About Janus

The Janus School is the only school dedicated to the education of students with learning differences in south central Pennsylvania.  Built on a beautiful 40-acre campus in Mount Joy, PA, we serve students in grades K-12 diagnosed with a language- or math-based learning disability, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), executive function difficulties (EFD), nonverbal learning disorder, or auditory processing disorder.

The Janus School is dually accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS).  Teaching at Janus is designed for and tailored to the individual learning profiles, strengths, and opportunities for growth of each student.

Celebrating 30 Years of Remarkable Growth

2021 marked 30 years since a group of four parents embarked on the path to create a safe, inspiring place for students with learning differences to learn and thrive.  Over the past 32 years, we’ve been honored to be part of the learning journey for hundreds of students and their families.  The grit and spirit of each student continually inspires our team to create new ways to connect, learn and grow.  As we look back on the last 30 years and to the future and the amazing opportunities ahead, we invite you meet just a few of our students and hear their amazing stories of growth and perseverance.

Mission and Vision

The Janus School empowers students who learn differently to become lifelong learners and problem solvers by giving them the skills, strategies, and confidence to achieve academic and personal success.  The Janus School’s vision is that our students will become thriving participants in diverse communities, empowered by their education to succeed.

The Janus School Difference

Janus focuses on developing the whole student to “learn how to learn”.  Students at Janus confront their learning differences head-on and become their own biggest advocate in negotiating school, work, and life.  They are successful because they are empowered to lead rich fulfilling lives by adapting their own learning needs to the world around them.

Small class sizes and one-to-one tutorials are the hallmark of a Janus education, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 4 to 1 and average class size of 6.2 students.  Students at The Janus School know they cannot disappear in the classroom.  Individualized day-to-day attention allows Janus teachers to truly focus on the most beneficial strategies for each student.

Beyond the benefit of small class sizes and one-on-one instruction, The Janus School stays on the cutting edge of leading education practices and uses the All Kinds of Minds neurodevelopmental model to shape and inform the work done with students.  Through this model, all Janus faculty members work towards the same overarching neurodevelopmental goals for each individual student.

History

The Janus School was founded in 1991 by a group of 4 parents with the shared mission of creating a unique school with a program and environment specifically designed for students with learning differences, giving their children the skills to succeed.

The Janus School was named after the Roman deity Janus, the god of doorways, gates, time, and beginnings and endings.  Our founders chose that name because it represents a new start and a chance for a new beginning on the journey to becoming a lifelong learner.  Many say the month of January is named after him as well.

Originally renting classrooms at a local business, Janus purchased land in Mount Joy, PA and in 1997 moved into its brand-new building at its current location.  In 2009, the building was renovated and expanded to include a new gym with a state-of-the-art stage, cafeteria and teaching kitchen, art room, an outside amphitheater, and computer labs.

We look forward to the future as we continue to expand and grow our programs, building more ways for our students to succeed.

Diversity Statement

The Janus School is committed to providing an inclusive community where every individual is respected and protected.  We are committed to promoting equality, peace, and justice both in our school and the world around us.  We help students learn to respect each other, understand differences and different perspectives, and to embrace diversity.  It is through this understanding that students are enabled to help create a world that values multiculturalism and equality for all.  The Janus School is committed to supporting students, families, faculty, and administrators of different cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, religions, learning styles, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.