Facility profile New York
Summit School at Nyack
Also known as Summit School, Summit Nyack
Summit School at Nyack is a residential treatment center in Nyack, New York. It has operated since 1974.
About Summit School at Nyack
Its address was 339 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960.source It was associated with the Summit School in Queens (day program).source The campus housed the Nyack Boys School 1934-1972.source
- source (2002 student pushed out window) source (death ruled suicide)
- They have a point system called WISER for school. (W is where you belong, I is for involved, S is for safe, E is for ever respectful and R is for responsible phone use.) And then WISE is for the cottage and the letters stand for the same as in WISER.
Survivor testimony
What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.
Reported on survivor forums
Timeline
From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.
1974
Opened in Nyack, New York
2002
Jeremy Gaulin, 15, died here
Fell from a window after being pushed by a fellow student
Jeremy Gaulin, 15, died here October 5, 2002
Criminal charge
The student who pushed his roommate in 2002 was indicted on a murder charge, pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years.
Criminal charge
Death
In October 2002 a 17-year-old student pushed his 15-year-old roommate out of a dorm window; the roommate died two days later at Nyack Hospital.
Death October 2002
2014
2017
Lawsuit
An October 2017 lawsuit on behalf of a minor student alleges intentional tort negligence against the school and its employees.
Lawsuit October 2017
2018
Arrest
In 2018 a former student was arrested for threatening the school; police found 19 firearms and other weapons at his home.
Arrest
2021
Abuse
In 2021 a former student who attended in the early 1990s said a supervisor hit him over the head with a telephone, sending him to the emergency room.
Abuse
Deaths on record
Lawsuits
Nonprofit tax filings
The yearly returns (IRS Form 990) of the nonprofit this program operates under, from the IRS through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.
Summit School
EIN 11-2167091, Nyack, NY. Tax-exempt since 1969. Every filing on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2023 | $23,206,815 | $20,367,830 | $370,454 | $19,713,036 | Form 990 |
| 2022 | $21,750,567 | $18,892,464 | $420,657 | $17,296,151 | Form 990 |
| 2021 | $18,614,927 | $18,983,366 | $433,353 | $17,974,431 | Form 990 |
| 2020 | $20,671,951 | $20,006,262 | $472,790 | $19,795,062 | Form 990 |
| 2019 | $19,935,011 | $19,954,809 | $458,450 | $17,090,130 | Form 990 |
| 2018 | $18,798,150 | $18,503,959 | $463,600 | $17,093,797 | Form 990 |
| 2017 | $19,075,616 | $18,356,468 | $461,700 | $17,189,126 | Form 990 |
| 2016 | $17,654,946 | $16,831,666 | $495,500 | $17,253,726 | Form 990 |
| 2015 | $17,265,508 | $16,115,326 | $430,500 | $18,212,032 | Form 990 |
Earlier years (13)
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $16,648,277 | $15,956,625 | $442,000 | $18,300,218 | Form 990 |
| 2013 | $16,452,400 | $15,460,239 | $446,102 | $18,006,010 | Form 990 |
| 2012 | $15,383,371 | $15,563,008 | $464,136 | $17,263,100 | Form 990 |
| 2011 | $15,857,312 | $17,057,804 | $526,505 | $17,476,064 | Form 990 |
| 2010 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2009 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2008 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2007 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2006 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2005 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2003 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2002 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2001 | Form 990 |
Incidents on record
-
2002 Criminal charge
The student who pushed his roommate in 2002 was indicted on a murder charge, pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years.source
-
October 2002 Death
In October 2002 a 17-year-old student pushed his 15-year-old roommate out of a dorm window; the roommate died two days later at Nyack Hospital.source
-
September 2014 Death
On September 5, 2014 a 15-year-old girl was found dead in her room; the death was ruled a suicide by asphyxiation.source
-
October 2017 Lawsuit
An October 2017 lawsuit on behalf of a minor student alleges intentional tort negligence against the school and its employees.source
-
2018 Arrest
In 2018 a former student was arrested for threatening the school; police found 19 firearms and other weapons at his home.source
-
2021 Abuse
In 2021 a former student who attended in the early 1990s said a supervisor hit him over the head with a telephone, sending him to the emergency room.source
-
Deaths
-
Abuse
Several students accuse the school of maintaining a punishment room called the Silent Room or The Box where students were held for hours without restroom access.source
-
Abuse
Survivors report physical abuse, unsanitary conditions, excessive restraints, solitary confinement, medical neglect, sexual assault and verbal abuse.source
-
Student hospitalizations
Videos
Staff
Administration
-
Deborah Dolan
Principal
-
John McCarthy
Supervisor
-
Anthony Geathers
Supervisor
-
Jennifer Robertson
Admissions Counselor
Notable staff
Rules and practices
Practices
- Restraint
- Level system
- Behavior contracts
Treatment methods
- Behavior modification
Program philosophy
- Therapeutic Community
Wiki entries
We have questions about Summit School at Nyack
If you were there, worked there or sent your child there, you can help fill in what our records are missing. Each question takes a moment; skip anything you do not know.
Materials and links
Materials the project holds for this facility. Ask through the correction form to see any of them.
News and media
- News articles
Survivor posts and discussion
- Summit School Exposed - Facebook Group
- u/fourceawakens (Reddit)
- Link to 'Summit Staff stare at FIFTEEN y/o NUDE STUDENT PHOTOS, and a suicide. Summit School’s Jordyn Cifone'
Staff listing or directory
Reference and research
- Summit School (Nyack) -Wikipedia
- 20. Summit School – Nyack, New York, United States
- Summit School at Nyack (1974-present) Nyack, NY
2 of these from SCIAD NET.