Echelon Academy
900 Olney Sandy Spring Rd., Sandy Spring, MD; 301-570-0999; K-12; $17,500 (K); $24,880 (1st-8th); $26,700 (9th-12th); 12 students.
Mission
This nonprofit school provides education to elementary, middle, and high school students who are unsuccessful in a traditional school setting or have language/learning disabilities.
Kennedy School
801 Buchanan St., NE; 202-281-2900; ages 5-22; funded by jurisdiction; 30 students.
Mission
The Kennedy School is a private day school educating children, adolescents, and young adults ages 5 to 22 with a primary diagnosis of intellectual disability. We serve students referred from the DC public school system who are in need of a more focused and specialized learning environment. In addition to an intellectual disability, our students may exhibit multiple needs, including speech and language disorders, emotional disorders, and fine and gross motor issues. Our students receive academic, transitional, and therapeutic services that foster independence and lifelong learning.
Kingsbury Day School
5000 14th St., NW; 202-722-5555; pre-K-12th grade; $39,730; 182 students.
Mission
The Kingsbury Center provides a transformative educational and social experience for children and adults with learning differences.
What’s New?
(1) Smart phones: This school year, Upper School students in The Kingsbury Day School are being provided with individual smart phones to enhance their learning and assist them to apply and utilize technology successfully, communicate clearly, and listen effectively.
(2) Launch of HOPE program: Kingsbury’s HOPE program is designed to support non-traditional high school students with learning differences and ADHD. HOPE provides a highly flexible, part-time, compacted high school diploma program through afternoon and evening classes. High school students who have been unsuccessful in other general or special education programs benefit from the individualized learning plans and the intensive academic and behavioral support they receive at HOPE.
(3) Expansion of building space and related services: The Kingsbury Center completed a renovation of its west wing and expanded staff services to meet the needs of children with learning differences in the metro area who require tutoring, diagnostic assessments, psychological services, occupational/physical therapy, and speech and language therapy.
The Lab School
4759 Reservoir Rd., NW; 202-965-6600; ages 6-18; $39,600 (lower school), $40,350 (middle), $41,995 (upper), not including additional services; 377 students.
Mission
The Lab School of Washington is an innovative learning community fostering scholarship and creativity in students with different learning styles.
What’s New?
Recently broke ground for a new high school. The building is scheduled to open in early 2016.
St. Coletta of Greater Washington
1901 Independence Ave., SE; 202-350-8680; ages 3-22; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 285 students.
Mission
Our mission is to serve children and adults with intellectual disabilities and to support their families. At St. Coletta we believe in the immeasurable value of the individual human spirit and the right of each individual to live as full and independent a life as possible. We respect the dignity of all persons entrusted to our care and our goal is to serve them in an atmosphere that encourages their talents, celebrates their successes, and builds their self-esteem.
Chelsea School
2970 Belcrest Center Dr., Hyattsville, MD; 240-467-2100; 5th-12th grade; $36,965; 70 students.
Mission
Chelsea School educates promising students with specific language-based learning differences in a rigorous, individualized college preparatory environment to become lifelong, independent learners.
Diener School
11510 Falls Rd., Potomac, MD; 301-299-4602; K-6th grade $41,000, scholarships available; 40 students.
Mission
To teach through experience, stimulate academically, prepare socially, and create a successful educational journey that motivates minds and inspires capabilities for a lifetime.
Foundation School
1330 McCormick Dr., Largo, MD; 301-772-1200; 1st-12th grade; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 168 students.
Mission
The Foundation School provides a highly specialized educational and therapeutic program for children and adolescents in grades 1-12 with emotional disabilities and prepares them to be productive and successful in their future academic and career paths.
Foundation School of Montgomery County
220 Girard St., Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD; 301-740-7807; 3rd-12th grade; tuition paid by Montgomery County and DCPS; 74 students.
Mission
The Foundation School provides a highly specialized educational and therapeutic program for children and adolescents in grades 1-12 with emotional disabilities and prepares them to be productive and successful in their future academic and career paths. .
Frost School
4915 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, MD; 301-933-3451; ages 5-21; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 110 students.
Mission
The Frost School is a 12-month special education school that provides educational services to students ages five to 21 with autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and other related disorders. We offer four different programs at The Frost School, each customized to a specific student population. This allows us to integrate specialized academic instruction, counseling, transition services, and behavioral modification strategies that are unique to working with each of these groups.
Ivymount School
11614 Seven Locks Rd., Rockville; 301-469-0223; ages 4-21; $44,000-$63,000, with most students funded by jurisdiction; 217 students.
Mission
To enable students to achieve their highest level of development; to support families in their efforts to make intelligent, thoughtful choices for their children; and to be leaders in the community and in the field of special education so that our expertise is widely accessible.
What’s New?
Ivymount currently has over a dozen research and collaborative partnerships with leading organizations throughout the Greater Washington, DC area, including Project SEARCH, NIH, CNMC-CASD, Georgetown University, and the Kennedy Center, among others.
Katherine Thomas School
9975 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD; 301-738-9691; Pre-K-12th grade; $18,651 (pre-school) $29,095 (lower and middle) $34,161 (high school); 140 students.
Mission
The Katherine Thomas School’s mission is to enable students to reach their full educational potential through a multi-sensory, developmental, language-intensive curriculum. It is our goal to provide all students with a positive, success-oriented curriculum that focuses on the following:
* Improving the student’s abilities in academic, cognitive, interpersonal, and organizational skills
* Developing the student’s positive self-image
* Providing an integrated family/school approach to setting and attaining appropriate goals
* Facilitating the student’s transition into a less restrictive environment at the appropriate time
* Facilitating the student’s transition into college, technical training, or employment
Kennedy Krieger Institute-Montgomery County
12301 Academy Way, Rockville, MD; 443-923-4170; ages 7-21; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 53 students; Ungraded program for students ages 7 to 21 with moderate to severe autism and related disorders.
Mission
At Kennedy Krieger School: Montgomery County Campus, our mission is to provide students with the opportunities and supports needed to achieve their highest potential. The unique characteristics of each student are valued and nurtured academically, socially, and behaviorally to ensure success in life.
What’s New?
Have implemented a STEAM curriculum which is a take on STEM, and which includes art.
Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children
12301 Academy Way, Rockville, MD; 301-984-4444; Pre-K-5th grade; tuition paid by jurisdiction and private; 34 students; louriecenter.org.
General
Pre-K through 5th grade for students with emotional, social, and behavioral disabilities.
What’s New?
Under a new 11-month calendar, the school runs from late August through July. It recently restructured its family-therapy groups.
Recent Accomplishments
Lourie School was recognized by the National Association of Special Education Teachers as a 2009 School of Excellence.
Phillips School-Laurel
8920 Whiskey Bottom Rd., MD, Laurel; 301-470-1620; ages 8-21; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 62 students.
General
Therapeutic school serving students ages 8 to 21 with autism, Asperger’s, mental retardation, and emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities.
Summit School
664 E. Central Ave., Edgewater, MD; 410-798-0005; 1st-8th grade; $28,596; 100 students.
Mission
The Summit School educates children with unique learning styles to their full potential.
What’s New?
Recently changed their curriculum to include STEM. Summit uses a hands-on approach to teaching, and the nature of STEM works well for their students.
Commonwealth Academy
1321 Leslie Ave., Alexandria, VA; 703-548-6912; 3rd-12th grade; $34,000; 164 students.
Mission
Commonwealth Academy is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for average to superior students who benefit from small classes and instruction designed to address various learning styles, including those students who have organizational, attention, or learning differences.
Dominion School
8000 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield; 703-321-9091; 7th-12th grade; tuition is $44,000 and sometimes paid by jurisdiction; 27 students.
General
7th through 12th grades for emotionally and learning disabled students.
Little Keswick School
500 Little Keswick Dr., Keswick, VA; 434-295-0457; boys ages 9-15; $98,263, not including additional services (paid either by parents or by jurisdiction); 34 students.
Mission
Little Keswick School’s philosophy of education encompasses both academic and social/emotional growth for each individual student. Recognizing that every child has his own individual capabilities, the child’s environment is structured in order that he is able to achieve his potential growth through the development of a positive self-concept. Emphasis is placed on self-respect and respect for others.
Oakland School
128 Oakland Farm Way, Troy, VA; 434-293-9059; ages 6-14; $27,500 (day), $48,000 (boarding); five-week summer day/boarding program $4,200 (day), $7,500 (boarding); 37 students.
General
Ungraded for ages 6 to 14 with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and learning differences.
Mission
Oakland School is committed to creating a nurturing environment in which the particular academic, emotional, and social needs of each student will be met. We recognize that every child is unique and learns differently and that an academic program must be tailored for each individual. Our goal is to encourage and help students achieve their potential, so that they will develop a love of learning as well as a firm sense of self-worth and respect for themselves and others.
Oakwood School
7210 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA; 703-941-5788; K-8th grade; $31,200; 105 students.
Mision
Oakwood School provides a multi-sensory educational program in which students with learning differences are guided to achieve their unique academic and social potential in a nurturing community environment.
General
Ungraded (equivalent of K through 8th grade) for bright children with learning differences.
What’s New
Oakwood has implemented a variety of programs within the past few years such as specialized reading instruction, speech and language and occupational therapy services, extended day both before and after school, enrichment clubs like drama, music/piano and voice lessons, and Outrageous Fitness.
Phillips School-Annandale
7010 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA; 703-941-8810; ages 6-21; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 179 students.
General
For ages 6 to 21 with level-five emotional, learning, and behavioral disabilities.
What’s New?
The school is working on increasing its number of community-service projects within the Annandale area.
Recent Accomplishments
Winner of the 2010 Washington Post Award for excellence in nonprofit management.
Timber Ridge School
1463 New Hope Rd., Cross Junction; 540-888-3456; boys ages 10-21; tuition paid by jurisdiction; 62 students.
General
Timber Ridge has four residential options depending on the needs of the student, with varying lengths of stay. Its signature program is a 12-month residential program for emotionally disturbed, socially maladjusted, or learning disabled boys ages 10 to 21.
Mission
Timber Ridge School SHAPES student’s lives by providing safety, hope, advocacy, preparation through education, empowerment, and success.
