BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES - RIVERDALE

Families of elementary-age children with IEPs — particularly those who benefit from having speech, OT, PT, and counseling woven into the school day in a small, supportive setting.

• Full on-site therapeutic team: speech, occupational, physical, and play/counseling services are integrated into the school day rather than contracted out.
• 10:1 student-teacher ratio lets staff tailor instruction to each child's IEP goals every day.
• Small enrollment of about 185 students keeps the community tight and the staff familiar with every family.
• Approved by the New York State Education Department, so students earn credit toward standard milestones even within a specialized setting.
• Full on-site therapeutic team: speech, occupational, physical, and play/counseling services are integrated into the school day rather than contracted out.
• 10:1 student-teacher ratio lets staff tailor instruction to each child's IEP goals every day.
• Small enrollment of about 185 students keeps the community tight and the staff familiar with every family.
• Approved by the New York State Education Department, so students work toward standard milestones even within a specialized setting.

• This is a specialized program for students with IEPs — it isn't a school families choose for a general progressive or traditional curriculum, and the admissions path typically runs through the CSE/Committee on Special Education.
• The 12-16 minute walks to the 1 train mean most families will drive, take a bus, or use car service rather than the subway.
• The Catholic affiliation is part of the Birch Family Services heritage but doesn't translate into religious instruction in the school day.
• Tuition and financing aren't publicly listed — placement is most often publicly funded through the NYC DOE for classified students, but families and districts should confirm directly.
• Because the program is defined by each child's IEP, the day-to-day experience varies widely from student to student.