School History

In 1986, New Vistas School was founded by five Lynchburg-area women as a private, non-profit day school dedicated to serving the needs of children and adolescents experiencing learning and attention difficulties. “Founding Mothers” Dell Hancock, Patricia Kirtley, Libby Jarrett, Dorsey Mayo, and Lucy Ross were honored at the 2006 Commencement & Graduation.

A community-wide tutoring component for young people and adults was added in 1987. In 1990 the school moved to its present location, 520 Eldon Street, which it owns. This facility is sound and well-maintained. It consists of an older two-story building of fourteen rooms and a newer two-story wing of fifteen smaller rooms, plus six bathrooms. A two-room Science Lab, or (SLAB), is also located on the campus grounds.

In September 1995, a Primary Program for grades K-4 was added, with a Transitional Elementary developmental option for those children with specific needs and/or deficits outside the traditional K-4 offerings.

In 2001 The Lucy Guggenheimer-Ross Endowment was established by Rosel and Elliot Schewel.

New Vistas School was accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools in 2005.

At the end of the 2006 school year, after the school experienced twenty years of success and growth under her leadership, cofounder and Head Lucy Guggenheimer Ross retired.

Charlotte Morgan was chosen as Head of School beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. Her professional career working with students with specific learning needs as well as unique and varied talents bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the school. This will be invaluable as NVS faces current challenges for growth while maintaining the integrity of the small group instruction the students require.

Today, NVS remains committed to its mission and core principles of offering an individualized instructional program in a safe, nurturing environment to even more students who need our services in the central Virginia region. In coming years the Board of Directors hopes to provide an education for a growing number of children, increasing enrollment, and expanding facilities.