The Kathleen Thornton School

The Kathleen Thornton School, serving special needs children since 1966, is a program approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education, as an elementary school.  The school is named in honor of Kathleen Thornton, who led the agency from 1940 through 1960.  In addition to providing a smaller classroom and a more individualized education to our students, we provide a number of additional services. 

Students received individual therapy through our Clinical Services department and have access to an onsite nursing staff.  Students living in the Latency Cottage residential program also receive a variety of other therapeutic services delivered through recreational and extra-curricular activities. 

Our students come to us from Springfield Public Schools and neighboring school districts.  Students enrolled in the school often have emotional and behavioral issues addressed while in our programs through skills development and individualized treatment plans.