Bay Cove Academy is a small, therapeutic day school located in Brookline, Massachusetts. Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education and nationally recognized by the US Department of Labor for its Career Development Program, the school provides a highly structured learning environment for teens whose educational and social needs exceed those that traditional public and private schools can accommodate.
Bay Cove Academy’s curriculum provides a comprehensive middle and high school course of study that meets all requirements for a high school diploma. All curriculum is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Our teaching staff are all highly qualified, holding licensure in their individual subject areas as well as in special education.
Educational services encompass a comprehensive range of academic programs in a classroom setting, featuring a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio, as well as diagnostic testing and remediation in a 1:1 setting when necessary.
Individual Education Plans are written by teachers in consultation with therapists and other specialists to accommodate the specific needs of each student. The objective of these highly focused educational blueprints is to develop basic academic skills, as well as conceptual abilities such as problem-solving, negotiation, and critical thinking strategies.
Staff guide the students in their process of considering options and making decisions that advance their personal goals and minimize their reliance on others.
The academic core curriculum includes traditional academic subjects, as well as individual tutoring, computer training, career exploration, art, physical education, and various electives. Successful classroom experiences help students build self-confidence and trust, increase their tolerance for frustration, enhance their risk-taking abilities in the classroom, and develop improved concentration.
As an integral part of the environment, the classroom is highly structured, and the expectations for students are clear and consistent.
The Academy's clinical component encompasses therapy and crisis management. Upon acceptance, students are assigned to a therapist and receive weekly individual counseling, case management, and group and family work. The clinical department comprises two full-time LICSWs, one part-time MSW, and an intern program. Each clinician manages 8-12 adolescents, with specialized psychological services provided as needed.
Crisis counseling is integrated throughout the program within a framework of clear, predictable rules and consequences. This creates a safe, consistent environment where students experience corrective social interactions and receive immediate counseling and feedback on personal and professional development issues.
Daily collaboration among teachers, therapists, and educational specialists ensures coordinated growth strategies for each student. The Academy's goal is to help students achieve their highest level of independent living through positive, productive adult decision-making.
Bay Cove Academy has unique and innovative transition services that start at the time of enrollment. Our transition services are comprehensive and designed to help students acquire the necessary skills and experiences required to transition from school to work and/or higher education, ranging from exposure to various career pathways to job counseling, coaching, and on-the-job training.
We provide transition plans, help students identify and build support networks, and teach important pragmatic social skills that enable students to thrive in a post-graduate world.
The College and Career Development Program (CCDP) at Bay Cove Academy (BCA) is a nationally recognized Best Practices program dedicated to creating partnerships with community businesses and local colleges to create and foster meaningful work and educational experiences for youth. Honored by the US Department of Labor, our career program provides comprehensive training to help students find and keep jobs and learn industry-specific skills. This program provides students with classroom and real-world employment skills training, community job placement, and on-the-job employment-training specialists. As part of their ongoing learning, Bay Cove Academy also helps students research and explore college and vocational opportunities.
Bay Cove's College and Career Development Program has an integrated approach and philosophy. We know that college and career development, along with job placement, need to be highly individualized, and that appropriate job matching is an essential ingredient for a successful placement. We believe a well-conceived and purposeful program is the best way to increase the likelihood of a positive first work experience and to ensure continued benefits to individuals and to society.
Students work with experienced career counselors to explore interests, set goals, learn and model the use of effective communication and interpersonal skills, and begin the process of obtaining an internship. Vocational coordinators and clinicians also guide students in applying for jobs, building work readiness, demonstrating employability, and preparing for interviews. They help to facilitate a positive and professional work experience throughout the course of the student’s employment.
In addition, they help to develop goals for IEPs, provide opportunities to attend college and career building events, teach academic courses, and help to develop a comprehensive transition plan. Student goals are addressed regularly in individual career counseling sessions and reviewed formally every three months. Supervisors at the work site are asked to complete a monthly evaluation report on student performance and attitude regarding the job placement. Students also assess themselves on a regular basis.
Graduates from the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years have moved on to the following colleges:
The Jobs ProgramBay Cove students are employed on campus and throughout the community in a wide range of fields, including office administration, culinary arts, hospital materials management, property maintenance, childcare, retail sales, and many more.
The general goals for the Career Development Program are to help students develop a positive worker identity, match a student's skills, strengths, and interests to a job placement, and upgrade basic skills as needed to a work-place literacy level. In addition, goals are to empower and motivate students toward a future of successful employment and self-reliance, provide career exploration, and prepare students for the transition to skilled post-graduate opportunities, as well as higher education.
At Bay Cove, an individual’s effort, in addition to traditional performance-based measures of ability, defines a successful outcome. It is a sustained effort that enables an individual to increase his/her skills and potential to experience success. Incremental, solid accomplishments and skills acquisition create a foundation for higher self-esteem and hope, and excitement for their future.
The career development curriculum includes classes in independent living, communications, career awareness, life skills, transition class, and senior research.
Bay Cove students have worked at twenty-three different business sites, including:
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Yes, we do offer extended evaluations. Please inquire below to learn more.
Yes, and student programming is tailored to their individual needs to meet their goals.
Bay Cove Academy provides a curriculum that is aligned with the Common Core Standards and Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
Students are typically referred through their local school district as part of the IEP process. Please complete the inquiry form below to learn more.
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