Student Support

We devote care and attention to every Lower School student’s academic, physical, emotional, and social development through a team of professionals who work closely with classroom teachers to support student needs.

Learning Specialist

Our Learning Specialist serves as a resource to teachers and a liaison to a network of professionals outside of the school, including educational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and occupational therapists.

Health

Our Lower School nurses provide day-to-day health services to the Lower School student body. In coordination with our Director of Public Safety, the nurses also plan, coordinate, and implement the Lower School safety and disaster preparedness programs.

Counseling Services

Our Lower School counselor coordinates the Community of Caring program to promote and integrate the school's seven core values of trust, respect, responsibility, honesty, caring, diversity, and community into the daily life of the Lower School community. Ms. Taylor also serves as a resource to students, parents, and faculty, helping work through specific student issues and/or developmental concerns.

Advisory

The Middle School Advisory program allows students to develop connections with faculty members who are available to support students throughout their Middle School experience. The faculty advisor helps students integrate into the Brentwood School community both academically and socially, monitoring academic success and steering students toward academic support when necessary.

Advisory discussions address relevant issues for Middle School students. They explore topics of organization, study skills, peer pressure, ethical decision making, and self-advocacy. Brentwood's Core Values are a touchstone throughout these conversations.

Psychologist

Our Middle School psychologist interacts with parents, students, and teachers regarding the social-emotional and interpersonal needs of our students. We take a proactive approach to supporting our students and caring for their social well-being. We strive to get to know each student personally so we can provide them with needed support at any time.

Learning Specialist

The Learning Specialist serves as a resource to teachers and a liaison to a network of professionals outside of the school. Information about the learning processes of students guides teachers to best support the different learners in our classrooms.

Advisory

In the Upper School, students are assigned a faculty advisor who works closely with them throughout their Brentwood journey. Besides weekly small advisory group meetings, advisors and advisees interact informally, having lunch together or sharing leisure time. Advisors often act as liaisons between parents/guardians and the school, working with the Upper School administrative team to facilitate conversation.

Academic advising and College Counseling

All Brentwood School students meet regularly with an academic advisor to select appropriately challenging courses and to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. In 10th grade, students are officially assigned one of Brentwood’s five full-time college counselors. While keeping in mind each student’s personalized path to success, our college counselors help students identify and apply to colleges that fit their unique talents and aspirations. The counselors empower our students to make balanced decisions and be accountable for their choices.

Various school-sponsored events help students and families navigate the college process; they include Case Study Night, College Fair, a number of parent/guardian evenings, essay-writing workshops, and numerous meetings with college reps. Approximately 100 college admissions deans and other representatives visit Brentwood School each fall and winter.

The school also sponsors college trips for Brentwood School students. The sophomores take a two-day trip to California colleges and universities, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, and other institutions. Juniors take a spring break trip to the east coast, concentrating on Northeast and Mid-Atlantic colleges and universities. We recently added a trip to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

Social and emotional Counseling

Professional counselors are available on campus for additional student and family support. When students face challenges at home or in school, they often need an accepting, nonjudgmental adult to help them process their feelings and get through difficult times. School counselors provide advice and encouragement as students and families navigate the high school years. Learn more about our Counseling Program

Learning Specialist

Our Learning Specialist discusses ways that teachers and families can support students academically. When students present a documented learning profile, the Learning Specialist facilitates appropriate accommodations in school and with the College Board.