New School To Open In West Suffield

SUFFIELD, CT — A new independent school with room for fewer than 20 students is preparing to open in West Suffield for the 2026-27 school year.

Hilltop Academy, located at 1357 Mountain Road, is accepting students entering kindergarten through seventh grade. The school plans to add one grade each year until it serves students through grade 12.

The nonprofit school was founded by Suffield resident Gina Martin-Ryan, who has spent more than 30 years working as a teacher and school administrator in Connecticut and Massachusetts. According to the school, Martin-Ryan has been developing the idea for Hilltop Academy for about a decade.

Hilltop will use a mix of project-based, self-directed and hands-on learning. Its program also includes outdoor education, community service, mentorship and opportunities for students to help shape what and how they learn.

The school will offer a full-time program along with a hybrid option for homeschooling families. Hybrid students will attend in person two days a week, while Friday programming will center on field trips, service projects and other community-based activities.

Enrollment during the inaugural year will be capped at 15 to 18 students, according to the school's admissions page. Full-time tuition is $20,000 for the year, while the hybrid program costs $11,000. Admissions are rolling until the available seats are filled.

Hilltop Academy is not affiliated with a religion and operates as a nonprofit organization. The town recently featured the school in its local business spotlight.

More information is available at hilltopheroes.org.