What if daily individualized, skill-centered instruction could completely transform how your child learns? One school in the San Francisco Bay Area is changing outcomes for neurodivergent students through this type of learning model.
Winston Preparatory School, a national network of eight campuses, has been helping students with dyslexia, ADHD, and NVLD build essential academic and social skills through an individualized educational model for over 40 years. In 2020, Winston Prep expanded to the West Coast when it opened its Marin campus for students in grades 3 through 12, located in San Rafael.
What differentiates the Winston Prep Model from other programs and why does it work?
Instruction is built around each student’s unique learning profile, allowing teachers to focus on strengths, address challenges, and foster confidence. Students receive daily 1:1 instruction with a dedicated learning specialist, called a Focus Teacher, who supports academic growth, executive functioning, self-advocacy, and social communication. Small class sizes where students are grouped by learning profile allow for individualized and responsive programming.
Content is often the driving force behind grade-based educational models. Grouping by learning profile allows instructors to concentrate on skills-based remediation, using content as the vehicle to teach and develop skills. This allows teachers to identify each student’s goals before determining the content they will learn. In this manner, the program centers on the students themselves.
With a group of students who have a similar learning profile, teachers can spend time teaching students to pause and recognize a problem, strategically break it down, brainstorm solutions, and then intentionally choose an appropriate solution until they reach independence. Instead of following a set course, this type of instruction adapts to the students’ response, bringing a level of flexibility that is not possible when students are working toward reaching undifferentiated, grade-level goals. By teaching in this way rather than the hypothetical average student, teachers can reach all students on an individual level and, as a result, meet students where they are while fostering their independence.
The results? Winston Prep’s high school graduation rate is 99.7% compared to just 70.8% nationwide for neurodivergent students. About 80% of Winston graduates enroll in college, compared to 33% nationwide for neurodivergent students.
Families consistently share the transformation they see in their children. Students who once struggled in traditional classrooms discover renewed confidence, stronger academic performance, meaningful social connections, and a genuine enjoyment of learning at Winston Prep.
“Sending my daughter to Winston Preparatory School has changed her life — and ours — forever. She has never been happier socially or more successful academically,” shared one Winston Prep parent. “The communication and support from the school are truly unmatched, and for the first time, she is genuinely excited to go to school every day. Winston Prep is a community in which children are understood for who they are and are supported to make them feel successful.”
Winston Prep offers rolling admissions so students can start thriving without delay. Interested families are encouraged to attend an Open House to learn more.
