What is the mission of The Hill School of Wilmington?

Our mission is to empower children who have learning differences with the skills needed to become confident, independent learners.

 

When was The Hill School of Wilmington founded?

The Hill School of Wilmington was established in 2008 by a dedicated group of parents and professionals who saw the need for a school that focused on serving students with learning and attention issues. The school officially opened its doors on August 19, 2010, at its first located, the basement of St. James Parish. To learn more about the history of The Hill School, click here.

 

What programs and services does The Hill School offer?

The Hill School reaches students through three direct programs including a half-day academic program, a summer program, and tutoring. The Hill School also serves parents and educators through on-site and online workshops. 

 

What is the Admissions Process?

Applicants must have been diagnosed with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorders by a licensed psychologist, have average to above-average potential, and should not have primary emotional or behavioral difficulties. They must be entering grades 1 - 8 in the year of application. To learn more about our admissions process, click here.

 

Who is on Hill’s Board of Directors?

Our Board of Directors is a very committed and involved group of individuals with either a close professional or close personal connection to the organization. This 11-member (all-volunteer) Board is dedicated to ensuring the success of The Hill School of Wilmington. More information can be found on our Faculty & Staff page.

 

Hours of operation

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with limited hours during summer break. If you would like to visit The Hill School, please call ahead to arrange a tour.  

 

Does Hill offer any free services?

The Hill School of Wilmington is proud to offer a free community workshop series that is open to the public. Typically 3-4 times per year, Hill brings in expert speakers to share knowledge and practical strategies in support of students with learning differences and attention challenges. To view upcoming events, click here.
 

What are your staff’s qualifications?

The Hill School of Wilmington teachers are certified through The Hill Center in Durham by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). This certification process involves coursework, observations, and completion of case studies. They use a research-based, multisensory structured language methodology to focus on reading, written language, and math. More information is available on our Faculty & Staff page. 

 

How is technology integrated into Hill classrooms?

Technology plays a critical role in preparing our students to lead in the 21st-century world. We are deliberate and purposeful with technology, choosing devices and software that supports our methodology and program philosophy. K-8 reading classrooms also use the Hill Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP) app to deliver Hill’s copyrighted reading methodology that was developed by Hill faculty and experts over the last 40 years.  Please see Google Workspace for Education Privacy Notice if you have questions about our technology privacy for students.   

 

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Why is The Hill School of Wilmington half-day?

The half-day program is designed to enable students to receive small group, intensive remediation for a portion of each day at Hill while continuing to benefit from the programs at a traditional base or home school. Students are able to maintain interactions with friends and take advantage of enrichment activities, athletics, and content courses if attending a base school. This model also allows for a thoughtful transition to the base school on a full-time basis as they will have had the coaching and support for applying the academic, executive function, and advocacy skills learned at Hill to other contexts and settings.

 

What are the courses offered at Hill School?

Students in grades 1-8 attend Hill for three hours per day for instruction in reading, written language, and math.

 

What other schools do Hill students attend?

We currently partner with public schools in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick, and Carteret counties (public and charter), as well as many private/religious schools, and have several students in home schools. 

 

Do you need a formal diagnosis to be enrolled at Hill School?

The Hill School of Wilmington students need to have a formal diagnosis of a learning disability (LD) such as dyslexia, or attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Other types of learning disabilities may also be considered in the admissions process. For Tutoring and Summer Programs, no diagnosis is required.

 

Does your program support students with Autism?

Unfortunately, we do not have services to support students who are diagnosed Autistic. The Hill School of Wilmington offers a program for students with specific learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia, as well as Attention Deficit Disorder.

 

Do students need to have an IEP?

Many Hill School students have an IEP from their base public schools; however, this is not a requirement. If a student does have an IEP, The Hill School supports the IEP process and coordinates with the school if needed.

 

What is a typical day like for a Hill student?

For the morning session, students arrive by 8:00 am and leave at 11:00 am with a fifteen-minute break at 9:55 am. For the afternoon session, students arrive by 12:00 and leave at 3:00 pm with a fifteen-minute break at 1:55 pm. Classes are 50 minutes in duration. 

 

What is the typical class size at Hill School?

We have a maximum of 4:1 student/teacher ratio.

 

Is transportation provided to The Hill School of Wilmington?

Transportation is not provided.

 

Is there financial aid available?

Need-based financial aid is available for The Hill School of Wilmington, and some families are able to access state education grants and other sources to help cover tuition. Learn more about financial aid here. 

 

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What is required to apply to The Hill School Summer Program?

While a formal evaluation and diagnosis is not required, The Hill School of Wilmington Summer Program does have an admissions process that includes an application and teacher recommendation. Interested families are also encouraged to plan a visit during the school year to see Hill methodology in action and help assess whether the program is a fit for their student.

To learn more about our Summer Program, click here.

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What test data shows the effectiveness of the Hill program?

Our annual testing on a nationally standardized achievement test documents the gains that our students demonstrate. See more information here.

 

Who conducts research on Hill programs?

Hill Learning Center’s current research partners include the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy and UNC-Charlotte College of Education. Hill is continually striving to build its research base through new strategic partnerships.

 

What does research say about the impact of Hill programs?

The Hill School of Wilmington is an affiliate of the Hill Learning Center in Durham, NC, which was founded in 1977 and is one of the Southeast's oldest and largest K - 12 schools for high potential students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder. Over 95% of Hill Learning Center's high school graduates go on to college, compared to the national rate of 40%. The average student gains full benefits of Hill within 3 years and typically transitions back to his or her school full-time. For more information, you can visit our Research & Results page by clicking here.

 

Is there research on Hill programs?

Yes, The Hill School’s instruction methods and student and educator programs are based on those at the Hill Learning Center and are research-based. Click here to view independent, third-party evaluations of Hill programs.

 

How do Hill programs impact students’ social-emotional learning skills?

Students’ social-emotional learning skills such as academic confidence and organizational skills are critical to their success. Hill students, parents, and teachers often cite growth in these areas as some of the most meaningful benefits of Hill programs and methodology. 

 

 

 

What do donations to The Hill School of Wilmington support?

Donations to The Hill School of Wilmington fuel the school’s mission and impact in a variety of ways, including investing in people, partnerships, and programs by, for example:

• Provide financial aid for students whose families cannot afford Hill School tuition

• Close the gap between tuition and the full cost of providing a Hill School education

• Invest in technology and curriculum development to support our learners and improve our programs

Donors may provide general operating support to dedicate funds to the areas of greatest need or restrict their contributions to specific priorities or initiatives. For more information, please contact Susan Harrell, Executive Director at director@hillschoolofwilmington.org.

 

Are donations to The Hill School of Wilmington tax deductible?

Yes, The Hill School of Wilmington is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our tax ID number is 26-3425156.

 

How can I make a gift online or by check?

Thank you for your commitment to The Hill School of Wilmington! Please click here to make a gift online now. If you would like to make your donation by check, please send your check payable to The Hill School of Wilmington to:

The Hill School of Wilmington, 3333 Jaeckle Dr., Ste. 140, Wilmington, NC 28403

 

What is The Hill School of Wilmington's tax ID number?

Our tax ID number is 26-3425156.

 

Can I make an in-kind donation to The Hill School?

To make a gift an in-kind donation of goods or services, please contact Susan Harrell, Executive Director at director@hillschoolofwilmington.org. Click here to learn more about ways to give.

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Where can I find The Hill School of Wilmington's annual report?

Please click here to access our most recent annual reports. For more information, please contact the school at info@hillschoolofwilmington.org.

 

 

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How can I learn more about Hill School Tutoring?

We can be reached at info@hillschoolofwilmington.org or at 910-685-3734. You can also visit our Tutoring Programs page.

 

What are Hill School Tutoring rates?

Individual tutoring is $75 per hour and small-group tutoring is $50 per hour.

 

How long are tutoring sessions?

Most students attend for one hour per session.

 

When and where can we receive tutoring?

Tutoring is available at The Hill School during our academic and summer programs. For more information on specific days and times, please visit the Tutoring Programs.