Gordon School

This is our third year at The Gordon School and we could not be happier! We moved to Rhode Island from out of state during the pandemic, with a rising 3rd grader who we were worried about transitioning to a new school and a new preschooler, and feel so incredibly lucky to have found Gordon during a period of such an intense transition for our family. Our sons immediately connected with their classmates and teachers, and we all felt so comfortable from day one. The sense of community and belonging here is so special, and the focus on social-emotional learning and diversity, equity, and inclusion makes Gordon a truly welcoming environment. The teachers and administration are exceedingly committed to making learning fun and exciting and meeting the students where they are.

The Gordon School is an extraordinary school. My son is in 5th grade and has been at the school since Young Kindergarten. My daughter had been in public school and transferred to Gordon in 6th grade. She is in 8th grade. We have been impressed with our children's experiences in every division, every year. The teachers are wonderful. The administration is dedicated to the mission of the school. Gordon makes learning fun and exciting. It has instilled a love of learning in both of my children. We feel very well supported in the high school search process we are embarking on. We are sad to see our daughter leave the amazing community at Gordon, but we know she is more than ready for the next step thanks to the depth and breadth of her experiences at Gordon.

We feel so lucky to have our kids at Gordon. Every day, they are excited to go to school, where they are growing socially and intellectually, and engaging meaningfully with the world they inhabit. As parents, we also feel like full members of the Gordon community--learning and growing right alongside our children. It's truly a full-family experience!

I am the parent of two Gordon children and I love the teachers, curriculum, and community. My oldest began in first grade and my youngest began in preschool (age 4-5). My oldest began below benchmark in reading and in the early weeks of the year, was in a program that allows teachers and specialists to work more intensively with students who need more support. The ability to have differentiated instruction (more challenge or more support) was one of the things that drew me to Gordon. Her transition to her class and the community was pretty seamless. Within a week, you couldn't tell she was the new kid. It seemed like everyone in the surrounding grades knew her and greeted her with care and love. Despite being a bit "behind" and a methodical, cautious kid who takes her time, she was never stigmatized for being "slow." Her teachers showed an appreciation for her learning style and a commitment to helping her strengthen her skills while keeping a love of reading. I worried that being "behind" would leave my kid feeling frustrated and discouraged. On the contrary, she moved through and beyond the benchmarks because she loved reading! At Gordon, my kids (and I) are seen and valued for who we are. They're skilled, caring, and empathic teachers have nurtured their love of learning, challenging and supporting each of them where they are at any given moment. Equally important, my children have developed a deep respect for and sense of responsibility to their community and to the world. This, for me, is the true value of education: to learn to think, to analyze, to communicate, and to keep learning for the sake of having an impact on the world to make it a better place!

We think of Gordon as our third parent, giving our two children the opportunity to grow and take risks in a nurturing environment. The diversity and keen attention to social justice is woven inextricably into the curriculum, resulting in academic excellence that prepares our children for a lifetime of empathy and connection. Modeling lifelong learning, Gordon's teachers are tireless in their pursuit professional development. The practice of teaching to every child is complex, yet they approach each challenge as an opportunity to expand their expertise. We feel that the school is in partnership with our family to grow and nurture our children with joy and playful curiosity.

Our Fifth grader has been at Gordon since Kindergarten. We were immediately drawn to the school because there was an obvious focus and celebration of childhood, Academic programs are excellent and the faculty highly supportive and encouraging to the students. Our Bi-racial child sees classmates, teachers and administration that look like him. Everyone is respected and celebrated for who they are. We love it!

Gordon takes the time to get to know not only your student in meaningful ways, but also your entire family. There is a joyful spirit of curiousness and exploration at all grade levels, and our children love going to school. Gordon's focus on equity and inclusion is an essential part of the community fabric, and we consider Gordon a third parent in helping shape our girls' sense of themselves in relation to others in caring and compassionate ways.