Advising at Stevenson | Structured for Freedom

At Stevenson, structure isn’t about limiting students -- it’s about helping them develop the skills and confidence to become more independent. Through three daily check-ins, consistent relationships with faculty advisers, goal setting, academic planning, and regular communication with families, Stevenson’s advising program helps students stay connected, manage challenges, and take greater ownership of their school experience. Admissions: admissions@stevenson-school.org Website: stevenson-school.org The Robert Louis Stevenson School is a college-preparatory, therapeutic high school in New York City serving students navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma histories, school refusal, and executive functioning challenges. Through small classes, integrated clinical support, and a relationship-centered community, Stevenson helps students develop the confidence, resilience, and skills they need to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. What This Video Covers 1) Three daily advising check-ins See how students begin, reconnect during, and end each school day with their advising group, creating consistency and opportunities for support throughout the day. 2) Academic organization and goal setting Learn how advisers help students review their progress, set goals, manage assignments, and develop strategies when challenges arise. 3) Wednesday Sheets and student accountability See how weekly teacher feedback helps students understand how they’re doing, identify missing work, and develop a plan before that information is shared with families. 4) Communication with families Hear how advisers serve as an important point of connection among students, families, faculty, the Counseling Center, and school leadership. 5) DBT skills and interpersonal growth Learn how advising provides time for students to practice DBT skills while developing tools for communication, problem-solving, and navigating relationships. 6) Building connection and independence Hear how the consistency of an advising group helps students find belonging, establish routines, reduce stress, and gradually take greater ownership of their school experience. At Stevenson, advising provides more than organization and academic support. By surrounding students with consistent relationships, clear expectations, and opportunities to practice independence, the advising program helps students build the habits and skills they need to navigate school -- and what comes next -- with greater confidence.