/or ACCESS ® is required for the upper school. Students will engage with a formalized English Language Learning (ELL) curriculum as part of their class schedule in order to ensure they continue to develop the academic language skills required to engage with our academic program.