Delaware Valley Friends School

Delaware Valley Friends School (DVFS) was founded in 1986 by Irene McHenry. Located in Paoli, Pennsylvania, DVFS offers secondary Quaker education for students in grades 6-12 who have learning differences. DVFS is the only Quaker upper school in the Philadelphia region structured for this purpose.

DVFS teachers are trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, particular to address the needs of dyslexic, dysgraphic and attention deficit students. The school is also known for its small class sizes, cutting edge technology, and concentrated attention on skill-building

The teacher-to-student ratio at DVFS is approximately 5 to 1, which allows teachers to measure what skills students have and understand what skills they need to accomplish their work. The goal at DVFS is not to “catch students up,” but to gain more than one year of skill improvement per year.

Quaker beliefs and values shape the fabric of daily life at DVFS. A fundamental optimism and caring respect underlie all interpersonal interactions. The Friends educational approaches, as well as innovative teaching, are replicated during the Summer Program, which runs from June to August, and features one-on-one tutorials, art classes and intensive instruction to advance reading and writing skills.

Remember the school motto, I want to be your friend; will you be my friend too?

External links

• Official Web Site