Everything that was recently said about VVS is mostly true - things are moving around a LOT right now and removing the head of school (for performance), without having a replacement was extremely poor planning. It is a tiny 30-40 boy school with a shoestring budget. Our son calls all the time, he is a talker and tells every detail. He has hardly mentioned the disruption at the top effecting his day-to-day life. All of that said, This school has changed our entire family's life. Our son arrived 18 months ago and the love, care, consistency is exactly what our spectrum son needed. Our marriage was so strained, his sister was afraid of him, and he was getting bigger everyday. He hated the things he did and the remorse was overwhelming and the the cycle would start again. We all began to lose our own ground as we slowly went from thriving to barely surviving. VVS has been a miracle. When he first got there, we had talk about behavior incidents - small but constant. Last night he called to tell us about a 100% on a quiz and his golf score, the soccer game he played in and the pickle tournament coming up. This is a wonderful place for boys. It is gentle but holds these boys accountable for absolutely everything. They reshape thes boys in to young men who graduate with confidence, achievement and so much emotional intelligence. If they are open and let the school mold them, they can handle the world far beyond any of their peers entering high school. read more

As a parent, I would ask a lot of questions before choosing Valley View School. From my experience working there, there were significant issues with communication, consistency, staffing, and leadership. What is presented to families and what happens behind the scenes can be very different. I would strongly recommend doing your homework and speaking with current or former employees before enrolling your child. read more

Before I start I want the reader to know that I was a troubled young man who absolutely made progress at this school even though some events that happened to me are probably illegal now. These events happened 40+ years ago. I was adopted (as a baby, my adoptive parents were all I knew). So being institutionalized from them stung quite a bit. I remember being angry and confused during my first day. I had a moment so I snuck behind a shed (music and wood shop) to have a cigarette. 5 minutes in a large bald man showed up and told me to put out my cigarette. After I put it out I had a few smartass words for the man. He grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the wall of the shed and said "You are here now!". That was day 1. I forgot this guys name, I do remember his brother taught guitar there. The next BIG thing that happened was, during my year I was having a bad day due to losing a privilege or something. I was walking by one of the Phils that ran the school. There was Phil Spiva and Phil (A-Hole). I was walking by Phil A. and again I'm sure I said something bad to him because he followed me into my "private" room then he shoved me onto my bed. He then got into my face and yelled "Your parents don't even want you anymore!" (Word for word). A very nice thing to say to a boy who was just rejected by his adoptive parents. Maybe I'm wrong for letting these past events affect me, maybe I should let it all go. So for whoever is running that place now, memories last a lifetime. Be careful of who you hire. Moving on read more

Suffering with ODD, ADHD, crippling anxiety, screen addiction and sucidal ideations, my son needed help...... Rick May and his experienced staff at Valley View provided my son with a positive, healthy and safe place to grow, mature and to even make mistakes. Mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. I was instantly comforted when I learned the majority of teachers/staff have been there for decades. This provided stability and time for genuine positive connection with teachers, coaches, therapists and support staff. They have seen it all and knew exactly what my son was capable of. We really felt they were in it for the long haul with my son and our family. Living without electronics at Valley View touched all aspects of my son's life. Social Life-For the first time, he was face to face with kids talking about stuff unrelated to gaming. He learned respect and tolerance of other kids and what they had experienced and where they came from. For the first time in his life he was making actual friends. My son now has the understanding of genuine friendship and knows what a good friend can do to enhance life. Academics-My son's usual tactics of classroom disruption and homework refusal were not tolerated. The teachers met him where he was and with their support his grades started to rise. He became proud and engaged in his academics which opened his mind to the future. I honestly don't think my son ever read a book before VW. Their reading program is fun and encouraging and it was incredible to watch his transformation into an avid reader. Sports/Leadership-Valley View has a full team sports program that kept him engaged and active. He learned the importance of sportsmanship and how to interact positively with kids of all skill levels. The coaches were kind knowledgeable and patient. He joined the basketball, soccer and tennis teams. The sports requirement is key and kept him moving and thinking about healthy choices. His second year, he worked hard to be in a leadership role on a successful basketball team! So fun to cheer them on! Overseas Travel-Incredible experience! My son traveled to Peru on an immersive community service trip and even hiked the Incan Trail. He has amazing memories of this special trip. Arts-Expressing feeling in the art room became a wonderful place of escape. He learned oil painting and worked on one piece for several months. He was so proud for it to be displayed in the art show-who knew he had this inside. Music-The cool and hip music teacher has a very welcoming program for all levels of experience and talent. It was such a surprise that he got my son to sing in the band- they really rocked the house for the graduation concert. Valley View is able to keep their focus on their students and the positive program because of the longevity and dedication of its long term teachers and staff members. They really figured out what made him tick and helped him to grown into his optimum best self. This is what sets Valley View apart from the rest of the pack and we are forever grateful. read more

Valley View School - Sport Teams are great! Amazing way to make friend and learn how to be a team mate! Coaches rock! - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - North Brookfield, Massachusetts

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Our son attended Valley View School for 9th and 10th grade, and it was truly life-changing for him and for our family. He arrived struggling socially and emotionally, but through the support of the incredible therapists, teachers, and staff, he experienced remarkable growth. The therapeutic team created a safe, structured environment- one of our son's favorite parts of Valley View was that there was always something to do and someone to do it with, whether it was playing sports or a board game, he stayed busy, engaged and active away from screens. Valley View helped him develop the tools he needed to thrive long term- practical tools he will need for the rest of his life. The therapeutic team didn't just address the surface-level behaviors- they saw and understood him in a way few others had, met him where he was, and helped him do the inner work necessary for real and lasting change. Valley View created the space he needed to thrive. Academically, he re-engaged with learning thanks to patient, passionate teachers who believed in him and offered the support he needed. He became the avid reader that they promised me he would. He built healthy friendships, learned emotional resilience, and grew into a confident, self-aware and capable young man. Valley View provides a therapeutic environment that's woven into every part of daily life. The campus job program helped our son develop a strong sense of responsibility and pride in his accomplishments. While the staff is warm and nurturing, they are also highly skilled at maintaining firm, consistent boundaries--something we had struggled with as parents. Our son, who was used to negotiating everything, learned to respect limits and function within a structured system. Under Valley View's guidance, he grew remarkably independent and confident in himself. The sports programs engaged our son every season, giving him a healthy outlet for his energy and a sense of teamwork and achievement. Weekend off-campus trips and on-campus activities were thoughtfully planned and consistently engaging, providing him with opportunities for fun, growth, and connection. As parents, we felt informed, supported, and included throughout our son's time at Valley View. We will always be grateful to Valley View for helping our son rediscover his potential and his path forward. It was bittersweet for our family to leave Valley View, but because of them, we know our son is ready for the next step. read more

I attended Valley View School from 1992 to 1994 & it was a great experience. I went straight to Emerson College from there and Valley View really prepared me for dorm life and College academics. The staff were some of the most decent human beings I've ever known and I look back fondly on those years. I recently visited & was very glad to see that it's still being run by excellent people, especially the Head of School, Dr. Thomas Nowak. read more

In February 2020 I agreed with the difficult decision made by my son-in-law to send my 12 year old grandson to a Wilderness Camp Program in Idaho. Diagnosed with ADHD when he was 6, suffering the loss of his mother when he was 8, my grandson had become angry, defiant, disrespectful of authority, and terribly conflicted. Although he went to school, he spent most of the day sitting outside of the classroom which he had disrupted multiple times, or not paying attention if he was present in the classroom. In addition, he was starting to act in ways that were dangerous to himself, like being photographed by his "friends" jumping on and off moving trucks on busy streets, posting the videos to TIK TOC. I have read many reports of unscrupulous educational consultants. We did not experience that. The Educational Consultant we used was wonderful; we were happy with her recommendation of the Wilderness Camp, and when she was able to procure a spot for my grandson at Valley View, we were happy with the choice. Now, a little over two years later, my grandson will be graduating from his program at Valley View, and I can't say enough good things about our experience. I assume there are very few, if any, boys who want to be at a restrictive boarding school away from home. My grandson was no exception. The supportive staff at Valley View worked its magic. Some words that come to mind: kindness, consistency, support, understanding, structure, accommodation, accountability, concern. At Valley View, my grandson's issues were addressed as they occurred - and there were many bumps in the road. Each situation was handled as a learning moment - the hallmark of the treatment was to reward good behaviors and deal with the difficult behaviors with reasonable and consistent punishments, meted out without the anger that often counterbalances the effectiveness of punishment. My grandson was held accountable for his actions - and was reminded to be respectful of himself and others, to be self-reflective, and to understand that words are important, and can deeply hurt and affect others. When it became clear that my grandson would benefit from outside help in addition to the clinicians at Valley View, that help was made available. There are still bumps in the road, but my grandson has learned self-control and reflection. The bumps have become more manageable, and my grandson will now often apologize - a reflection of his embrace of accountability. Coming to the end of his time at Valley View does not signal the end of my grandson's struggles. But he has come a very long way. He has learned a great deal and grown tremendously, and I am extremely grateful to Valley View for providing a new start and the promise of continued success as my grandson looks forward to the next step in his journey. read more

I was a student at the school in 2000 2003 was harassed bullied beat up on by other students. Teacher would allow it to happen. They would allow me to get assaulted. They would allow me to get beat up and the funny thing about this school is I would not recommend it to anybody with autism Aspergers or anything most of the reviews that you're seeing or not from students they're actually from parents, who believe that they are kids have gotten better from it. You know what I went to the school. The only positive thing was leaving. It was not an easy child to deal with this school was the therapeutic aspect of the school was one of the biggest jokes I've ever seen in my life they were using kids like slaves and child labor protect against school. This is one of the worst schools I've ever went to in my life from having to shovel snow. They have to go to study hall and and and and be put in a special study hall. This school is one of the worst places I've ever ever been in my life I've been to many many many therapeutic schools. I was bullied by staff. I was called all kinds of names by the staff. The teachers were harassed me. I did go to Vietnam Cambodia before I graduated which school would often take trips. There was one individual who I won't name, but you know who you are if you see this review, you harassed me in one time you asked me if I have something in between my legs inside of the kitchen also and the staff said to me do you have a dick in between your legs to me? They were inappropriate the school allowed people to also talk badly about me. I had several runs after leaving the school with several different staff calling my parents saying that I was "" making comments to other students and calling there at 3 o'clock in the morning and saying things to people you know, let me tell you something about Valleyview school as Marin ethics are not great. The way that it runs is not good. This is one of the worst schools back then and I was a student you could get into the school for $52,000 now I hear it's over 100,000 they say it's a nonprofit it is for profit they're lying from the crappy computer lab to the crappy dorms to the crappy gymnasium that they had there was only one positive thing about the school basketball, which I use for therapy. I would go on to play in high school after leaving the school and becoming very very good at what I did I was being looked at on a college level, but refused to play due to my back going out school taught me that individuals problems need to get as far away from the school as possible they push you to graduate. The academic program was a joke at the time I wasn't doing very well in school. I'll tell you something after I left the school after three years the worst experience of my life I would soon become one of the easiest going people. The school taught me one thing never trust anyone , the school is director phil spiva who was the founder of this school from a guy named Scott who used to beat the hell out of me there was something called hip when they would make you walk around with a staff all day humiliation to anything else that would go on at this school. This is one of the worst places if you wanna get beat up and you wanna get forced to work as a trial labor at a school this is not a therapeutic school. This is a hell hole I was harassed for many many years I was there and you know something after you leave the school you regret one thing ever going there I didn't have a choice when I when I was only 12 years old I graduated. I was about to turn 13, I had a very difficult relationship with my family I was sent to the school cause I got kicked out of another one. I would never recommend valet school to anybody if you wanna get beat up hurt harassed or anything parents please read this before you send your kids to this school, this is something that needs to be said this is going back over 24 years ago. The last time I was up there 21 years ago or whatever it is one of the worst experiences I've ever had and I've been in abusive schools before where I've been inappropriately beat up on and I'll tell you something if any educational consult and recommend the school walk away from my educational consultant recommended this school. I have never spoken to her since then , the people that go to school the kids here are highly troubled behavior academically, psychologically I am none of those things. I wish I did the school and it is one of the worst places I've ever ever been in my life worst school in the country for therapeutic school, who the hell wants to go to school with all boys I think the owner of the school whoever found it like I said founded it for a reason. I can't go any farther than beware of the school and beware of the people who run it because I had several run-ins after leaving the school while being there as well with some of the people better academically in charge of some of the people who are in charge of the night program beware read more

I am the mother of a current student at the school. We have had quite the journey to find a school that is not abusive and productive for his needs. My son had attended 5 other therapeutic boarding schools prior to his start at Valley View. Many, if not all had an element of emotional or physical abuse. The industry is corrupt in so many ways, from the educational consultants who get financial kickbacks to the money-hungry owners of the for-profit schools, it really is difficult for a desperate parent to weed through the BS and find a school that actually cares about your child. VVS sets itself apart by being a not-for-profit school thus not driven by financial gain. They have proved to our family that there schools available that are truly child-centered. From the start, the school believed in my son. He wasn't just another "bad kid". Upon his arrival, he was in fact probably one of the most challenging kids at the school, but they trusted the process and supported him through it. Throughout his 1.5 years there he has grown into the young man that I could always see. The school started with getting his medicine correct. Because they have a full-time nurse they were able to monitor his behavior and report it back to the psychiatrist. They would make small adjustments to the dosage and time administered to give him the best opportunity to succeed. This then allowed his brain the opportunity to use the tools they were teaching him at VVS. I think one of the biggest differences between VVS and other therapeutic schools would be that they allow the boys to still be kids. The environment is less clinical and more supportive. It functions much like a regular boarding school with the support that kids like my son need. They have clubs, outings, and social opportunities to allow him to mature in a more natural type of environment. The staff has been so supportive of my son, so much so that his advisor takes him and other students fishing at a lake by his home and to have dinner with his family after. They interact with him much like a family member would, making him feel included all while being away from us. My son has gone from being kicked out of over 7 schools to being elected onto student council, on the honor roll, and even the school librarian; a position they created for him seeing what his strengths are. That is just what you get at VVS, they look for the good in your child and create opportunities for them to excel in that area. I can not thank them enough for the transformation they have allowed my son to make. I want to speak a bit about the negative reviews that can be found for Valley View. From what I have seen in our many years of therapeutic settings, you are dealing with students and sometimes parents with mental health needs. Often times disgruntled students that did not succeed in the program can interpret their experience as abusive. Other times they are angry that their parents "sent them away" and feel they need to seek revenge on the school. From our experience, when my son has had an issue with the staff he will let me know over the phone or facetime call. Often times when he and I talk through it we discover that he was interpreting their actions or words out of context...which is part of the reason many of the boys are there in the first place. There have been a few times that I did feel the need to bring it up with his advisor. Every time I addressed it with the lead staff, the issue has been addressed and resolved. My son has learned a lot from that process actually. He learned how to address things that make you uncomfortable, be heard, and the issue resolved. My last point I want to touch on is the price. This is a self-pay school, for most, insurance will not cover any part of it. This was the case for us. It is a huge financial investment. We have chosen to prioritize our son's future and are so happy we did. We went from being concerned that he'd ever been able to live on his own, to looking for top universities after graduation. Valley View School has given my son a chance at the life he deserves and for that, we will be forever grateful! read more

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Ok: This is gonna be...strange for Me. I was here from the age of 11 to 13 and a half. From 1979 to 1981. This makes My story quite a bit older, but from what I've read from almost every student review here, most things have not changed. When I arrived I was a deeply troubled kid, no doubt. I'd been kicked out of two schools for being disruptive and at the last one, I pulled a blade on a kid whose offense had been to lose My baseball. Yeah, not a shining example from Me. My home life was that of a mentally abusive mother in one home and a father with a heavy addiction in the other, with Me being used as a messenger service between them. My Mom would lock Me in the attic, My dad was always out of control. So yes I acted out in school. I went with My Dad to V.V.S. in late 1979 on a tour of two schools that a child shrink had sent Us to. The first, Devero i think it was called, left Me alone with older kids who hung Me from the back of My belt to a hook in the roof of a building, leaving Me there, so I chose to go to V.V.S. Myself because the place was quiet and not made entirely from concrete brick, it looked great! there were something like 40 acres owned by the school at that time and they spoke of trips to Europe and field trips to local parks. Skiing and hiking and overnights, oh my! That was enough to get Me to tell My dad to sign Me up! I was looking for a new start where I felt people wouldn't know Me and judge Me as the failure I already felt I was. On arrival I saw looking at all the kids at dinner, that I was the smallest kid there, tho' not the youngest. The kids were from all over the country but mostly east coast. My first roomie was a vet of a few years there and really nice to a kid with homesickness right away. But other kids were out of control and violent. This was not checked in any way in advance. In the first month I saw only punishments as I earned points to get on the good kids end of week list. The write ups were notorious for going to older vets of the school, You had to earn the littlest things, and You worked for money You could spend in the outer world. I got there eventually. But to keep this from being a book: I saw sexual abuse from student to student. I was the victim of it as well from a roommate that I had starting late in My first year. There were three of Us to a room, and two of Us were made to fight each other for the thirds pleasure. He sexually abused Us both. We both told on him to the staff who told us to quit bitching and "be a man". Another kid being picked on by this guy the next year hit him with a fluke punch that tore his nose OFF the front of his face!, it was hanging by a bit of skin and fat(?). It was stitched back on. That same year, they were giving us different mood alt' drugs and experimental levels of Ritalin. After woodshop one day another student, high as a kite decided I needed to die. I lunged at my neck with a sharp wooden shop class shiv. I ducked my chin in a lucky move, it only slammed into my teeth and chin, creating a trident scar I still have and hairline fracture to My jaw. The next, My last year, was worse. in the fall We had to rake all the leaves We could into a single pile under the nine foot tall wall above the basketball court. Kids started daring each other to jump into the leaf pile, harmless fun yeah? Until one hyperactive six foot tall upper schooler grabbed Me by the scruff of the neck and a leg, putting Me over his head and threw Me off. I fell some 19/19 feet THRU the leaves onto the hard rock ground underneath, I broke My arm in two places and My back was horribly messed up. We had the arm set in a cast and NEVER treated the back injuries. I set chiropratics smiles to kill when they see Me coming. The staff never seemed to be able to solve any problems, some of the teachers tried but they never lasted long, as they were newly minted teachers on their first jobs out of school themselves. I was beaten up more times then I could count. I was nearly raped by My roomate over the course of more then a year I was made to room with him. Kids dissapeared (they may have left, but We never would know) some ran away. Honorary Doctors Bland, Spiva and Scwab were usless, two of them hardly were ever seen outside their offices while Scwab boated of being ex-hitler youth! No joke, he was the shrink! I constantly cried to My mom and dad to bring Me home but niether of them thought what I was saying was real until My mother saw Mr in My underwear covered in bruises. My father got sober while I was in the school and realized one of the living amends he could do was to take Me into his home and away from the hell that was this academy. I'm 51 now and I still shivered when I found this revue page. I left the school after going thru puberty there, do You think I learned any life skills, oh no Life has been hard but I'm happy now. No thanks to VVS. read more

I attended Valley View School in the midst of eighth grade. I was a disaster at the time, changing schools frequently due to my horrible behavior. I've never had boundaries in my life, let alone consequences. I didn't know how to make my bed or clip my nails. When I first came at Valley View School, I was all over the place, disrupting classrooms, causing commotion after school, and being extremely disobedient. I was unaccustomed to the rigid rules and structure. It took some time for me to make consistent progress, but I was able to do so thanks to the unwavering support of my instructors, advisors, and staff who never abandoned me. I discovered how structure and discipline can be highly useful to personal development and long-term success. I failed to recognize it when I was there, but after making an attempt to reflect on my actions and behaviors from a different angle, I did. I am currently in college, studying at Boston University. I still have a lot of potential for development, but without Valley View School, I don't think I would be where I am today. read more

I only put one star because you have 0 stars. Valley View is absolutely a terrible therapeutic school. When we went to look at schools for my son, none of the schools fit for his personal Needs. We were attracted to Valley View because it looked normal. One thing caught my eye. Most of the staff were very big and obviously lifted weights regularly. The reason. The staff physically abuse the children. It is chaos with a lot of abuse. Do not send you son there! read more

My wife and I placed our son at this school, based on their stating it was a therapeutic environment and provided appropriately skilled supervision. BUT...as it turned out they were a total scam. They provided unskilled underpaid supervision by uncaring jerks who encouraged bullying behavior and enabled the worst of the kids to harm and mistreat the newer or smaller boys. We ultimately had to pull our son out of this nightmare situation because of their complete lack of concern or interest in resolving these issues. As a parent of a son who attended this place, I strongly encourage other parents to avoid this fraudulent establishment. read more

My son was at Valley View School from Sept 2017 to June 2019. It was a great place for him. He matured significantly, became more respectful and his confidence improved in academics and sports. The staff was very responsive to his needs. I highly recommend the school. Patricia read more

I am a former student in 2000 through 2003 I was abused I was beaten up I was forced to work at the age of 13 the only positive thing about Valley view was the traveling I want to Vietnam with the school as a graduation thing from my parents the school abused me the people were very rude there's a guy named Dale Who tortured me I was abused Called names when I learned of the founder passing away I had a smile on my face I do not recommend Valley view nor would I to the worst person in the world I would not recommend the school to anyone it harmed me it didn't help me it took me years to get better Valleyview was not a wake up call for me it was a nightmare for me they abused me they called me names they harassed me they treated me like crap a teacher named Shannon who harassed me with her husband Rick they harassed me for three years I cannot suggest the school to anybody during my time there I decided to fight back I am not afraid of anybody in this world but I was threatened in 2001 by a guy named Dale that if I didn't do something that I would get my ass kicked by him and the guy name Scott The one bright light in the school was graduation 2003 I left I was very happy and fortunate to escape with my life this school change my life and my perspective on people not to trust people it continuously affects me to this day I was abused I was beaten up I was harassed I was called names it made me realize that child abuse is not a good thing Valleyview continue to abuse me for many years during my time I cannot recommend the school to anyone any special education person or any educational consultant that recommends the school to your child or to you 13 to 16 do not take the advice of school takes in trouble teams that are in need of help the school has a work detail like a prison 90 something thousand dollars a year for a work detail it's not worth it take my advice I don't like the school I have a big problem with the founder who passed away he allowed me to be abused read more

Don't send your kids to this school I was a student here I was abused by staff and I stood up to staff My recommendation is don't send anyone through the experience I had there all boys school they have an idiot director who's a dr who Was abusing students I saw incidents and I have a book coming out Don't let young boys around these type ipf school I was abused at 13-16 this school will ruin the lives of students This boarding school lost a lawsuit that I filed against them I was awarded a million and a half dollars The teachers are unqualified to teach especially the science teacher 2000-2003 I was tortured by other students I now have a high paying job in management in my own company I have 61 employees and doing well Valley view school hurts students they restrained a kid and broke his arm back In 2002 and they tried to restrain me I fought back and a staff who abused me went to the hospital me and 3 other kids got in trouble for kicking the staffs ass They tried to restrain me but at the age of 15 I broke the staffs ribs I am not proud of this This school ruined my life I was afraid of people on the outside when I graduated I got better my parents and my family noticed that I was afraid of normal people the damage valley view school did to me didn't slow me down I am suing them again for use of a picture of me. I paid 55k$. A year wasn't worth it basically don't trust valley view school with your kids that's the best advice I can give read more

As a student of VVS in the mid 2000s... No! I was diagnosed with PTSD, and still struggle with unexpected physical touches such as a hand on the shoulder thanks to this "school". I was thrown around regularly. I'd say that about half the parents of kids decided that the kids were the problem, not themselves. I've left negative reviews of this place before and been accused of being a failure in life by people who probably are working for vvs*. I'm a successful software engineer with a sustainable career in silicon valley. I was expelled from three highschools and never finished college. Even to this day, people putting their hands on my shoulder from behind makes me flinch and have panic attacks, and I attend therapy every other month, including hexa-yearly massage therapy. I credit my success in SV to luck - finding friends who encouraged my abilities while I was still struggling with a drug addiction in my 20s. Valley View School was a large factor in my being set up for failure - pure luck saved me. If you're a parent, just be aware that you will taking the risk of saddling your child with lifelong trauma. Find a therapist that your child respects. * i dont say this lightly - but it's suspicious when someone with a new account leaves a glowing review and attack of you personally read more

My son attended Valley View in the late 20teens. Valley View did an amazing job encouraging my son to be better than he believed he could be. The school classes are small and led by capable teachers. This allowed my son to understand that he could succeed in school which was an issue for him. The counseling staff gently guided my son to emotional stability. If you are looking at Valley View for your son, then you have an emotionally unstable son. You know how difficult life can be. Valley View provided the over all structure that my son needed to be able to function at home for which I will be forever grateful. Cultural experiences are also provided in several ways. Sunday, guest speakers are brought in to introduce various topics that the boys would not other wise experience. The school provides the opportunity for some boys to take an international trip. The first year my son was there a group of boys travelled to Greece. The second year a different group travelled to Cuba. My son had the opportunity to go to Cuba. This was an experience of a lifetime for him. Parents are kept informed on a regular basis of the progress of their sons. I received regular grade reports. I had regular conversations with various staff. The secretaries knew me by name when I called. My son had an email that was monitored by staff. I could and did write him emails often which would be printed out and handed to him. He spent two years of his high school time at Valley View and considers this his high school even though he graduated from the school he attended after leaving Valley View. Valley View administration, staff, and faculty made a positive difference in my son's life and they can make a positive difference in your son's life too. Rebecca H read more

I went to valley view from 2006-2009 and let me tell you that no staff member ever abused me. All this people saying they got abused are all defaming the school. Yes staff members are big because they need to prevent people from fighting and running away, not because they will abuse you. Come on!!! At the end of the day this is a therapeutic boarding school, so it's not going to be normal, it will be rigorous and strict, that doesn't mean staff abuse you. Some people here are just resentful because they probably spent their whole time there at the bottom of group 3 and in group 4 and got nothing out of the place. Valley view is a good school, it's not even a full on therapeutic boarding school like some others in the Midwest. It's a semi therapeutic boarding school, it has amazing international trips which I highly recommend, and the people there are great. I wouldn't be where I am today without VVS read more

I am very upset at how the Valley view school is treating my son and myself ( mom).They recently forbid me to visit their school campus while my son is in attendance at the school ( his 3rd year). They decided to call the police when I came to visit in September 2016.This was very traumatic for my son rather than therapeutic,as the school advertises to be. But the worst thing the school did was not allowing my son to home to New York for Christmas/Chanukah/ and new year's. My son was the only child left alone at valley view with a counselor ,for the biggest holiday of the year. How sad to treat a child this way, and how cruel to the family of this child. This is a therapeutic school. One more thing: if the children of valley view could express their opinions of the school on here with just a sentence, you would be horrified. I am appalled that this is a school in America, not sure if how they treat kids and parents is even legal. I personally have not seen my son since September 2016, and they don't allow me to speak my native language to my son. I'm pretty sure that's called discrimination, and violation of constitutional rights. read more

I went here in the late 80's. It wasn't much then, the academic environment was the only real positive. We just had some very good teachers. The rest of the school was alternatively a monument to slave labor or an exercise is boredom. Your parents had to put money in a work fund...you then got to earn points if you did chores at the school. Doing chores (read: slave labor) gave you access to this money. Pretty good deal for the school, it kept us busy and they were saving money. I would advise parents to look elsewhere, there are much better alternatives out there. read more

Valley View is a therapeutic boarding school. That being said, I feel my son is getting the structure, social experience, boundaries and academic schooling that he needs to get back on track. I have not done a lot of research on other therapeutic boarding schools, but our Educational Consultant does this for a living. So far, son has been there 6 months and after his last visit home I felt that he has gained more self awareness and emotional growth as well as gaining in self confidence that he can achieve goals. I know there has been some staff turnover, and I can understand that this can be a challenging place to work, however I have always been able to speak with my son and staff if an issue arises. I am surprised at some of the negative comments preceding mine. read more

I Actually went here. I was forced to become like the rest. But i did not fit in. i was different. i was pale and emo. i was bulled for my first two months. i called my parents every week ( the amount they require since you are not allowed to have a phone). it was a tough time for me and my parents. they did not like school requirements but they were forced to follow them. After my first two mounths I learned to manipulate my way through the program. I started making group ( the ranking system in which kids are forced to act good to get privileged) even though they were fake. I hated my time at the school to which the point i had to get pulled. i do not recomed sending your kid here! read more

I am sorry to hear that there are students who did not fit in the school. But it does not surprise me the Youth of today are completely different then the youth when I was young. They have no respect for elders have no respect for authority and they have little to no drive or determination. I attended Valley View from 1986 to 1988. I am sure everyone will say well it was a completely different time then. Well it was strict and when you were breaking the rules you got punished. You could get benefits by being good to go fishing at the lake to go down to the tennis courts or even your downtowns... I have many good memories from my time there and some that weren't so good. No different than any student going to any public High School. I will say that when I arrived from 2 when I left and graduated that I did have a completely different look on life. While at Valley View I competed in sports and took advantage of the outdoor activities that were available again what was not a perfect experience I definitely ended up much better because I went there. Some kids should never go to a school like this and for other kids it will be perfect. One never knows until they try. I know that for the most part people only give negative reviews and positive ones rarely get posted because people who want to be vindictive will do so yet a positive one has to come from the heart. And all I went to three boarding schools and this was the second one and it definitely left a positive effect on me. If anyone has any questions feel free to message me and I can tell you about my personal experience. read more

Valley View School changed my son's life. The staff are incredible, and the facilities are continually improving. This is a therapeutic school that teaches boys how to better themselves and take responsibility for their actions. read more

My son who has been living at VV for 14 mos is a new person! 1st of all, no school is going to be perfect! And if you have done your Homework and been advised by a professional Educational Consultant, then the next part is 3 fold. VV currently is led by excellent, Professionals that want only to make your son succeed. This time in your son's life MUST be hard work by yes, VV but by your son and yes, you the parent(s). If you think you're going to drop your unhealthy child off and magically get a healthy one, then you need a huge wake up call. Our son has high ADHD and high anxiety. After him going through Wilderness, we enrolled him at VV. Ask a million questions, stay assertive and even though you will have some serious transition difficulties when he comes home on breaks, I'm here to proudly and incredibly happy to say, Hard Work pays off! VV has a very good defined program which involves Positive Reinforcement. They make sure your child has a very structured schedule/environment and invites them to try new activities. My son had never and now has, skiied, done Cross Country, played Soccer, been a Lead in a Play, sang on Stage, help build a Set for school Play, played the Keyboard, speaks Spanish and hiked like crazy. Give VV a chance to give your son a new healthy life! read more

Desperately trying to help our troubled son became almost a way of life and after years of doing everything imaginable, and the fact that he was getting progressively worse, we realized that we were desperate for help. We justifiably feared the worse. We were fortunate that by chance we employed a specialized educational consultant whom referred us to Valley View School. The directors at Valley View were remarkably aware with everything we were going through as a family and the numerous issues plaguing our son. We were impressed, relieved, and enrolled our son in the program. The program was predominantly for our son of course, but there are provisions to help and guide the family as well which we were grateful for. Two years have passed and we couldn't be more proud to say our son is successfully graduating from Valley View School. His many accomplishments in a relatively short time are amazing. It took the full two years for me to appreciate everything that happened and how it was achieved. The way the buildings are situated, the sports programs, the daily structure, and the school system are all engineered for the boys' success. It's a huge group effort to instill self-worth, personal responsibility, social dynamics, citizenship, and education in all the boys. The entire staff is dedicated, professional, and has long term experience with boys just like our son. We are certain that everyone is there because they care and want to make a difference in so many lives. Truly an exceptional group who accomplish a monumental task on a daily basis. They deserve and have our respect and perpetual gratitude. Thank you all for giving us back our son and for giving him the capacity to succeed and have a fulfilling, joyful life!! Rich S. 5-25-18 read more

Sending our son to Valley View was the hardest and best decision we could have made to help him and our family. The work he's done on himself these past two years, under the extraordinary care and commitment of the staff, is inspiring. He has grown from a 12 year old refusing to go to school, curled up in a ball in the corner of his bed, to an independent-minded, young man of 15, motivated to attend high school and beyond. The combination of a highly structured program with gentle reinforcements from both home and school have given our son a solid foundation and confidence that will serve him for many years to come. read more

It is interesting how different people grade the school, what do they really taking into consideration and how truly honest, sincere and objective they are. I am a father of a student who is currently in Valley View School. I have selected this particular school after working closely with professional consultants and official court approval to send my boy there. I have to admit, it was one of the hardest decision in my life, I only have one son. Things were not smooth initially, there was a lot of defiance in my son behavior, but as time goes by positive changes started to happen. There were also moments of ups and downs, some set backs, but they were associated with outside influence of his mother and nothing to do with the school as entity itself. Proper environment which provide structure, basic rules of normal existence as well an ability to develop desire to achieve something in life on a consistent basis are the key factors that promote my son gradual improvement. School has fairly good teachers and the ratio of students to teachers are incredible, usually 1:3 or even better sometimes. Administration and stuff are very friendly and always easily accessible. Any time I feel I would like to know more about my boy activities or things in general I call the main office and usually get a normal professional response. VVSchool is usually very supportive and attentive to family requests , however, well-being of the students is above all and everything is done with the best interest for the children. By reading different reviews you will come across the name of Polina B. my ex-wife and the mother of my son. Polina is a very emotionally and psychologically unstable individual who failed to acknowledge and follow supreme court orders for the last 4 and 1/2 years, who always place personal interest above best interest for a child. Before writing a negative and false review about the VVSchool, she forget to mention that she lost custody battle 10 days prior, mainly because of her inappropriate behavior, negligence toward professional opinions and court orders, and disrespectful conduct toward school policies and regulations, constantly undermining the essence of therapeutic school in general. Pity, but it is simply an irrational burst of emotions of a bitter and spiteful woman rather than a review, unfortunately. As a parent and the father I would like to thanks everyone in VVSchool for their constant hard and very delicate work, and God bless you all, sincerely, Dr. Joseph S read more

Valley View School changed our 13 year old's life and the life of our entire family. Valley View taught our son how to navigate life's challenges in a constructive manner. Their investment in the success of our child allowed him to grow in ways that we never could have hoped for. read more

I am deeply saddened to read the negative reviews of Valley View. As a recent former parent of a VVS student, our experience was absolutely life changing for our son and our family. I feel the strong need to express our experience for those parents looking at therapeutic boarding schools; because if you are, your child and lives are most likely in dire straits - ours definitely was. Not all therapeutic boarding schools are the right fit for every child. Valley View is designed for boys who have gotten sideways for whatever reason, but not for boys with major developmental, emotional or psychological problems. If there are boys that present more serious, potentially dangerous situations, the school must take actions in order to make sure not only that child is safe, but the other children are as well. Therapeutic boarding schools have to fit both ways; school and child. It's truly unfortunate that other families had that as their experience and I wonder if perhaps, it just wasn't the right fit. We had read these same reviews, but our educational consultant conveyed to us that they did not represent her opinion and her belief in the good work they do at Valley View. After 18 months of our son attending there, I whole heartedly agree. Our 13-year-old son was a destructive, defiant, disrespectful boy with anxiety and undiagnosed ADHD prior to enrolling him at Valley View. He was provided constant therapeutic and professional support while we collectively figured out the proper medication. VVS helped to rebuild his self esteem, which had been decimated. We are now experiencing a different son; not perfect by any means. But a self reflective, accountable, respectful, academically refocused son, who just started his freshman year at a traditional private school. One of his application questions was to describe someone that had made a significant impact in his life. He wrote this about his advisor at Valley View: "He has given me the opportunity to recreate relationships and bonds that I had broken and damaged in the past. He has also shown me how to reflect on myself and take accountability." I would have never dreamed this was possible prior to enrolling. VVS saved our son's life; for that I am grateful. read more

Our son has been at Valley View for a year. We tried everything to deal with his oppositional and defiant behavior, including wilderness therapy, before making the very difficult decision to send him to a therapeutic boarding school. His behaviors affected his relationships at school, at home, on sports teams and with peers and no one seemed to be capable of helping him. The staff at Valley View has developed a structured system that helps the boys to recognize the consequences of their self-destructive behaviors. I have been to the school multiple times and have spoken with staff every week. I have witnessed their composure and compassion. Their mission is to truly change the direction of a young man's life and they take that role very seriously. If you are considering sending your son to a therapeutic boarding school, Valley View is also a place where he will not fall behind academically. (Our daughter attends an elite private school in Washington DC and our standards for teachers are very high.) We had parent-teacher conferences with all of our son's teachers at Valley View and we were impressed. They care deeply about the success of each student and challenge each according to his academic level. We have seen great progress in our son and we now believe he will leave Valley View with the skills he needs to have a happy and successful life. read more

It is interesting how different people grade the school, what do they really taking into consideration and how truly honest, sincere and objective they are. I am a father of a student who is currently in Valley View School. I have selected this particular school after working closely with professional consultants and official court approval to send my boy there. I have to admit, it was one of the hardest decision in my life, I only have one son. Things were not smooth initially, there was a lot of defiance in my son behavior, but as time goes by positive changes started to happen. There were also moments of ups and downs, some set backs, but they were associated with outside influence of his mother and nothing to do with the school as entity itself. Proper environment which provide structure, basic rules of normal existence as well an ability to develop desire to achieve something in life on a consistent basis are the key factors that promote my son gradual improvement. School has fairly good teachers and the ratio of students to teachers are incredible, usually 1:3 or even better sometimes. Administration and stuff are very friendly and always easily accessible. Any time I feel I would like to know more about my boy activities or things in general I call the main office and usually get a normal professional response. VVSchool is usually very supportive and attentive to family requests , however, well-being of the students is above all and everything is done with the best interest for the children. By reading different reviews you will come across the name of Polina B. my ex-wife and the mother of my son. Polina is a very emotionally and psychologically unstable individual who failed to acknowledge and follow supreme court orders for the last 4 and 1/2 years, who always place personal interest above best interest for a child. Before writing a negative and false review about the VVSchool, she forget to mention that she lost custody battle 10 days prior, mainly because of her inappropriate behavior, negligence toward professional opinions and court orders, and disrespectful conduct toward school policies and regulations, constantly undermining the essence of therapeutic school in general. Pity, but it is simply an irrational burst of emotions of a bitter and spiteful woman rather than a review, unfortunately. As a parent and the father I would like to thanks everyone in VVSchool for their constant hard and very delicate work, and God bless you all, sincerely, Dr. Joseph S read more

Our son suffers from heavy ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, executive functioning skills. This lead to depression. Before Valley View he was barely functional, refusing therapy and battling medication. At the age of 11, he manifested suicidal ideations. After working with an educational placement specialist, we sent him to an outdoor immersion program (SUWS in North Carolina) where he did very well. Knowing that he needed to be in a 24/7 therapeutic environment, we made the very difficult decision to send him to a therapeutic boarding school - Valley View. As parents, this was the best decision we ever made. We are absolutely thrilled with the staff at Valley View. They are able to balance on the fine line between being supportive and disciplinarian when needed. The boys are held accountable for their actions - which helps them learn appropriate behavior. This is NEVER done in a physical or fearful way. It is done through talk therapy - breaking down difficult situations as a learning opportunity. I AM THRILLED TO REPORT THAT MY SON HAS MADE A COMPLETE TURN-AROUND! Not only is he happy at Valley View, he is a very positive and thoughtful person when at home. On his last trip home he even brought out the garbage when it was full - without being asked to! Academically, he is now working to his potential. And, most importantly, as a human being, he is able to have a loving, respectful relationship with his family. I cannot fathom any of the negative reviews of Valley View. This is simply not the school that I know or credit with saving my son. read more