The Kildonan School

What The Kildonan School does

The Kildonan School is a private nonprofit educational organization headquartered at a 460-acre campus in Amenia, New York, focused exclusively on dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Founded by Diana Hanbury King — a pioneer who was personally trained by Anna Gillingham — the organization launched Camp Dunnabeck in 1955 as a summer program for students with dyslexia and opened The Kildonan School in 1969 to deliver year-round instruction. The Kildonan School closed in August 2019 due to low enrollment and rising campus costs, but the parent organization has continued operating through two remaining programs.

Name

The Kildonan School

Legal name

The Kildonan School

Website

https://kildonan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Kildonan School is a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with dyslexia and language-based learning differences through Camp Dunnabeck (a residential summer program) and the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute (KTTI), which trains educators in the Orton-Gillingham approach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services for Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Differences

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dyslexia & Structured Literacy (Orton-Gillingham) Tutoring (EDANAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Structured Literacy / Orton-Gillingham Intervention Services (EDAKAJAC), Multisensory Learning Programs & Curriculum for Dyslexia/LD (EDAKAJAL), Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)

Keywords

• Dyslexia education
• Teacher training
• Summer camp programs
• Reading remediation
• Literacy instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Amenia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. KTTI Teacher Training Courses: Revenue from Orton-Gillingham certification courses including Certified Level I ($1,250), Certified Level II ($1,250), and Associate Level ($2,500). Additional revenue from practicum supervision services.
2. Summer Camp Tuition: Camp Dunnabeck operates as a boarding and day camp for students ages 8-16 with dyslexia, providing 1-to-1 OG language remediation combined with recreational activities. Note: Camp is pausing 2026 operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Kildonan School organization delivers specialized educational services for individuals with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Its current operating programs are Camp Dunnabeck (a six-week residential summer camp for ages 8-16 combining 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham tutoring with recreation), the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute (KTTI) (an Orton-Gillingham Academy-accredited educator certification and practicum supervision program), and one-to-one diagnostic-prescriptive Orton-Gillingham tutoring covering decoding, phonological awareness, fluency, comprehension, spelling, and written expression.

Product overview

The Kildonan School operates a portfolio of educational programs focused on dyslexia and language-based learning differences: Camp Dunnabeck provides a six-week residential summer camp combining 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham tutoring with recreational activities for students ages 8-16; the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute (KTTI) trains educators in Orton-Gillingham methodology through accredited courses and practicum supervision; and one-to-one tutoring services deliver diagnostic-prescriptive language intervention. These programs work together to fulfill the organization's mission of revealing and illuminating the strengths of individuals with dyslexia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kildonan Teacher Training Institute (KTTI): Fully accredited teacher training institute offering Orton-Gillingham training, practicum supervision, and student diagnostics. Empowers individuals with dyslexia and supports literacy broadly by educating teachers in the best practices of the Orton-Gillingham approach.
• Camp Dunnabeck

Products and services

• Camp Dunnabeck An academic summer residential and day camp for students ages 8-16 with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, combining 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham language remediation (including decoding, phonological awareness, fluency, reading comprehension, spelling, and written expression) with recreational activities. Celebrating 70 years of operation, it is the oldest summer program of its kind.
• Kildonan Teacher Training Institute (KTTI) A fully Orton-Gillingham Academy-accredited teacher training institute offering OG training and practicum supervision at Certified Level I ($1,250), Certified Level II ($1,250, January-February 2026 dates), Associate Level ($2,500 plus ~$100 materials, 70 hours), and Classroom Educator tiers, plus informal screenings, comprehensive reading evaluations, and standardized testing services.
• One-to-One Orton-Gillingham Tutoring Intensive diagnostic-prescriptive 1-to-1 Orton-Gillingham language remediation delivered individually to students with dyslexia; instruction is customized to each learner's needs using standardized and criterion-based testing to determine skill-building requirements, covering decoding, phonological awareness, fluency training, reading comprehension, spelling, and written expression, with pre- and post-battery of standardized testing to measure progress.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students return to school rested, relaxed, and ready for success

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Green River Literacy and Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Laurie Cousseau, KTTI Director. Represents her professional practice outside of Kildonan. Cousseau served as Director of KTTI from 2001 to 2017 and returned as Director in 2025.
• The Southport CoLABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaurie Cousseau partners with The Southport CoLAB to provide educator training and consultation services alongside her KTTI role.
• Camp Spring CreekminorOthersRecommended alternative overnight camp in Bakersville, NC for families seeking dyslexia-focused summer programs. Accredited by Orton-Gillingham Academy and vetted by Kildonan team.
• Durango Mountain CampminorOthersRecommended full-day and overnight camp in Durango, CO. Accredited by Orton-Gillingham Academy and vetted by Kildonan team.
• The Southport School Summer Academic ProgramminorOthersRecommended half-day program in Southport, CT that partners with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club for full-day camp activities. Accredited by Orton-Gillingham Academy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Camp Spring Creek: An OGA-accredited residential summer camp in Bakersville, NC serving students with dyslexia, explicitly recommended by Kildonan as a referral alternative to Camp Dunnabeck. Operates the same 1-to-1 OG tutoring + recreation model for ages 8–16.
• Jemicy School: Independent day and boarding school in Owings Mills, MD serving bright students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences; closely comparable in target population, methodology, and curricular approach.
• The Forman School: Independent college-prep boarding school in Litchfield, CT exclusively for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences; directly competes with what the closed Kildonan residential program served and runs its own diagnostic-prescriptive model.
• The Lab School of Washington: Independent K–12 school in Washington, DC for students with ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and language-based learning differences; uses a research-informed diagnostic-prescriptive model very similar to Kildonan's.
• Landmark School: Residential school in Beverly, MA for students with dyslexia, ADHD and language-based learning differences. Direct substitute competitor for families Kildonan's closed boarding school previously targeted.
• Institute for Multisensory Education: Structured-literacy/Orton-Gillingham teacher training organization offering accredited OG courses and practicum pathways; directly competes with KTTI in the OG teacher certification market.
• Gow School: NY-based boarding school for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Closely comparable residential educational program serving Kildonan's historical student population.
• Churchill School & Center: Independent K–12 school in NYC for students with language-based learning disabilities; competes for the same dyslexic/LD population in the Northeast corridor served by Kildonan.
• Delaware Valley Friends School: Quaker boarding/day school in Paoli, PA for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. Highly comparable in mission, pedagogy (multisensory structured literacy), and residential model.

Emerging players

• Brainspring: OG-based reading intervention training and tutoring provider with digital curriculum; partial overlap with KTTI teacher training and Kildonan's 1-to-1 tutoring, especially in remote/scaled delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/kildonan

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Kildonan School