Learning Specialized Education
The goal is to transition students back to public school or graduate ready for their adult lives.
VHBG’s John G. Wood School (JGW) is a fully-accredited K-12 private day school that has been serving students since 1974. JGW is just the right size to serve students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who have demonstrated that they cannot be successful in a public school setting due to emotional and behavioral health challenges, usually resulting from the trauma they have experienced such as abuse, neglect, homelessness, and bereavement.
JGW’s specialized education is based on the philosophy that youth can best succeed where there is a concern for the total individual. Each classroom has a lead teacher and a behavioral coach who work as a team to provide academic and behavioral support.
Staff members are trained in evidence-based practices to be empathetic to a student’s actions, and to intervene in a positive way when a student is exhibiting the effects of trauma.
Some residents of VHBG’s group homes attend JGW in addition to students who commute from multiple localities in the Richmond region.
VHBG’s John G. Wood School is accredited by VAISEF, whose accreditation process has been approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education as authorized by the Virginia State Board of Education. JGW is licensed by the Virginia DOE and aligned with Virginia SOLs. Teachers and trained behavior coaches incorporate the Teaching-Family model into the curriculum.
Disability Categories Served
Autism
Emotional Disability
Intellectual Disability
Other Health Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Speech or Language Impairment
Services We Offer
Individual and group counseling as needed
Positive behavior support program
Full-time art teacher
Reading Specialist
Educational outings
Community volunteer projects
CTE Classes (Culinary Arts)
Richmond Alternative School Sports League (RASSL)
We are pleased to announce a $ 1 million total renovation of our 13,816 square-foot dining hall facility.
We’re thankful to our loyal and generous VHBG donors who made this renovation possible. Construction began in the spring of 2020 to the building that was built in 1966 and has been used on a daily basis ever since. While we can’t wait for you to see it in person, we wanted you to get a “taste” of this wonderful and innovative campus space.
Please enjoy this virtual tour video of our new dining hall.