Choosing the right school can be an overwhelming process – parents not only have to consider if the school has the resources to meet their student’s needs, but they also will have to take into consideration other factors, like if their student will truly ‘fit in’ in a public school environment. 

Public schools

Let’s go back to the original question: can a student with autism attend a public school?

Our answer: of course they can. But that comes with an asterisk. A public school can provide appropriate educational and social settings for your student with autism.

However, in many cases, your local public school may struggle to find an appropriate setting and provide a meaningful educational program. Is public school likely to be a good match for your student? It all depends on your teen, your school district, and your expectations.

Parents want the best for their teens and part of that is doing due diligence and homework on schools in the area. By doing so, you can see what resources the school has for your student.

Many public schools simply aren’t the best option for teens with autism. Class sizes are too large, teachers may not be able to give individualized help, and there aren’t suitable outside-the-class activities available. 

While teachers obviously go through plenty of education and training, many teachers in public schools haven’t received specialized education related to autism, special needs, or learning difficulties.  

The average classroom size in Arizona is about 24 students and implementing an an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) for one of those 24 may be too much for a public school teacher to do effectively.

Not to mention, larger classrooms may mean less oversight. Did you know that the likelihood of bullying increases if your student has autism? Autism Speaks tells us that 60 percent of students with disabilities report being bullied regularly compared with 25 percent of all students.

Specialized schools

Your teen learns and interacts differently. Some may be more visual learners, others may need a more hands-on approach. Many may need help developing their social skills. Regardless of their needs, specialized schools are known for having individualized programs specially designed to exceed your student’s IEP requirements. 

A specialized school like PS Academy has a number of advantages over a public school:

• Students are grouped by ability, not age

• Low student to teacher ratio

• Individualized programs based on student needs

• On-site speech-language pathologist

• Over 20 clubs & electives to choose from

• A positive environment where students make friends & truly fit in

• A funding specialist that can help parents secure up to 100% of student tuition

A specialized school, like PS Academy, is created specifically for students with autism and other exceptionalities. We have the necessary resources, training, curriculum, and more to help your student learn and thrive.

What’s more, is that we do not focus on your student’s diagnosis. Our motto is – focus on the able, look past the label. Our students are treated like any “typical” student – we expect them to show up on time, do their homework, be held accountable, participate in group activities, among many other things.

The Verdict

While on your school search, consider PS Academy. We have been helping teens with autism and other exceptionalities for over 10 years and look forward to helping you answer any questions you may have during your journey to find the right school.

If you have a question or are interested in a tour, reach out and get in contact with us. We look forward to hearing from you!