Holmstead School
14 Hope Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
School Principal Name: Brett Vargo
School Phone Number: (201) 447-1696
School Email Contact for Student Referrals: polina@holmstead.org
Website: www.holmstead.org
Population Served:
ADD-ADHD, Aspergers, Learning Disabilities, Mood Disorders, Psychiatric
Age Served:
Middle School, High School
Counties Served:
Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex
Program Description:
For over 50 years, Holmstead School has offered a state-approved, non-profit partner school for students who struggle to stay motivated and perform in traditional/public school environments.
Holmstead is currently serving students from grades 8-12, typically with a history of learning, psychological, social, and/or emotional issues that prevent them from realizing their academic potential. Our customized curricula integrate academic, therapeutic, recreational, and psychological components in the right combination and frequency for each student’s individual needs, with the goal of possibly being mainstreamed back to public school, as appropriate.
Holmstead School is a therapeutic high school and middle school that provides an educational and therapeutic milieu which emphasizes innovative and flexible education for adolescents who need to be challenged in order to change their motivation and performance. It is located in Ridgewood, NJ (Bergen County) with students from over 50 towns within 6 New Jersey counties.
Our NJDOE and national learning standards based curriculum provides students with a variety of learning experiences while being mindful of their social and emotional health. Our departmentalized program allows our students to fulfill the public-school course and graduation requirements.
In addition to over 40 course choices, we offer various online learning programs that enable students to take classes in specialized and advanced placement courses. Graduating seniors go on to trade, community, and private/public college experiences. Of our most recent graduates, 55% went onto a 4-year university/school, 35% went onto a community college, and 10% to a trade/technical school.
Our environment allows these often highly complex students to feel supported, accepted, and socially connected—in a way that is often new to them. That is why they thrive in our program.