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Transformative Learning

An immersive experience builds confidence

We champion a holistic, immersive approach at The Southport School. Our teachers seamlessly integrate literacy and study strategies across all subjects from math and social studies to art and science. Rooted in a deep understanding of each student's learning profile, our approach ensures access to advanced content while expanding foundational skills.

In place of a one-size-fits-all philosophy, we focus on understanding how each student learns best. Our expertly skilled faculty employs scientific tools to develop literacy and executive function strategies tailored to each learner's individual needs. This individualized approach sets students up for success in and out of the classroom.

Shared experiences create belonging

Every teaching moment at TSS allows students to discover how their brains work. In small group settings, students receive individualized instruction surrounded by peers facing similar reading, comprehension, and executive function challenges. Here, there are no modified programs and students are not pulled out of class. Our students learn together, which helps create a sense of belonging and community and can spark confidence and joy!

A curriculum designed to challenge & engage

Unlike typical literacy curriculums that assume reading skills will develop naturally through exposure to books, our Structured Literacy program breaks the reading process into small, concrete steps that build foundational reading skills. Fundamental to our curriculum is the Orton Gillingham Approach which outlines multisensory, diagnostic, sequential, and explicit instructions that break reading and spelling down into smaller skills while explaining the how and why of phonics. Our curriculum also utilizes The Lindamood-Bell Verbalizing and Visualizing Method®, an internationally acclaimed program that develops the ability to visualize imagery based on language that promotes comprehension and critical thinking. The Writing Revolution, which advances thinking through writing while developing written expression skills and The Southport School's proprietary research and evidence-based executive function coaching model, both are woven throughout the curriculum to further independence and self advocacy.

Into every classroom and every co-curricular activity, our expert faculty integrate literacy and executive function strategies that are grounded in scientific and educational research. Each TSS student has the following academic programming every day.

        “I am enthusiastic and optimistic about the challenges and opportunities for cerebrodiverse learners of all ages. I am confident that as a community when we follow the science, we will positively impact ALL children – not just the nearly 1 in 5 who have learning and attention issues.”

- Dr. Benjamin N. Powers

Academic programming

Our expert faculty empowers learners

At The Southport School, our world-class faculty meets students where they are. All classroom teachers are trained in Orton-Gillingham, the best evidence-based approach for remediating students with language-based learning differences like dyslexia as well as The Southport School's proprietary research and evidence-based executive functioning skills, which go beyond planning and organizing. Additionally, teachers and administrators are trained in Lindamood Bell's Visualizing and Verbalizing® method, an internationally acclaimed program for language comprehension. 

Professional development is a priority at TSS. Our teachers undergo extensive in-house training before stepping into classrooms, then receive weekly professional training from regional and national experts while benefiting from continuous mentorship.

With a firm mindset that they must reach each student and then deliver the best research and evidence-based instruction possible to help them succeed, our teachers develop concrete strategies to extract, analyze, and guide each student to their full potential.