The Pilot School

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The Pilot School Photo #1 - Our 50 acre campus provides ample opportunities for our students to learn outside the traditional school walls. Surrounded by 2,000 acres of parkland, our campus was built with nature at its center and this is woven into the curriculum and into free time.
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The Pilot School Photo #1 - Our 50 acre campus provides ample opportunities for our students to learn outside the traditional school walls. Surrounded by 2,000 acres of parkland, our campus was built with nature at its center and this is woven into the curriculum and into free time.
The Pilot School Photo #2 - Built in 2017, Pilot's state-of-the-art building is intentionally designed to foster a calm, light-infused learning environment which helps our students unlock their potential.
The Pilot School Photo #3 - Nature is a big part of Pilot School so it isn't surprising that our main lobby features some local rocks unearthed during the school's construction. Grouped around our indoor fireplace, this cozy grotto is used as a alternate classroom or a meeting space.
The Pilot School Photo #4 - The music program at Pilot is lead by a licensed Music Therapist and introduces the students to keyboards, drums, and guitars. The students are having fun without realizing our talented music director is helping them stretch their goals and increase their confidence. A state of the art recording studio is included.
The Pilot School Photo #5 - Our salt water swimming pool is kept at a comfortable therapeutic temperature of 82 degrees. With four quadrants, our pool is age appropriate for all of our students.
The Pilot School Photo #6 - The classroom does not always mean a desk and chairs. With a variety of teaching spaces, inside and out, our teachers move their class to take advantage of sun light, alternate seating options, and physically stimulating learning settings.
The Pilot School Photo #7 - Physical, occupational, music and speech therapies are incorporated into the school day.
The Pilot School Photo #8 - School should be fun! We know the educational and emotional advantages of having happy, confident children address challenging tasks. Our school is designed to support this. Happy learners are better learners.
The Pilot School Photo #9 - Our motto is to "unlock the potential" of each Pilot student. We encourage our students to explore new things and learn how they best learn. Our graduates are strong self-advocates who understand what they need and how they learn.
Founded in 1957, The Pilot School is an independent therapeutic day school for children ages five through fourteen with normal intellectual potential who experience language based learning differences.
The program is individualized for each student, whole child centered, and taught in small groups utilizing diagnostic/prescriptive teaching.
The student to teacher ratio is 5:1.  Strengths are challenged and utilized every day.
Emphasis on the mastery of foundation skills including auditory and visual perceptual, motor, listening, speaking, and social skills, supports growth in reading, mathematics, spelling, thinking, reasoning, and written expression.
The goal is to return students to regular education as independent, active learners who are able to perform successfully at their chronological grade level.
Three to five years is the approximate length of time students are enrolled.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Special Education School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Enrollment: 144 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $39,900
  • Average class size: 7 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, Language-Based
Year Founded
1957
Awards
 Blue Ribbon School - Selected in n/a

Student Body

Total Students
144 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
10%
State avg.: 28%
Students by Grade
The Pilot School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
39 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
National avg.: 13:1
Average Class Size
7 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Optional uniform

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition includes all in-school therapies.
% on Financial Aid
50%
Admissions Director
Alli Williams
Admissions Associate
Stephanie Raymond

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
9 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Drama Club, Lego Club, Science Explorers, Yoga

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Basketball Team, Cross Country Team, Golf Team, Soccer, Tennis Team

School Notes

  • On site therapeutic support includes physical, occupational, speech, language, and music therapies, a therapeutic art program, adaptive physical education, a nurse, counselor, and school psychologist. Science, social studies, swimming, physical education, library, and technology round out each child's program.
  • A variety of both specialized and regular education programs are available in order to meet each child's individual learning strengths and challenges.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Pilot School cost?
The Pilot School's tuition is approximately $39,900 for private students.
What sports does The Pilot School offer?
The Pilot School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Intramural Sports Only, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball.
When is the application deadline for The Pilot School?
The application deadline for The Pilot School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Calendar

View the The Pilot School yearly calendar below.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (4 reviews)
5  
My son went here from approximately 2010-2015. (He graduated right before they moved into the current location). This school was a life changer. The teachers and administration were amazing. I could not be more grateful for what they were able to do for my son.
- Posted by
5  
I'm truly interested n doing something that I feel that I can achieve.
- Posted by
5  
The pilot was a fantastic choice for my son! He received an individualized education that was custom-made for him. Pilot students are so lucky - they have spectacular faculty who know how to teach children with language-based learning differences. My son went on to Sanford School for high school and UD for college and is a thriving self-supporting 28 years old who got his foundational skills at Pilot. I cannot say enough good things about this hidden gem - all students would benefit from a Pilot education!
- Posted by
5  
Pilot has been a game changer for my child and our family. Our child has dyslexia and dyscalculia but is otherwise a 100% typical child. Her learning differences made her stick out like a sore thumb at her old school and were severely impacting her confidence. After just a few months at Pilot, she gained several reading levels and her math skills improved. Homework that used to be a battle was done mostly at school at extended care and there were no more tears or fights at home! Our family dynamic shifted from us being the "bad guys" trying to get her to do what she needed to do, to us being able to just be her parents. Pilot is giving her the tools and confidence she needs to manage her learning issues long-term while helping her improve her reading and math skills. The small class size, differentiated instruction and individualized curriculums are all things a typical school just can't provide due to a lack of resources and expertise. Pilot has the formula for success for any child with language based learning differences. Moreover, they have incredible PE, art and music programs led by teachers with expertise in learning differences. The facility is second-to-none: a slide from the 2nd floor to 1st floor in the library, a huge zero-entry salt water pool, a rock wall, a sprawling campus...I could go on and on. Just go see it! While we didn't use these services, so I cannot speak to them, they also have on-site OT, PT, and FT Psychologist and therapies can be provided during the school day. What more could you ask for?? And don't let the sticker price scare you off - Pilot will try and meet financial need to ensure all children who need a specialized education can get it. AND, they remained in-person the entire time during COVID!
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Special Education School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Enrollment: 144 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $39,900
  • Average class size: 7 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Wilmington, DE is $16,885 for elementary schools and $20,575 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Wilmington, DE is 88% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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