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 Many children who attend Crotched Mountain School live on campus, in settings that nurture their personal growth, skill development, shared experiences and connections with others. We offer a variety of living arrangements — from group homes or apartment living to shared living with staff or at Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital. Each student's individual needs are thoughtfully considered in selecting the most appropriate residential setting.
Students are encouraged to bring personal and technology items to make their living space comfortable and inviting. Residences are also equipped with Internet-connected computers and are fully accessible.
Some students return home on weekends, while many remain on campus and enjoy a wide range of activities. Visiting families are welcome to stay at our campus guest residence, The Brien Lodge.
 Attentive staff supervision
Our licensed residential settings are supervised by specially trained staff and provide a high staff-to-student ratio. Staff members are trained in each student's physical and emotional health care and work in tandem with our
Health Center staff and clinicians to monitor students' sleep, seizures, medication and behaviors.
Staff is awake overnight at each on-campus residence, with a supervisor and alternate staff also available. Crisis-response staff is on call for immediate crisis intervention support to both students and residential staff. Students have 24/7 access to the school Health Center and Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital for medication regimens and health emergencies.
A setting of learning and growing
 After the school day, students return to their residences and engage in a range of activities, such as homework, personal care and practicing independent living skills. Residential staff acts as role models to students, fostering communication, relationship-building, positive behaviors and skill development. They work closely with teachers and school therapists in nutrition, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and psychology to reinforce lessons students have learned during classes and therapy sessions. These lessons are often practiced during household activities such as preparing dinner, doing laundry, cleaning rooms and completing chores.
Friendship and fun
With many shared activities to choose from, students form close friendships with other Crotched Mountain School students and learn about the joy and responsibilities of friendship.
At weekly house meetings, students select and plan outings and events with the guidance of staff. On-campus activities range from barbecues to campfires, drumming circles, maple sugaring, swimming, fishing, exercising, bowling, crafts, block parties and dances. Students may also enjoy personal shopping, movies, plays, baseball games and group trips off-campus. Families are welcome at any time to visit campus and participate in our many school activities.
Whether a student lives in a campus home, the medical residence or in the community, our goal is to create a warm and supportive home life.
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"Eight years ago we visited many residential school programs, trying to find a suitable placement to meet the very complex behavioral and medical needs of our then 12-year-old son.It was quickly obvious that Crotched Mountain offered the least-restrictive and most-therapeutic environment.
"Since then, this has proven true.Our son's complex needs have grown, as he has grown. Each and every challenge (and there have been many) has been met with the staff's personal involvement, creativity, and willingness to keep trying until there was a good result.
"We are deeply grateful to all levels of staff for their dedication and untiring commitment to improving the quality of life for our son and for all their clients."
- Ed Taylor and Susan Fennelly,
Parents of Luke Taylor
Choosing Home or
Residential Care
This 43-page guide explains the pros and cons of using home or residential care by offering the personal experiences of parents who have gone through the process of deciding which arrangement works best for their family and child. View and print a .pdf version.
For more information about how Crotched Mountain School helps students reach their full potential, please contact:
Melissa Lambert -
Admission Coordinator
603.547.3311 ext. 1894
melissa.lambert@crotchedmountain.org
or use our convenient
Contact Form.
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