“All kids should be able to go off to college,” Palmer said. “But what about the kids who don’t want to go straight to college or are bright enough to have a passion right now? Wouldn’t it be great if a student could graduate not only with a diploma, but also a certification and career?” Because of the way schools and jobs traditionally work, some of the students come to The Cottage School defeated, he said. “They aren’t feeling successful,” Palmer said. “They didn’t fail. The system failed them.” One student, Carter, an 11th grader at the school, thrived so much at the school, he even inspired his mom, who is now the Director of Admissions, Brenda Fetherston Hall.She said she saw such a difference in him that her own passion was ignited. “It’s an emotional journey,” she said. “It’s just a bend in your road. You’re ultimately attempting to find the right fit for your child.” If students are in the right educational environment, it’s amazing to see how successful they quickly become, she said. The unique combination of her admissions position and her knowledge as a parent has proven to be a great assistance in easing parents’ minds. “We don’t have to sell the 40 | Education Answer Book 2017
The Cottage School • 12-month rolling admissions • Year-round sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, cross country and tennis • Stunning 23-acre wooded campus providing an experiential educational environment • Outdoor electives that include archery, mountain biking, canoeing and equestrian • Other electives also include culinary arts, fine arts, music and rock climbing High School Overview: • College preparedness • Career planning • Post-secondary plan required for graduation • Dedicated team of guidance counselors and advisors
school, the school sells itself,” Hall said. “It’s a big benefit for the parents to know someone who’s gone through it. I can talk from both ends, as an employee, but also a parent who can truly say ‘this is what we do here.’” Admission into the school is rolling, so a student who needs to start school won’t have to wait until the next semester. At the beginning of January 11 new students were enrolled.
“Those are students who started in another environment and thought, ‘we’ll make a go of it.’ But it ends up not working and realize there’s a need to make a more immediate change. Let’s address the academic, social and emotional issues your student is having now and get them enrolled.” If she could boil the school down to one word, Hall said she would choose “hope.” “We have students who have a lack of self-confidence, don’t know how to advocate for themselves or have suffered from anxiety from being in a classroom that’s too large or with a teacher who doesn’t understand they learn differently,” Hall said. “The Cottage School is a blank canvas for these kids. It gives them the hope for school to be anything they want it to be, and more. It’s life changing for the students, parents and staff. It’s a magical place.”