Cajal Academy puts the science behind body-brain connections at the heart of our program, through a whole new model for school—redefining what education can do

Three fundamental shifts in our understanding of how children learn, socialize and grow are at the heart of Cajal Academy’s groundbreaking program. Both are by now well-established in the scientific literature. Until now, neither has been operationalized in our schools.

1. The human brain is constantly rewiring itself to improve its ability to do the things we ask it to do (a principle called Neuroplasticity).

2. Each skill we learn builds on a neural foundation developed through the skills that you’ve learned before.

3. Connections between the body and the brain play a big a role in our learning and social-emotional experiences (both positively and negatively), just as our emotions do.

Putting these three core principles together, we’re unlocking children’s gifts through research-backed approaches that are proving successful at transforming learning disabilities like dyslexia, dyspraxia, language processing disorders and dyspraxia.

We re-examined all aspects of education and dug into the science of how children learn, socialize and grow—and then built a new model for empowering even very complex kids within a mainstream K-12 school

Cajal Academy’s program builds on the basics that are included within mainstream educational models and adds the missing link: the neuropsychology that explains how hidden connections between the body and brain influence our learning, social and emotional experiences — and how we can use that science to remediate learning disabilities and empower social-emotional growth.

We infuse these universal human truths throughout all aspects of the program, through sensory therapy to start each morning, movement in the classroom, neuroscience curriculum helping students understand how they can use these connections to their benefit and coaching in how to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate. We re-examined all aspects of education in view of these insights and developed a new model for education that aligns to what scientists know today about how kids learn, socialize and grow. Starting with the data in each child’s neuropsychological and neurophysio profile, we create individualized programs that combine traditional and Cajal-exclusive therapies to reduce any obstacles that stand in their way. We combine this with Growth Mindset and Agency Coaching, which accelerates student growth by helping them make connections between their complex profiles and how they influence their decisions in real time, integrating insights from across a child’s combined learning, social, emotional, neurophysio and medical conditions, and to find the courage to try things that have previously been difficult.

Use the links below to learn more about these key aspects of our program, or scroll down to learn more about how kids experience this day to day.

What started as one mom’s determination to ensure that bright and gifted kids in Connecticut and Westchester County have access to a school with the opportunities and supports they need turned into a whole new model for schools that modernizes education to match current neuroscientific research. Here’s what this looks like day-to-day for the kids enrolled at Cajal: