A Therapeutic Day School in Cummington, Massachusetts
Rolling Admissions for Students Entering Grades 9-12. Scholarships Available.
Applying to be a Student
at the J.S. Bryant School
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The admissions process is outlined below. Please begin by filling out the School Interest Form. When we receive your form, our Director of Admissions will schedule an initial informational call to answer your questions and begin to determine together if the J.S. Bryant School is right for your child. Throughout the process, we will work with you in a timely manner to conduct an interview, schedule a visit, review your application, make an assessment, offer feedback, and communicate our decision. This is the school calendar.
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When we receive your School Interest Form, our Director of Admissions will contact you to set up an informational phone call.
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Complete the Application for Admission (We recommend you download the PDF file, fill it out on your computer, and email it back to us as an attachment.)
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If you anticipate enrollment with private pay and would like to apply for a need-based scholarship, submit a Scholarship Application Form (by April 25th for best consideration).
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Admissions decisions will be made and communicated to families in a timely manner
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When the school is fully enrolled, we will maintain a waiting list for accepted students
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Accepted applicants confirm their intention to attend by signing an acceptance letter and sending in a deposit
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Choosing a therapeutic school designed to meet the needs of your LGBTQIA+ child is a significant investment in your child’s future. Therapeutic schools offer a safe environment in which integrated, real-time, individualized services throughout the school day provide the social emotional and mental health support and education that students need to improve their wellness and learning.
Tuition, Insurance, Funding, and Placement
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Tuition: Private pay tuition for the J.S. Bryant School is $63,500. As a comparison, the average cost of a therapeutic day school (with 212 school days) in Massachusetts is over $100,000. (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/special-education-tuition-pricing-details).
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Insurance: We can provide “superbills” that you will be able to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement for mental health care. However, we do not expect the regular tuition to be covered by insurance.​
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Scholarships: Partial need-based scholarships are available from our generous donors. Use the Scholarship Application above to apply.
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Funding: The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) lists potential funding sources at https://natsap.org/financial-options/
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Referral Placement: If a student is placed at the J.S. Bryant School through the IEP educational placement process (see below), tuition is covered by the student's home district.
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Referral Placement
Students with IEPs whose social emotional and mental health needs require a therapeutic day school placement can be referred to the J.S. Bryant School through their home district’s IEP review process.
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Here's what you need to know: We are approved to run as a private school by the Central Berkshire Regional School District. We are in the process of seeking "approved special education program" status from the State. For now, our designation is an "unapproved special education program." Public school systems have the option of placing students in an "unapproved" program when a similar "approved" program does not exist.
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Public school students who are placed at the J.S. Bryant School will have tuition covered by the student's home district.
Alex Tinari (she/they)
Director of Admissions / Harbinger of Hope
A member of the queer community, Alex (she/they) has advocated for LGBTQIA+ rights, championed alternative therapeutic communities, and mentored teens for three decades. Alex ran the first queer youth group in Berkshire County and was a team leader and residential advisor at Gould Farm. As a teacher and consultant, Alex cooperatively designed and implemented homeschool curricula and individualized instructional plans for those with learning differences and served as a liaison between families and schools throughout western MA.
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Alex has been a dedicated volunteer at the J.S. Bryant School where her contributions extended from grounds clean-up to working on the curriculum framework. She believes the School is an extraordinary and healing place. Her current position as Admissions Outreach (and Harbinger of Hope) allows her to engage her passion for meeting need with opportunity. She is excited to be the first contact for families and students as they consider a future at the J.S. Bryant School, where students can be their most authentic selves.
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Alex lives in neighboring Plainfield with her partner, her partner’s teens, and a menagerie of farm animals. She is happiest when discovery guides her steps, when she’s outdoors, and when interacting with kind and thoughtful people.