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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.
Basketball Team, Cross Country Team, Golf Team, Soccer, Tennis Team
School Notes
School Motto: Unlocking the Potential at Pilot
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.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
John Lippincott - Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and music producer -
The Pilot School's tuition is approximately $39,900 for private students.
What schools are The Pilot School often compared to?
The Pilot School is often viewed alongside schools like Centreville Layton School by visitors of our site.
Who are famous alumni from The Pilot School?
The Pilot School famous alumni include: John Lippincott - Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and music producer and Amanda Castro, M.D. - Psychiatrist, Nemours Children’s Hospital.
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. Note key dates such as:
Grades: K-12 | 160 students13.9 miles 91 Salem Church Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 547-2285
13.9
K-12
160
School Reviews
5.00 out of 5(4 reviews)
511/21/2022
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 Parent - Linda
51/12/2022
I'm truly interested n doing something that I feel that I can achieve.
- Posted by Student/Alumni - Hunter
58/11/2021
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 Parent - JB
54/22/2021
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 Parent - JDM
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The average private school tuition in Wilmington, DE is $18,760 for elementary schools and $23,424 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
