Why DVFriends?

Lower school student racing teacher Khalil Munir in gym class

DVFriends stands apart in a region known for its many education options. We invite you to learn more about what sets us apart and makes us one of the nation's best schools for bright students who learn differently.

As you come to know us—in person and on this site, where you can Register for an Admissions Information Session or tour or make an appointment—we trust you will recognize a unique community with a nurturing culture led by expert faculty members who partner for success with students and families.

Our community reflected on the unique characteristics of DVFriends, identifying 10 Guiding Principles to express our aspirations and the impact of this outstanding education.

Our culture places added value on...

Inherent Worth. Our Quaker beliefs shape who we are. Students, once underestimated, learn to recognize their strengths and celebrate the infinite inherent worth in everyone.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. We are working toward being a meaningfully inclusive community—seeing the world through others’ eyes, and bringing respect, empathy, and understanding to all of our interactions.

Balance. We help DVFriends families put school and life into balance as students find the time and courage to experiment with a new sport or instrument or try out for the school musical for the first time.

Our learning community finds shared success through...

Education by Specialists. Experts in LD education, our faculty's deep understanding of our students helps them to craft flexible curricula, enabling students to gain the confidence to reach farther and succeed.

Responsive Innovation. Introducing research-based approaches to their classrooms, our teachers meet students where they are—and often find themselves pioneering best practices.

Community Built on Partnerships. We foster connections at DVFriends, leading to the teacher-student and teacher-family partnerships that build trust and yield achievement.

Our students thrive and experience transformation by embracing...

Knowledge & Skills. Success depends on students becoming independent learners and it starts with an uncommon level of commitment to academic remediation and skills-building—across grades and classes.

Self-Advocacy. Once students understand their strengths and how they learn, they can overcome any barrier and achieve their ambitions—in college and anywhere life takes them.

Experience-based Learning. The most profound learning often happens outside DVFriends classrooms, from STEM competitions to immersive travel to senior internships.

Leadership. Our students become leaders—establishing clubs, working for social justice, recommending green practices, new courses, and sports teams, and pursuing socially-conscious service projects.

DVFriends serves students who live with one or more of the following:

Specific Learning Disability
Reading Disorder/Dyslexia
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Executive Functioning Disorder
Disorder of Written Expression/Dysgraphia
Mathematics Disorder/Dyscalculia
Auditory Processing Disorder
Expressive/Receptive Language Disorder
Memory or Processing Speed Challenges
Non-Verbal Learning Disability