Richard Goldman

Chelsea School

OUR MISSION is to educate promising students with specific language-based learning differences in a rigorous, individualized college-preparatory environment to become lifelong, independent learners. Chelsea School is a nonprofit, nonpublic school located in Hyattsville, MD that provides individualized programming for students with language-based learning disabilities. Founded in 1976 by two parents of students with dyslexia, Chelsea has a record of proven and demonstrable success—not only with literacy remediation, but also in preparing students with learning and attention disabilities for life after high school. In the past two years, 100% of Chelsea School seniors graduated with functional literacy skills, and were accepted into a postsecondary program. Initially based in facilities made possible through partnerships with other community-based organizations, the 1989 purchase of real property in Silver Spring, MD was a major step towards becoming an institution. Embracing the nonpublic model then allowed Chelsea to accept students whose tuition is paid by a public school system. Although public education agencies now fight to keep these students, Chelsea continues to actively seek, enroll, and serve students of any economic means. 75% of Chelsea students are publicly funded and 47% of private paying families receive financial aid from Chelsea School. Today, Chelsea School is proudly building a new history as a member of the greater Hyattsville community (since 2013) and is a comprehensive, specialized program for students with learning disabilities with an expectation of postsecondary readiness. Social skills/counseling services and advanced elective courses complement literacy remediation and core curriculum to move students towards graduation. Chelsea graduates pursue postsecondary opportunities with the tools they need for equitable participation in school and the workplace.