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About

School Profile

FOUNDED: 2006 BY MR. ERIK HEYER
HEADS OF SCHOOL: MR. CLAY KAUFMAN AND MRS. JILLY DAREFSKY

MISSION
The Siena School offers a rich educational program for bright, college-bound students who are challenged by language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. Our program is designed for students with mild to moderate needs who experience a discrepancy between their intellectual abilities and academic achievement in one or more areas such as reading, writing, oral expression or math.

STUDENTS
Siena currently enrolls approximately 134 students and is seeking to maintain an equal ratio of boys and girls. Siena students fit the following profile:

  • Are bright, college-bound students;
  • Have mild to moderate language-based learning needs;
  • Are of average to above-average abilities; and
  • Are emotionally healthy and behaviorally appropriate.

Faculty: 39 men and women, Siena's staff and advisors include distinguished national, state and local education leaders and professionals. All of our staff are highly trained in specific instructional strategies for students with language-based learning needs.

Accreditation: The Siena School is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools 

Memberships: The Siena School is a member of the National Association of Independent School (NAIS), The International Dyslexia Association and Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA).

College preparatory: Siena offers a college preparatory education program utilizing multisensory, experiential, and research-based curriculum programs. Students work with our onsite college counselor to prepare for internships, ACT testing, and college applications.

Technology: At Siena technology is utilized as an effective teaching/learning tool. Interactive boards are in every classroom, and all students in grades 4 – 12 are provided access to Chromebooks and laptops, loaded with assistive software. 

Summer Program: Summer at Siena offers summer programming for students and friends of Siena.  Past programming has included academics, sports, and enrichment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the school located?

The Siena School is conveniently located at 1300 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD. We are off the Beltway, just past Holy Cross Hospital and near the Forest Glen station on the red line Metro.

What grade does Siena start?

Siena begins in 4th grade.

What are the school hours?

Siena’s day runs from 8:30-3:30pm with supervised afterschool homework help until 6:00 pm.

Where do students who attend Siena come from?

Families travel from all over the greater metropolitan region.  Siena proudly represents 39 zip codes.

What is the average class size?

Average class sizes of 10:1 or less. Siena's staff and advisors include distinguished national, state and local education leaders and professionals. All of our staff are highly trained in specific instructional strategies for students with language-based learning needs.

Is financial aid available?

Tuition assistance is available to families that qualify. We expect approximately 35% of students will receive tuition assistance, with average grant awards of about $7,500 - $10,000. We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships covering up to 75% of tuition and fees.

Do the students go on field trips?

At Siena we foster the development of our students through experiential education, community service, and connecting with experts in their field. 

Are extracurriculars available at Siena?

For an additional fee, Siena offers after school enrichments in areas of high interest such as Minecraft, Legos, 3D Printing, Yoga, youth soccer, karate and much more.  Middle and high school athletics are available all year long.

What is the tuition this year?

Tuition for the 2019-2020 school year will be $40,519 for grades 4-8 and $42,442 for high school.