Gow School

The Gow School
Location
2491 Emery Road
South Wales, New York 14139

United States

42°42′32″N 78°34′57″W / 42.708809°N 78.582627°W / 42.708809; -78.582627
Information
TypeIndependent
Established1926
FounderPeter Gow, Jr.
CEEB code335290
NCES School ID
00941795
Head of School
John Munro
Faculty32.3 (on an FTE basis)
Grades5–PG
Enrollment130 (2022–23)
Student to teacher ratio
4:1
CampusRural, 100-acre (0.4 km2)
ColorsCrimson and navy blue
MascotRaven
AccreditationNew York State Association of Independent Schools
School fees
$2,500 (bookstore deposit)
Tuition$77,500 (boarding), $57,500 (day)
Revenue$12,450,580
Websitewww.gow.org

The Gow School is a college-prep boarding and day school located in South Wales, New York, United States, a hamlet close to Buffalo. It is for students, grades 6–12, with dyslexia and similar language-based learning disabilities, such as include developmental coordination disorder, auditory processing disorder, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and disorder of written expression. Students may also have attention (ADD or ADHD) or executive function difficulties. The school was founded in 1926 by educator Peter Gow, along with insight from his colleague, neurologist Dr. Samuel T. Orton.

History

The Gow School has its roots in the early teaching experience of founder Peter Gow Jr., who as an instructor at Choate Rosemary Hall, Nichols School, and The Park School of Buffalo had become interested in the plight of students who, though clearly intellectually able, struggled with certain aspects of learning in the language domain, especially spelling and reading. After contacting Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a noted New York physician who had done pioneering work in the area of dyslexia, Gow began development of the Reconstructive Language methodology that has been the backbone of the Gow School program since its founding.

Gow’s college preparatory curriculum is presented using a multi-sensory format integrated with educational technology. The school maintains a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, focusing on the remediation of language based learning differences (reading, written expression, spelling, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder and dyscalculia) through a phonics based program known as Reconstructive Language, based on Orton-Gillingham principles. In addition to academics, Gow provides athletic programs, fine arts courses, and a and is situated on a 125-acre campus(0.4 km2) campus.

In 2020, former students came forward with credible allegations of sexual misconduct in the late 80's and early 90's. In March 2025, former Gow School administrator Matthew Fisher pled guilty to charges of possessing and producing child pornography on the Gow School campus in Gow dormitories Matthew Fisher was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment.

Campus

Orton Hall, built in 1987, houses the student study and the Constantine Computer Center.

Issac Arnold Library was built in 1978 and contains the school library and a number of administrative offices.

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Gow School". Private School Universe Survey. National Center for Education Statistics. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Gow School". School Directory. New York State Association of Independent Schools. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021. Unless designated as "Associate, Association, or Provisional", all schools are Full members of NYSAIS. Only Full Member schools are accredited by NYSAIS.
  3. 1 2 "Financial Aid & Tuition". The Gow School. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ "IRS form 990" (PDF). ProPublica. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  5. ↑ Peterson's summer opportunities for kids and teenagers (8th ed.). Princeton, New Jersey: Peterson's. 1991. p. 504. ISBN 9780878669721.
  6. ↑ "The Gow School". dyslexia-reading-well.com. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Survivor of Alleged Sexual Abuse Accuses Gow School of Negligence".
  8. ↑ "Gow School responds to sexual abuse allegations by former students". December 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ https://www.wivb.com/news/crime/former-administrator-at-erie-county-school-admits-to-production-of-child-pornography/amp/
  10. ↑ https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_7d4c5780-f919-11ef-9908-2fe459746fa0.html
  11. 1 2 Peterson's Private secondary schools 2005 (25th ed.). Peterson's. 2004. p. 1340. ISBN 9780768913644.
  12. ↑ "McCabe-Baxter Rite Held in Burlington". The Charleston Daily Mail. January 13, 1971. OCLC 1002028893. Retrieved December 18, 2023. Mr. McCabe, whose father is president of the Brooks McCabe Insurance is a graduate of the Gow School, South Wades, N.
  13. ↑ Kinas, Roxan. "Brian Talma: King of the Waves". Caribbean Beat. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ Kinas, Roxan. "Brian Talma Finding His Wave of Success". American Windsurfer. Retrieved December 17, 2023.