Your Ultimate Guide on How to Get Into The Gow School

Overview of The Gow School

Founded in 1926, The Gow School is a co-ed boarding and day school geared toward college preparation and academics for children with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. When the institution was first established, it started as an all-boys school but began to accept female students in 2012. The Gow School is renowned for its quality curriculum centered around the school’s unique Reconstructive Language (RL) program, which was created by Peter Gow Jr. in collaboration with neurologist Dr. Samuel T. Orton. 

The curriculum is designed to incorporate language development across all subject areas, and it is further supported by small class sizes and a structured schedule to further motivate learning. In addition to practical skills, The Gow School instills values in students such as focus, work ethic, drive, and self-discipline. Teachers are also rigorously trained to be familiar with the RL curriculum, and they specialize in providing individualized attention to students in need. Such aspects of education prioritized at The Gow School are meant to ensure that students are equipped to pursue the best opportunities to succeed in higher education.

With The Gow School providing targeted and personalized instruction, it is no surprise that many families aspire for their children to be admitted into this well-respected institution. Our experienced educational consultants at Cardinal Education specialize in the admissions process and can provide services to aid students with learning challenges through the admissions process. 

The Gow School Application

To begin applying to The Gow School, families must first submit an inquiry form to receive access to pertinent dates and links needed throughout the application process. Here is the complete, step-by-step guide to the application:

1. Complete and submit an Inquiry form.
2. Send a psychoeducational evaluation from the last three years.
3. Request recommendation letters from two teachers and the counselor/principal of the current school.
4. Request official transcripts from the current school.
5. Receive an invitation for a campus visit and assessment on reading, writing, and spelling.

The Gow School Admissions

Psychoeducational Evaluation

The Gow School admissions process will require a psychoeducational evaluation. It must include all standard scores and percentile ranks concerning cognitive abilities and achievement skills. This is especially important because the admissions committee will use this information to assess if an applicant meets the minimum criteria for admission to The Gow School. Since the school caters to students with learning disabilities, they will highly prioritize those who need specialized education.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommendation letters are required to be submitted with the admissions application by all students. These are a crucial part of the application requirements, as recommendation letters provide admissions officers with insights into a student’s character and work ethic from the perspective of trusted mentors. However, many students make the mistake of relying on academic achievements alone, and they forget to build strong relationships with their teachers. 

To create the best impression on the admissions counselors, our consultants provide tailored strategies to help obtain strong recommendations from your teachers. It is our mission to ensure you avoid common mistakes in the admissions process, and we want to guide you through the best practices for growth.

Transcripts show the admissions committee a student’s performance, past grades, present proficiency, and future potential. Furthermore, good grades showcase how a student is sufficiently prepared to handle The Gow School’s curriculum and coursework. If a student’s current transcripts do not reflect their best work, our consultants offer tutoring and coaching services to raise current GPA and test scores.

However, we also believe that good grades do not guarantee success. With that in mind, we utilize a holistic approach to equip students with the fundamental skills they need to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Interview & Campus Visit

A student can only schedule a campus visit once they are invited by the Admissions Office. This will only occur after prior admissions materials have been submitted.

During the campus visit, the applicant will get to meet with figures such as the Director of Admissions and the Head of School. Furthermore, the visit will include a test that assesses reading, writing, and spelling skills. Keep in mind that this is not graded and will not be considered an entrance exam. The purpose of this test is for the school to have a basis for constructing a suitable study schedule for the applicant. 

The Gow School Alumni

1. Quinn Bradlee – an American filmmaker and author, advocate for the disabled community and those with learning differences
2. Brooks McCabe – member of West Virginia Senate, formerly served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Development
3. Brian Talma – a Barbadian wind surfer, competed in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics

Student Life at The Gow School

The Gow School prioritizes shaping a fulfilling life both in and out of the classroom. Beyond class hours, students have a wide array of activities to engage in during their free time. One of the most popular spots for students to relax is The Gow Center, which has several recreational activities and resources free for students to use. These include gyms, table tennis, billiards, and football.

Students are also encouraged to venture outside of campus and explore local businesses, watch movies, attend sporting events, or even go skiing. Another popular attraction nearby is the Niagara Falls! 

Beyond hotspots, The Gow School also hosts its own events during weekends. The most notable celebration is the Winter Carnival, which includes an intense pie-eating competition.

The Gow School Academics

Classes consist of about three to seven students who meet six days a week. Time is set aside for students to complete their assignments during a daily 30-minute tutorial and a supervised 2-hour study hall at the end of each school day. The Upper School curriculum consists of English, History, Math, Reconstructive Language, and Science, and throughout the year academic communication is sent eight times to keep parents up to date on student progress, which includes a one-page report for each class and comments from advisors.

The Gow School Athletics

A 50,000 sq. ft. athletics building was built for practice and games for the 15 sports offered at The Gow School. Students also have access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, 2 pool tables, a spin studio, and a golf simulator.

Available sports include Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Intramural Sports Only, Lacrosse, Snowboarding, Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

The Gow School Arts

Oftentimes, students at The Gow School excel at the arts. Since many forms of artistic expression are non-verbal in terms of learning and output, many dyslexic students enjoy developing their art skills. The Gow School’s Fine Arts program covers two areas: Visual Art and Music. 

For visual arts, students can take courses in painting, drawing, 3D art (sculpture), pottery, art history, and (within the Applied Technology Department) computer graphics and photography. Meanwhile, there are no formal music courses, but there are several extracurricular opportunities students can pursue. This includes instrumental and/or voice lessons (for an additional fee), clubs, and small studio recitals.

Many of the art courses offer basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. Additionally, the school allows upper-level students to complete college entrance portfolios through their own assigned studio space.

Activities at The Gow School 

The Gow school offers five clubs including Book Club, Culture Committee, Engineering Club, Operation Hope, and Yearbook Club. There is also a reading period during study hall for students to take time to enjoy a book of their choice.

There are also several leadership opportunities for students to pursue outside of the classroom. These include roles with Student Council, Resident Assistants, Headwaiters, and Health Office and Library Assistants. Other popular groups to join are the Crimson Key Club and Junior Firefighter Program.