Forman School

12 Norfolk Rd

Litchfield, CT 06759

18 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 01, 2023

My son graduated from Forman in 2022 and finished his first year of college in May of 2023 and had an outstanding first year at college. He literally just told me 10 minutes ago he is excited to start his sophomore year. I can't believe he sid this to me this is a kid who hated school most of his school career that is until he went to Forman. I literally dropped him at Forman in August of 020 (peak covid time) and when I pi ked him up in November for Thanksgiving I had a different child! They gave him the confidence and tools he need to succeed in college. Thank you Forman!
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2020

Forman is an absolute game-changer. My daughter is a happier person because of the support and style of the school.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2018

Excellent. Has changed my daughter's life for the better and she views herself with a future she never before imagined.
Submitted by student on May 03, 2018

it has been a stuggel acedemicly but over all very good to say the least .
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2018

We are so thrilled that we found Forman. It has certainly been a game changer for my son. He came in as a rising Junior full of self doubt about his future and capabilities, and will graduate in a few months as a Senior who has been accepted by an excellent selection of quality colleges. He "found" his learning style with the help of the caring, talented educators at Forman. This DID NOT happen at his large public (highly rated) high school. Socially, he "found" his voice and "his people". If you have a child who struggles due to learning differences, please give Forman a look. They KNOW what they're doing, and do it well.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2017

This is my daughter’s third year at Forman and she is now a senior. When she first left for boarding school, we were worried that she was too disorganized to live away from home, both in her school work/executive functioning and in her physical surroundings. When she came home halfway through her first year with a color coded calendar on her phone – which she was updating and using! – I had one of many THANK YOU FORMAN moments. The following year, her room at school was so neat that it was used as a sample room for the admissions office tour guides to show to prospective families viewing the Forman dorms. Wow.However, the outstanding characteristic of the Forman experience starts with the academics. The faculty and administrators and dorm parents are an incredibly talented and dedicated group. They truly want to understand not just each child’s learning differences, but what makes them tick, and then they structure the teaching to fit those needs. They are also available at all hours to help with a variety of teenage troubles, from personal problems to the significant adjustment of being away from home. I have seen several examples of faculty and staff going far out of their way to help, including on evenings and weekends.Forman provides a safe, nurturing environment, while at the same time requiring the students to follow rules, be responsible, and have a daily campus job (brief). In my experience, that combination produces a positive atmosphere, inspires confidence and kindness toward others, and fosters a sense of community. They are compassionate and understanding of learning and emotional differences, encourage exploration of interests (academic and otherwise), yet absolutely do not tolerate (happily so) serious infractions of the rules that would harm oneself or others. My daughter struggled academically in a regular education setting, yet is extremely well behaved, so we had concerns about finding a school that could address her academic needs in a non-disruptive environment. Forman fits the bill. In short, I feel like my daughter is in extremely good hands.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2017

Both of my daughters attended Forman and are now doing great. I can not say enough good things about what Forman has done for them. They have very different learning styles from each other, and Forman was able to help them understand exactly what they need to help themselves learn. My oldest was at Forman as a Jr. and Sr. She is now a Sophomore in college that has a special program which includes tutors (not peers, but trained teachers, for tutors) and is very successful--she made the President's List last semester! She has learned how to learn, what she needs to learn, and how much work takes for her to show that she has learned (get good grades)! My youngest was only able to attend Forman as a Freshman as our personal situation changed and we could no longer afford it. But what she learned at Forman in only one year has helped her be successful in a large public high school that has 3,000 students. She is now a Jr. in high school, and is organized with her school work, sticks to an evening schedule to get her work completed, and knows how to advocate for herself at school, being persistent until she gets what she needs to learn the material. No doubt we miss Forman and wish she could have been there for her entire high school years, but even one year at Forman has made a big difference for her. She even continues to do her own laundry!
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2016

My daughter (moderately dyslexic with severe ADD) came to Forman lacking confidence in herself. Watching her over the past three years, I have seen the effect a competent administration, a devoted faculty, and a group of true peers have had in fostering positive thinking, self-respect, and self-esteem - not only in my child, but in her school friends as well. Her standardized test scores for college were solid, (33 on the ACT, and 1430 on the SAT), so I know Forman is covering the bases academically. No school is perfect, but I believe this one provides an excellent environment for bright kids with learning disabilities.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2016

Rather than labeling its students and focusing on negatives, Forman School ‘rolls up its sleeves’ and immediately gets to work understanding how your child learns. It provides a positive environment in which your child’s strengths are reinforced, where he or she is encouraged to explore new interests and athletic options, and is given the opportunity to make friends with peers who know what it is like to struggle in school. Forman School has delivered on its promise to provide a safe, positive, uplifting educational setting for our son. In turn he is asked to show responsibility and effort in his studies and to be a contributing member of the Forman community. For this, we are thankful. We highly recommend this school as an option to consider for your bright, talented ‘different learner’.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2016

The thought of sending our son to the public high school conjured up feelings of anxiety, doubt, frustration and dread. And that is just as his parents. Harris was in an environment where he wasn’t allowed to ask questions, as it took up too much class time. He’d come home to do his homework and fall into a puddle of tears and frustration. If he couldn’t ask questions - how could he complete the assignments? He felt defeated, demeaned and dumb. There had to be another way.Enter Forman. From day one Harris dove in and started getting A’s on his work. When we asked what he thought the change was due to he said “They teach like I learn.” We are finishing the first year at Forman and it has been transformative. For the first time, Harris feels proud of himself and his accomplishments. Academically and socially, he has matured and feels comfortable in his own skin. He is truly happy. What more can a parent ask for?Forman is a gift that we were able to give our son. It changed his life and we will be forever grateful to the amazing teachers, advisors and mentors at the school. His future is bright and full of promise. Sending Harris to Forman was the best decision we ever made!
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2016

When looking for a school for my son, I wanted to match his learning style. It was important to me that he had no ceiling. Forman students are in an environment that fosters hard work in a safe haven so they need not be apprehensive about what skill level they are at but can focus on the level they strive for. With the longer class times and they technology infused in every classroom it was evident this was the perfect match.From the administration to the faculty I have found a group of people so dedicated to the education of my son. Always willing to be there and able to push further to make him a more efficient, confident learner.I look forward to watching my son grow as he goes through Forman. A a parent you worry that you are missing the day to day growth, but you don't. Instead you are welcomed on campus as you are also a member of the Forman family. Forman is the best decision this family has made.
Submitted by other on December 18, 2015

I am honestly proud to say that I am a Forman Alumna. Forman is a place the whole community can call home. With the size being so small and the people being so warm and motivating it’s very hard to fail. Forman is a place that brings light to many lives and transforms you into a person you never imagined you could be. I really struggled with my academics before I went to Forman and the teachers gave me the confidence and time to succeed. There is nothing better than feeling proud of where you came from and I can truly say I’m proud of Forman.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2015

My son is a junior who arrived as a sophomore after one year at a rigorous high school where he struggled mightily in the classroom. At Forman, the combination of progressive teaching methods and less piling on of homework meant he learned more content and developed greater skills specific to academic and other settings with less stress. As a result, his intellectual confidence has grown and he finds himself interested in more topics than previously. Also, the school's small size means he has participated with greater intensity and at higher levels in extra-curricular activities - with all their attendant benefits - than had been the case at his previous school . In short, he has grown at Forman at ways that have frankly astonished us. It's not a perfect school - we agree with him that some of the rules distract from what we see as primary purposes of schools, and there are inherent social limitations in a school of this size - but perfect schools don't exist. Forman faculty are breathtakingly dedicated to knowing and teaching well their students, and the young men and women who graduate appear to us far better prepared than they otherwise would have been for the academic and social independence of college. We know our son will be.
Submitted by other on December 14, 2015

We are so grateful that our son has had the opportunity to attend Forman. The teachers there understand learning differences and encourage students to do their best. My son's self esteem has flourished as he focuses on the classes that really interest him. He has made a great group of friends and enjoys playing on the sports teams. Without schools like Forman, many children would never get the fair chance they deserve to succeed.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2015

My son is a junior, and this is his third year at Forman. He has had reading comprehension issues and has never loved school. It's been incredible to hear him say how much he enjoys his classes and his teachers. When he did well after his first year, they recommended him for honors classes, and he is now challenged but not overwhelmed. Athletically, he is a three-sport athlete and has seen success he probably wouldn't have at his older, larger, more competitive school. Thank you Forman!
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2014

The Forman School Selecting a Boarding high school for our daughter was one of the most important decisions we have made as a parent. I enthusiastically can state, without any reervation, that sending our daughter to Forman was the single best decision we have made that has totally changed our daughter's life. At Forman, our daughter was engaged by professionals that really "get it" as to how to teach college prep teenagers who have struggled with learning differences. Forman has totally empowered my daughter with self esteem, academic achievement, self-advocacy and personal growth. . The small class size and personal advisors enabled teachers and admisintrators to track students progress so as to not allow any student to "fall through the cracks". Forman has changed our daughter's lfe by preparing her for college and the outside world. We are proud for our daughter's personal acheivments, both academically and as a Prefect, Student ambassador, a member of the theater group and the equestrian team. Our family is grateful for the opportunity provided by Forman. She is on her way to pursue her career goals at college. Foramn is an extraordinary school and we highly recommend it.
Submitted by student on December 09, 2013

Forman was a transformative experience for me, both in terms of my education and my personal development. Also, Forman's small size, quaint campus and close-nit community made warming up to a new place and people almost effortless. Before attending Forman, I was a struggling student who hated school because it reminded me how unsuccessful I was at something that my friends found relatively easy. Forman, and more specifically tutor and teachers, showed me that school could be fun and fulfilling. Thanks to my tutor, teachers and friends, I embraced my learning difference, learned strategies to compensate, and fueled my academic strength (math). On the social and extracurricular side of things, Forman's open and supportive community enabled me to flourish where I once felt alienated. I went from being a shy, self-conscious and overweight kid on day one to a outgoing, confident and healthy man at graduation. During my time at Forman, I had the honor of serving as a Job Leader my sophomore year, a Dorm Leader my junior year and All-School President my senior year. I recommend Forman without hesitation, and would be happy to answer any questions from prospective students and parents.
Submitted by other on May 25, 2013

Forman was founded in the 1930's to educate students who "learned differently". The school has gone through may transitions, but has remained a school whose mission is to meet the needs of students with learning differences. The faculty are supportive, and work harder by far than teachers in most other schools. Forman has the makings of great school but is not there yet, due in no small part to an inability to identify, hire, and retain progressive, and capable administrators who support both the faculty and the student body. The faculty is excellent, the administration well below average.