Castle School is a community-based, residential and day school for adolescents ages 13 to 17 with emotional and behavioral problems. The students at Castle School have a variety of issues that may include severe conflict at home, school failure, behavior problems, self-destructive/ suicidal behavior, running, depression, social isolation, substance abuse, court contact, and psychiatric hospitalizations.
This 12-month program offers a full-time school, a therapeutic living experience and an array of clinical services designed to meet the special needs of its students. Castle is not a locked facility so students must have some level of self-control and enough emotional stability to adjust to living in a group situation and forming attachments.
The treatment milieu is structured to provide educational and psychological growth based on "experiential learning and a carefully planned environment.” Students learn responsible problem solving that can apply in the real world, and they have a chance to succeed "within a positive social framework."
Castle School offers clinical services under the supervision of their clinical coordinator who is a licensed clinical social worker. Students participate in group and individual counseling within the program, as well as in weekly psychotherapy at a local mental health clinic or with their personal therapist. Castle requires family involvement in the therapy program if the child is working toward returning, home and offers a variety of services including a family support network, family therapy and a monthly family activity day.
The academic component is taught year round by a team of certified special education teachers and consists of a secondary-level school program that is both special education-approved and diploma-granting. The credits earned at Castle School may be applied toward the students graduation requirements from their home school. Castle also offers the opportunity for older students to add to their curriculum by attending the public high school and area colleges on a part-time basis.
Castle School is a treatment and educational facility licensed by the Massachusetts Office for Children and approved by the Massachusetts Division of Special Education. It is a member of the Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private School (MAAPS) and the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers.