The Grove School program is a co-educational, therapeutic boarding school for adolescents who, because of social/emotional difficulties, have been unable to make satisfactory adjustments in their home, their school, or their social relationships.

The Grove School provides a therapeutic milieu for young people who are experiencing emotional and learning challenges that affect the quality of their lives. By weaving our various therapeutic facets into a seamless whole, we provide an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth and the development of meaningful relationships.

The creation of a seamless interface between academic, clinical, residential, and administrative components is the foundation of our treatment model. This resulting therapeutic environment addresses each student’s unique individual needs as well as their social and interpersonal responsibilities and obligations. Self-respect, accountability for one’s decisions and actions, the capacity to develop trusting relationships, and the successful navigation of academic demands are the goals of our treatment program.

The Grove School occupies a unique place in the annals of Therapeutic Boarding Schools. We are one of the oldest, private, stand-alone programs of its kind in the United States. Founded in 1934 and originally called a Residential Treatment Center, Grove is now officially a Residential Education Center, more affectionately known as a Therapeutic Boarding School. We are located on over 90 acres of beautifully wooded land in the shoreline town of Madison, Connecticut.

Our philosophy of a holistic treatment program, embedded within a creative and individualized academic program, has evolved over the years with input from the varied backgrounds and experiences of its owners, as well as many important professionals who have contributed their ideas, interests, creativity, and hard work over 70 years. The program is very different from other Therapeutic Boarding Schools that fall within this general category.

The Grove School was founded by Dr. J. Perlman in 1934. Dr. J. Sanford Davis was Executive Director from 1955 – 1986. Richard Chorney became the Executive Director in 1986 and then President and CEO in 2000. Peter Chorney took over the responsibilities of Executive Director in 2000. The Grove School is a family run organization with continuing day to day involvement in all aspects of the program. The Grove School is a proprietary corporation with a Board of Advisors representing many fields of expertise including medicine, education, business and law. We are also proud to have former parents and former students as Board members.

The Grove School is approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education. It is also licensed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. We are members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the International Society of Adolescent Psychiatry (ISAP), the National Association of Treatment Schools and Programs (NATSAP), the Independent Small Programs Alliance (ISPA), and an affiliate of the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH). We also support the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).