CORNERSTONE INCLUSION PROGRAM

Cornerstone Inclusion Program

Supporting students. Building independence. Creating belonging.

The Cornerstone Inclusion Program provides individualized academic support for qualifying students with mild disabilities while creating meaningful opportunities for inclusion in the Mount St. Mary community.

The Cornerstone Experience

What Cornerstone Provides

Individualized support helps students grow academically, socially, and personally while participating in the life of The Mount.

Individualized Academics

Modified curriculum and assignments, individualized reading and mathematics instruction, small-group support, and alternative assessment options designed around each student’s needs.

Skills for Independence

Support with organization, study skills, self-advocacy, practical life skills, and strategies that encourage students to become increasingly independent.

A Place to Belong

Peer mentorship, social support, participation in school activities, and meaningful opportunities to build relationships within the greater Mount St. Mary community.

Program Eligibility

Is Cornerstone Right for My Student?

Cornerstone is designed for students who can benefit from a modified academic program while participating as independently as possible in the Mount St. Mary community.

Entering as a Freshman Students are admitted to the program as incoming ninth-grade students.

Age 14–17 Students should fall within the program’s age range at the time of enrollment.

Current Testing Current psychoeducational testing is required as part of the application process.

Independent Self-Care Students must be able to independently manage personal care needs.

Independent Participation Students must be able to participate without the support of a full-time educational assistant.

Academic Readiness Students typically perform within approximately a first- through fourth-grade academic range in English and mathematics.

Understanding the Certificate of Completion

Because Cornerstone students participate in a modified academic curriculum, students who successfully complete the program receive a Certificate of Completion rather than a traditional high school diploma.

Peer-to-Peer Inclusion

What is a Cornerstone Scholar?

Cornerstone Scholars are Mount St. Mary students without disabilities who choose to take an elective course that allows them to work alongside students in the Cornerstone Inclusion Program.

Through shared classroom experiences, Scholars help support meaningful inclusion while building friendships and developing a deeper understanding of different abilities, accommodations, and the importance of belonging.

For Cornerstone students, these relationships create greater access to the full high school experience and meaningful connections with their peers.

Application Process

Applying to the Cornerstone Inclusion Program

The application process is designed to help our team thoughtfully determine whether the Cornerstone Inclusion Program is a good fit for each student.

Step 01

Application & Records

Families begin by submitting:

Cornerstone Inclusion Program Application for Admission
Current psychoeducational testing completed within the last three years
Current Individualized Education Program (IEP)
$100 nonrefundable application fee

Step 02

Program Review

After the initial application review, the next phase may include:

An interview with the prospective student and family
Participation in the student’s IEP transition meeting
Observation in the student’s current educational setting
Two required full-day Shadow Visits at Mount St. Mary

Admission Decision

Admission to the Cornerstone Inclusion Program is determined following successful completion of the application and program review process.

Annual Program Fee

Students enrolled in the Cornerstone Inclusion Program pay an additional $1,000 annual program fee in addition to regular Mount St. Mary tuition and fees.