Massachusetts

The trusted mental health partner to schools, students, and families in Massachusetts

Massachusetts schools are facing mounting pressure: chronic absenteeism is rising, student mental health needs are outpacing available resources, and Massachusetts ranks among the lowest in the country for teacher morale. The districts making progress are the ones treating mental health as the root cause of attendance, behavior, and academic outcomes — and building sustainable supports around it.

Therapy and psychiatry via telehealth

PK-12 students, families, and school staff

In school or at home, mornings, evenings, and on weekends

Accepting all major insurance, including MassHealth

Specialized programs to address school avoidance

No waitlist for care

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Join 65+ school districts who partner with Cartwheel in Massachusetts

Real Results from Massachusetts School Districts

45% Drop in Chronic Absenteeism Among Students Receiving Cartwheel Services

Salem Public Schools faced rising chronic absenteeism and behavioral incidents — with long waitlists, transportation barriers, and scheduling conflicts keeping students from getting timely care. Cartwheel helped Salem address those root causes, and the data shows what's possible when mental health support is truly accessible.

45% reduction in chronically absent students receiving care from Cartwheel
50% reduction in unexcused absence rate
64% of students with prior out-of-school suspensions had none after Cartwheel

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81% of Students Receiving Cartwheel Telehealth Maintained or Improved Their GPA

Facing growing student mental health needs and tightening budgets after ESSER funding expired, Medway Public Schools needed a sustainable solution. After partnering with Cartwheel, the district conducted a formal academic outcomes evaluation — and the results were clear: students receiving teletherapy were more likely to maintain or improve their GPA than peers not receiving services, at less than 1/4 the cost of a single FTE.

81% of students receiving teletherapy improved or maintained their GPA (vs. 76% of all students)
100% of students showed significant reduction in depression and anxiety
Costs the district less than 1/4 of an equivalent FTE

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84% Reduction in Behavioral Incidents for Students Receiving Cartwheel Telehealth

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District has seen Cartwheel make a measurable difference not just in student mental health, but in school climate. Students receiving Cartwheel telehealth experienced 4.4 fewer behavioral incidents per student per year — a powerful demonstration of how addressing mental health at the root changes outcomes across the board.

84% reduction in behavioral incidents for students receiving Cartwheel telehealth
4.4 fewer incidents per student per year

Watch the Case Study ›

Why Massachusetts School Districts Partner With Cartwheel

"Cartwheel has bilingual culturally responsive therapists which is vitally important, particularly for Chelsea, where 90-plus percent of the district is Latinx."

Aaron Jennings

Equity, Diversity, and Excellence Officer, Chelsea Public Schools

"The unique niche is providing short-term care and reducing response rate. Of students referred, all started teletherapy within the first week of referral. In the world of mental health, that is very rapid."

Peter Light

Superintendent, Acton-Boxborough Public Schools

"I'll say [our] number one [issue] would be school avoidance. And that's where I think Cartwheel can really be so beneficial because that's not something that our school-based counselors are really addressing."

Karri Isidoro

Psychologist, Danvers Public Schools

"Cartwheel has been a game changer for our staff and students. St. Mary's is a better place because of Cartwheel."

Dr. John F. Doulan

Executive Director, St. Mary's School, Massachusetts

"We were really looking for a partner that could help support some short-term work so that we didn't get to that crisis level, and doing some kind of early intervention and proactive work with us."

Kim Huffer

Director of Social Emotional Learning, Cambridge Public Schools

Hear from Massachusetts Education Leaders

Reversing Chronic Absenteeism: District Results, Clinical Insights and Sustainable Funding Models

Previously Recorded February 9

Ellen Wingard, Executive Director of Student and Family Support Services at Salem Public Schools, shares how her district achieved a 45% reduction in chronically absent students by making mental health a core part of their attendance strategy. She is joined by Carla Gonçalves, Director of the Massachusetts School-Based Telebehavioral Health Pilot at The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, who offers a statewide perspective on what's driving chronic absenteeism across Massachusetts — and what's actually working.

Watch now

Breaking the Cycle: How Districts Are Solving Chronic Absenteeism by Making Mental Health a Core Attendance Strategy

Previously Recorded December 4

Mary Skipper, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, shares how Boston reduced chronic absenteeism by 7% in a single year by shifting from a punitive attendance model to one rooted in care, connection, and mental health support. Superintendent Skipper offers a candid look at what it takes to move the needle on one of today's most pressing challenges — and what Massachusetts district leaders can take back to their own schools.

Watch now

The highest quality mental health care for Massachusetts' students, families, and school staff — no waitlists

1-1 Evidence-Based Therapy

Students and families meet virtually with licensed therapists who specialize in supporting young people. Through regular sessions, typically for 10–12 weeks with some students engaging for up to one year, students learn to understand their emotions, develop practical coping skills, and build resilience to handle life's challenges.

Specialized School Avoidance Program

With chronic absenteeism on the rise across Massachusetts, our evidence-based program combines weekly therapy, parent guidance, and coordinated school collaboration to help kids get back on track. Our shared portal tracks real-time student progress updates.

Parent Guidance

One-on-one sessions with child mental health experts who provide personalized guidance on supporting a child's wellbeing. Parents will get practical strategies and expert advice for managing specific concerns, from anxiety to school challenges.

Family Therapy

Joint sessions with students and family members focus on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and strengthening relationships. They work together with a family specialist to develop solutions that help everyone thrive.

Psychiatry & Medication Management

Comprehensive psychiatric support from experienced child psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, including evaluations, medication management, and ongoing care coordination. Treatment plans are tailored to each student's needs with regular monitoring to ensure effectiveness.

92%

Students report improvement

in their mental health due to Cartwheel

3x

Better student follow-through

in care and 5x engagement versus other telehealth programs

7 days

From referral to first appointment

to meet with an Massachusetts licensed clinician.

What makes Cartwheel the trusted telehealth partner for school districts in Massachusetts?

High quality clinical program

Cartwheel uses evidence-based practices and offers a wide range of options, including individual therapy, parent guidance, family therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and therapy for school staff.

Care coordination for families

Cartwheel pairs each family with a care coordinator to help with scheduling, reminders, and insurance. Our student engagement rate is 2x higher than for other telehealth providers.

Compliant data collection and impact reporting

Cartwheel reports on usage and impact data – at an aggregated level, without identifying students – to ensure any state dollars are spent wisely. Subject to parental consent, Cartwheel also collaborates with school staff to support quality care.

Care regardless of coverage

We ensure every student in Massachusetts can access support, regardless of their insurance status. Cartwheel will accept all insurance including MassHealth (Medicaid) and private insurance.

Our team has decades experience working with students and families.

Here are a few examples of needs we can support:

Anxiety · Stress · Depression · Sadness · Grief or loss · Low self-esteem · Self-harm · · Coping skills · Motivation · Family & relationships · Anger ·  Trauma · School avoidance · Social issues · Sleep issues · Technology use

“Students are never going to be available for learning if they don't feel safe, secure, and their well-being isn't intact as they come to school each day."

Dr. Stephen Zrike

Superintendent
Salem Public Schools

Join the growing number of Massachusetts districts working with Cartwheel.

Want to learn more? We’d love to talk.

Schedule a Learning Session