Greenburgh Academy Highlights

Why Greenburgh Academy?

GA Program Overview

The academic program at Greenburgh Academy (GA) prepares students for Regents Diplomas as a result or a local diploma with an opportunity to achieve an additional career development credential through exposure to the CDOS Curriculum. The New York State Learning Standards in the seven content areas guide the GA curriculum. As a result, students are prepared to successfully pass the Regents examinations. Academic Intervention Services (AIS) are offered to improve reading and math skills as well as a means of providing needed preparation for NYS Regents examinations. All classes across curriculum areas have a maximum of eight students, one teacher, and one teacher assistant (8:1:1). 

Several opportunities are offered to students to earn Advanced Placement (AP) credit and visual and performing arts experience within the community 

GA is committed to preparing students for post-secondary placements that include college, vocational training, armed services, and/or employment. A variety of vocational training opportunities and internships are available at GA including WCC (Culinary, Direct Service Provider/Medical, Hospitality)  


Program Details

Class ratios: 8:1:1

Classifications: ED, OHI, LD, SI, Multiple Disabilities (MD)

Student profile: Emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges, school avoidance, and/or trauma history; unable to find success in traditional education settings; Grade 8 through age 21; male & female students

Offerings: Advanced Regents, Regents and Local Diploma, Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Credential, School and Community Based Work Experiences, AP Art & Pre AP Music classes, Chemistry, Jazz Band, Credit Recovery, Athletics, Inclusive Higher Education on Westchester Community College Campus.

Special Education Services: Special classes with dually certified content area teachers, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Horse Therapy, Dog Therapy, Social Work, and Individual/Group Counseling. Staff are trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Social Skills Training, Animal Assisted Therapy, Restorative Justice, and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

International Travel

Greenburgh North Castle International travel is organized by GNC clinical staff. The most deserving students are chosen and will have the opportunity to travel outside the U.S to different countries for five days, accompanied by staff.

The trip is funded with student contributions and some fundraising. The students never have to contribute no more than $395 for the entire trip which includes food, flights, shelter and tours. Fundraising is set up through a "GoFundMe" account. With the help from staff members, the account is passed around amongst family and friends for donations.

AP Courses

Greenburgh offers AP and Pre - AP (Advance Placement) courses in the following electives, music and art.

AP and Pre-AP Studio Art:

The AP Studio Art course is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. The course emphasizes making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision-making. AP Studio Art through the College Board is not based on a written exams; instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation.

Pre - AP Music:

Advanced students will concentrate on techniques such as pull off, hammer on, slide, bend, shift to different frets effortlessly and lastly to build a diverse repertoire of fast, medium, and slow tunes. In class recitals and school assembly are the platforms used to assess the students' progress. This class is divided into many levels from beginning (guitar & bass I) to intermediate level II. Advanced students will be permitted to register for the level II section. They will be a source of inspiration and motivation for the less skilled players. Self-assessment is vital to this class, done via recording, feedback from classmates and the music teacher.

Horse Therapy

The students leave campus once a week for horse therapy at “Pegasus Therapeutic Equestrian Center” located in Brewster, NY.

Greenburgh Academy Students participate in the Therapeutic Horsemanship Program:  this program integrates equine-human interaction while providing opportunities to teach critical life skills such as; trust, respect, honesty and communication.

The program is ground-based and no riding is involved. Students learn to make connections with the horses, learn techniques for grooming, putting on halters and leading the horses. Intake Information about caring for horses and recognize communication signals in horse behavior.

Dog Therapy

Canine-assisted  happens on campus at GA all year round. GA is partnered with Giving Retrievers, an organization which trains service dogs and pairs them with families with special needs. Each week, dogs and their handlers come to campus and hold small group sessions in collaboration with school clinicians and speech pathologists.

Our GA students are able to learn and practice valuable skills in assistance dog training and receive the therapeutic benefits of spending time with the dogs.

Research has shown many ways that canine-assisted therapy can benefit students. Incorporating dogs in therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of ADHD, support social skills in children with ASD, and lower stress levels in people with and without disabilities. Our students love working with the dogs!