New, four-year college preparatory program welcomes inaugural class of seven students in Fall 2026
Iona Preparatory School is proud to announce the launch of The Academy at Iona Prep, a comprehensive four-year college preparatory program designed to provide an additional layer of academic support for students with learning differences while maintaining the rigorous academic standards, faith-based formation, and brotherhood that define an Iona Prep education. The Academy will welcome its inaugural class of seven students when it officially begins this September.
Developed to address the growing need for specialized, scaffolded academic support within a college preparatory environment, The Academy is designed for students with learning differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, executive functioning challenges, speech and language impairments, and Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program enables students to fully participate in Iona Prep’s mainstream curriculum while receiving individualized support tailored to their unique learning needs.
Interest in The Academy has been strong since its announcement, with the inaugural cohort beginning in September 2026 intentionally limited to a small group of students to ensure a highly personalized experience. School leaders anticipate measured growth in future years while maintaining the individualized support and student-centered approach that are both a hallmark of the debuting program and a legacy of “Iona Preparation” that spans more than a century.
“The Academy reflects our commitment to ensuring that every young man has the opportunity to thrive academically, physically and spiritually,” said Iona Preparatory President Brother Thomas R. Leto, CFC, Ed.D., after whom the Options Program at Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, Rhode Island, is named. “Families are increasingly seeking schools that combine academic excellence with individualized support. The Academy allows students to benefit from all that Iona Prep has to offer, while receiving the specialized guidance and resources they need to reach their full potential.”
Students enrolled in The Academy will be fully integrated into mainstream college preparatory courses in English, History, Theology, Mathematics and Science. They will also participate in a structured academic support model that includes daily study skills classes during their freshman and sophomore years, followed by regular academic coaching and self-advocacy development as juniors and seniors.
The Academy is being led by Kimberly Cinguina P’25, Director of Academic Support Services and Academy Teacher, who brings extensive experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. Drawing upon her half decade of experience as an assistant principal at the John Cardinal O’Connor School, Mrs. Cinguina utilizes executive functioning coaching, organizational skill development, assistive technology integration, test-taking strategies, and individualized accommodations, to help her students build the skills and confidence necessary for success in college and beyond.
“Our goal is not simply to help students succeed in high school,” said Cinguina. “We are building a pathway that develops independent learners, confident self-advocates, and young men who are prepared to navigate the challenges of college and future careers. The Academy’s scaffolded support model is designed to gradually increase independence while ensuring each student has the tools and strategies needed to excel.”
The Academy’s approach includes executive functioning support, time management and organizational coaching, self-advocacy training, long-term planning skills, assistive technology integration, and documented classroom and testing accommodations. By senior year, students transition to a collegiate-style support model that emphasizes independence and self-advocacy.
As one of the few programs of its kind offered within a Catholic college preparatory school in the region, The Academy represents an important expansion of Iona Prep’s mission to meet the evolving educational needs of students and families, while remaining rooted in the school’s century-long tradition of academic excellence and faith formation.
Applications for The Academy are currently being accepted for the Fall 2027 semester and beyond. Interested families should visit IonaPrep.org/Academy for more information or to begin their application.