At the Laura Cushman Academy (LCA), we believe that all children can learn! It is our responsibility to provide a supportive and nurturing environment in which the magic of learning can take hold and our students can reach their fullest potential. The LCA is a specialized program within The Cushman School for students of average to above average intelligence benefiting from a small class setting with teaching strategies that target areas of challenge and specific learning issues. Students enrolled in our program are able to engage in a group without needing one-on-one support and have language skills to be able to connect and collaborate with peers and teachers. Some children need additional support in academic areas such as reading comprehension or word recognition, the retention of facts and names, or math concepts. Expressing ideas orally or in writing or organizational skills may be areas where strengthening is essential. For both the student and their parents, any one of these issues can cause frustration if not addressed. However, in most cases, these challenges can be supported, and the rate of growth can be increased by focusing on the individual needs of the child. The LCA was designed to do just this. Laura Cushman Academy classes continue into middle and high school in the form of small class sizes for English, writing, math and learning lab in the middle school, and English and math at the high school level. Students’ individual needs are met through accommodations, scaffolding and targeted instruction. In the upper school our students thrive as they are equipped with the tools necessary to discover their individual strengths and weaknesses, self-advocate for their accommodations, and build connections with their teachers and peers. Our students can tap into their potential so that they graduate with the skills needed for college and beyond. Our team works with each family to find the appropriate college or university that is the best fit for each student. Ready to start your individualized Cushman adventure? Contact our admissions team today. Once all steps are complete, the application will be reviewed by the Admissions team. Once a decision is made, the Laura Cushman Academy Director or the Director of Personalization will email the family to notify them of the admissions decision. If accepted, an enrollment link from our Veracross Database will be sent to the family. Families have seven days to complete enrollment. If accepted, but space is not available, the applicant will be placed in a wait pool. If denied admission, the family is welcome to apply in future years. “Our students engage in enriching activities that truly educate ‘the whole child.’ They also enjoy performing arts, visual arts, physical education and hands-on learning as part of every Cushman student’s learning experience.” – Dr. Tracy Ross, Laura Cushman Academy Director
Empowering and Exceptional
Laura Cushman Academy
A Division of The Cushman School
LCA in the Lower School (PK-5)
LCA in Middle & Upper School (Grades 6-12)
Tracy Ross, Ph.D.
Laura Cushman Academy Director
Patricia Hernandez
Assistant Director of Laura Cushman Academy & LCA Admissions
Laura Cushman Academy Admissions
Admissions Process:
Once the application is complete (completed application, uploaded evaluations, teacher recommendations received, previous school records received, application fee paid), a visit with the applicant will be scheduled. For students in PK-5 an initial visit with our speech therapist and occupational therapist will be scheduled. A second visit will be scheduled in the classroom pending observations from the initial visit. Students in grades 6-12 will be scheduled for a full visiting day. During the visit, applicants will shadow a current student and will have an interview and assessment with administration.
