We set aside traditional expectations for how things are done at school and re-engineered it from the bottom up, using what neuroscientists know today about how the brain can change over time to better perform a given skill, how we can use connections between the body and the brain to re-regulate ourselves and how we can bring these things together to propel academic and personal growth. The result is a very different day to day experience, with morning reconnection through sensory activities, movement integrated into the classroom to accelerate academic learning, coaching in how to develop one’s own growth mindset and skills for learning how to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate for even the most complex neurophysiologic and learning needs. Highly-individualized programs come together through project-based learning, helping students learn how to engage deeply even when the topic of learning is outside their own personal interest areas: a critical skill for college and beyond. Attend an Information Session & Tour to come learn about what the day-to-day looks like at Cajal and whether it might be a good fit for your child.
Our students master Connecticut state curriculum standards through a problem-based approach that helps students discover their purpose and turn their insights into action
Our academic program delivers Connecticut state curriculum standards, and goes beyond that to give kids who have meaningfully unique ways of seeing things the skills they’ll need to turn those perspectives into thought-leadership.
We do this through a multi-disciplinary approach to project-based learning that helps students develop their vision of the changes they’d like to help create in the world; the critical thinking skills that give them original insights into how to solve those problems; and the executive function skills needed to turn those insights into action.
Our students learn state curriculum standards within ability-based classes, and then collaborate with one another to solve real world problems that require them to master and then integrate curriculum across math, science, social studies and language arts, and then to create a novel solution manifesting that learning.
Each project provides purposeful learning that prepares students for rigorous college curricula while helping them discover and experience an array of potential careers. Executive function, social skills and growth mindset coaching and support are integrated into each project and into the classroom itself, giving students the tools they need to experience their strengths.
Over the years, our students have done amazing things through this process, like a short film urging regulatory change to save the declining horseshoe crab population in the Long Island Sound; 3-dimensional, scaled architectural models of imagined democratic communities in the midst of feudal, 13th century Europe; proposals for new superhero characters for Marvel Comics; and designs for a portfolio of mobile apps sparking a revolution for climate change.
No ceiling learning
As parents of gifted students ourselves, we know how essential it is for gifted kids to have outlets and opportunities to push to the edges of their ideas, creativity and problem-solving, further developing their critical thinking skills. Our approach to project-based learning provides the flexible products and responsibilities to discover and develop their strengths, while giving them exposure to real world problems that help them identify their purpose.
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Immediate, Summer & Fall Placements; Rolling Admissions
We prepare complex, gifted learners to thrive in college & beyond
We’ve brought the best parts of “gifted” education principles together with state-of-the-science interventions remediating learning differences and empowering kids
At the core of our innovative educational model is a school tailored to the needs of gifts who have strong analytical reasoning and/or creative thinking skills: no ceiling, project-based learning; small class sizes with close teacher relationships, and the challenge kids need to develop these gifts further.
All of this happens within a ground-breaking educational model developed by experts in how children learn, socialize and grow that harnesses the power of modern neuroscience advances to remediate—not just accommodate—differences in learning, executive function and social-emotional functioning. Each student’s program at Cajal is customized using the data in their neuropsychological and neurophysiological profiles, but they all learn and grow as part of one unified community. Here are some of the elements they have in common; scroll down to find out more about how we customize this approach to move each child forward.
Small Class Sizes, & Close Teacher Relationships
K-12 Community: Mentors, & Leadership Opportunities
No Ceiling, Project-Based Learning
Expertise for Complex Learners
Ability-based Classes
Social-Emotional Learning Integrated Into the Classroom
Preparation to Thrive in College, & Admissions Support
Integrated Executive Function Support
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