East Mountain School

Growth and Healing Through Support and Education

The East Mountain School at Carrier Clinic is a state-approved private special education school for students in grades 7 through 12 who are classified as emotionally disturbed or behaviorally disordered.


Our Mission

Established in 1980, East Mountain School provides a safe, challenging and enriching educational environment that is responsive to students' individual needs, supports their personal growth and development, and encourages them to seek out and take advantage of opportunities to learn and change.


Our Facility

With services available for both day school and residential students, the School features specialized instructional programs, counseling services (including therapists working with licensed therapy dogs when appropriate), a highly-trained and specialized staff, and a very supportive school climate. With a high level of structure and a two-to-one student-to-staff ratio, East Mountain School has provided many troubled adolescents with an opportunity to not only get an education, but to improve their ability to deal with personal issues, and take major steps toward reaching both academic and therapeutic goals.

The East Mountain School is:
  • Approved by the New Jersey Department of Education
  • A member of the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped
  • A member of the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children
  • A member of the Quality Education New Jersey Consortium


Our Students

Students at the East Mountain School have been affected by a variety of psychiatric disorders as well as learning problems, and difficulty interacting with others in and out of school. Prior to coming to East Mountain School, these youths' problems have typically had a significant impact on their education, families and friends. Through its caring staff and continuum of services, East Mountain School has helped many students on a positive path to emotional, academic and professional success.


Our Programs / Offerings

Here are some of the specialized services we offer at the East Mountain School:

  • Individualized education programs for each student based on the standards that meet or exceed state core curriculum requirements, as well as those demarcated with IEP (Individualized Education Program) documents, which allows the School to personalize a student's program so it meets requirements for high school in the state of New Jersey.
  • Emphasis on a strong clinical approach in supporting and modifying affective student behaviors based on development of individualized "Behavioral Intervention Plans." Services include extended therapeutic support based on the needs identified within student's IEP's and facilitated by a group of highly-trained social workers/therapists.
  • Planned and focused Therapeutic Group sessions with students that focus on identified affective and behavioral goals.
  • Professionally-trained Teacher Assistants scheduled for all academic and specialist classrooms offering both academic and affective support.
  • On-staff Reading Specialist who supports and extends services in the Reading/Language area, including remediation.
  • Physical Education/Health Instruction as part of the regular school program, and augmented by a Competitive Sports Program, offering organized sports activities with other schools.
  • Extended Technology program that promotes the student's use of technology to enhance the learning process.
  • A student "Life Skills" program designed to support and extend real life-based learning experiences for the students. This is facilitated by a teacher who has also earned her certification as a Structured Learning Experience Coordinator, enabling the implementation of additional programming to prepare students for job and vocational training opportunities.
  • Opportunities for students to participate in a unique Community Service program with constituents both on and off the school campus.
  • A Creative Arts program where students can create personalized projects within the fine arts content area.
  • School Guidance Counselors who augment the School program by supporting students in the academic as well as employment arena.