Forman School

Forman is a great college prep school in a traditional academic setting where teachers are dedicated to the education of the whole student! The campus is beautiful and manageable, class size is small, instruction is varied based upon individual need and there is always support available! Both sports and the arts are offered to interest all students. Communication is great and easy with all staff. Forman helps students learn , adjust and advocate for themselves to prepare for the college environment!

This is my daughter’s third year at Forman and she is now a senior. When she first left for boarding school, we were worried that she was too disorganized to live away from home, both in her school work/executive functioning and in her physical surroundings. When she came home halfway through her first year with a color coded calendar on her phone – which she was updating and using! – I had one of many THANK YOU FORMAN moments. The following year, her room at school was so neat that it was used as a sample room for the admissions office tour guides to show to prospective families viewing the Forman dorms. Wow.

However, the outstanding characteristic of the Forman experience starts with the academics. The faculty and administrators and dorm parents are an incredibly talented and dedicated group. They truly want to understand not just each child’s learning differences, but what makes them tick, and then they structure the teaching to fit those needs. They are also available at all hours to help with a variety of teenage troubles, from personal problems to the significant adjustment of being away from home. I have seen several examples of faculty and staff going far out of their way to help, including on evenings and weekends.

Forman provides a safe, nurturing environment, while at the same time requiring the students to follow rules, be responsible, and have a daily campus job (brief). In my experience, that combination produces a positive atmosphere, inspires confidence and kindness toward others, and fosters a sense of community. They are compassionate and understanding of learning and emotional differences, encourage exploration of interests (academic and otherwise), yet absolutely do not tolerate (happily so) serious infractions of the rules that would harm oneself or others. My daughter struggled academically in a regular education setting, yet is extremely well behaved, so we had concerns about finding a school that could address her academic needs in a non-disruptive environment. Forman fits the bill. In short, I feel like my daughter is in extremely good hands.

With a student entering their third year, Forman continues to deliver, as advertised, a comprehensive education that is going to lead to a college placement, that would be in our experience virtually impossible in any other environment. For a small school, the range of academic, sporting and cultural offerings is enormous, including the Ingenuity Program which is such a great outlet for many truly gifted students. The commitment of the faculty goes beyond what would be expected in so many cases.

Both of our children joined Forman as midyear students, and I was quite impressed with their smooth transition and the warm welcome they received from students and faculty. Forman provides a safe atmosphere for students who learn differently to excel in their academics as well as artistically, athletically and socially. Students are encouraged to understand how they learn and get to know themselves including their strengths and interests. The school's Thinking and Writing program has helped my children approach writing with less panic, and although they probably will never love writing, they both have an understanding of how to structure different types of written work and the technology to assist them in the process. Forman offers so many excellent opportunities such as a curriculum ranging from individualized classes in the learning institute to AP/honors classes, various Winterim offerings, the research Rainforest Project, boat building, performing arts, and now a new summer program. We are absolutely thrilled to be part of a community that knows our children well and understands, accepts and honors learning differences.

A one-of-a-kind school where kids who have struggled with executive function and being students in the past regain their self confidence and self worth. The environment is built to surround kids with support, encouragement and direct instruction in areas including time management, organization, learning issues, and accountability. At Forman the staff builds kids up, all the while holding them accountable to their potential and growth where traditional academic environments tend to punish, consequence and discourage if students struggle. Can't recommend it highly enough as a parent, and my son said he'd write his own review saying only positive things - "Forman is changing my life, mom."

As the academic year comes to a close, we want to reach out to thank everyone who nurtured, guided and supported our son during his three years at Forman School. He just finished his first year at college and, although it was a real reach, he concluded the year with a very respectable GPA. His experiences at Forman enabled him to make it through a challenging academic transition. At Forman, he learned how to study and he learned that hard work pays off. Most importantly, he learned that he must be a self-advocate and to reach out for help when needed. As a result, he met weekly with his professors and attended sessions at the learning center on a regular basis. He never missed a chance for additional support.

We want to thank everyone at Forman who made our son's positive experiences a reality. We are very aware that he has a long road ahead, but he is off to a solid start. Hardly a day goes by that we do not think of you, the teachers and staff at Forman, and how you played a key role in our son's life. Thank you all for your heroic efforts and very hard work.

Fantastic School, really great at communication with parents. Feels like family.

Forman did a really good job of making your dorm friends become your family. a good experience which turned into short-term rather than long.

The teacher to student ratio is spectacular at about 5:1. However, the student to rodent ratio is disapointing. Rodents outnumber humans 69:1

Don't believe their message. Forman does not practice what they preach. From deans harassing students to students punishments getting blown out of proportion. My brother went here and graduated 2 years ago. For almost 80k a year, certainly not worth your time nor money. Better off getting homeschooled. My brother came out of this school not prepared for college and almost failed out his first year at Elon U. Rules are too strict and have no explanation. My brother called me at 9:30pm to tell me they would not let him order food due to him being on certain medicine where he had to eat at odd times. They said thats too bad and he should have snacks in his room! Absurd if you ask me. Think about where you're sending your kid and how they will come back home to you.

-Bobby Rappaport

Other than college help, which was fantastic, it seems like everyone is out to get you, alot of staff have attitudes and hold grudges and they will deny such things. To strict and wanma see kids get thrown out like its their passion.