At Perkins, our mission is clear: We help children with disabilities find their place in the world. Perkins offers a continuum of services to address every need, ability and age infancy through young adulthood because we believe every child can learn and has the right to unlock opportunities to define their own success.
Perkins School for the Blind serves students with visual impairments, CVI, deafblindness and CHARGE from birth through age 22. We teach the Expanded Core Curriculum to help students access core academics and acquire the social and independent living skills their sighted peers learn incidentally.
Perkins offers a continuum of education and services where and when you need us, including teacher training online and at our campus, courses for professional development and graduate credit, independent comprehensive evaluations, assistive technology solutions, teachers and professionals for the visually impaired who can supplement your school's resources, and transition programs that prepare young adults for college, independent living and/or the workplace.
Off campus itinerant teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) and deafblind specialists provide direct and consultative services throughout New England. Learn more at Perkins.org.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked MA School
- School Type: Special Education School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-12
- Average class size: 4 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Perkins School For The Blind ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
School History
School Overview
School Type
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Blind, visually impaired, deafblind, with or without additional disabilities
Year Founded
1829
Summer School Offered
Yes
Student Body
Total Students
n/a
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Academics and Faculty
Average Class Size
4 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
State-Approved Rates
Summer Program Cost Notes
Perkins offers summer outreach courses.
Admissions Director
Amy Fox Ferreira, Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Admissions Associate
Rachel Bennett
Sports
Total Sports Offered
5 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Grousbeck Center for Students and Technology
Arts and Music Programs:
Chorus, Handbells, Internet Radio Station, Piano Instruction, Recording Studio
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Goalball
Grousbeck Center for Students and Technology
Arts and Music Programs:
Chorus, Handbells, Internet Radio Station, Piano Instruction, Recording Studio
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Goalball
School Notes
- Founded in 1829 as the first school for the blind in the U.S., Perkins School for the Blind offers equitable educational and learning opportunities for every student. We offer an environment where students are able to develop strong social skills, forge meaningful connections with peers, take part in school traditions, and participate fully in all areas of the Perkins school community.Our culture is built upon a foundation of positive relationships with students and their families. Committed to developing each child's maximum level of self-reliance and independence, our experts individualize programs for students of all abilities and provide customized instruction in academics, independent living, assistive technology, vocational training, and more.We are experts in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), a disability-specific curriculum designed for children with visual impairment that helps them access core academics and address the social and independent living skills their sighted peers learn incidentally. We integrate the expanded core curriculum across all teaching and learning opportunities and emphasize instruction in self-determination and self-advocacy. Our programs place a premium on transitioning students for success after leaving Perkins, facilitating a path toward meaningful engagement in their communities, employment or college.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports does Perkins School For The Blind offer?
Perkins School For The Blind offers 5 interscholastic sports: Cheering, Cycling, Swimming, Track and Field and Wrestling.
What is Perkins School For The Blind's ranking?
Perkins School For The Blind ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for: Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Perkins School For The Blind?
The application deadline for Perkins School For The Blind is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
School Reviews
Endorse Perkins School For The Blind. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
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