Nonpublic Schools (NPS) are private, nonsectarian and certified by the state of California to provide special education services to students based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). These schools provide an environment to help students that are struggling academically, behaviorally and socially.
Students with Autism who have significant behavioral, mental health, or communication challenges are typically considered for this type of school setting. These programs can be very expensive, and parents may need to advocate strongly if they believe such a placement would better meet their child’s needs than the options provided by the school district.
Some schools offer residential options in addition to their academic programs. The list below is not exhaustive but includes Nonpublic schools that the Autism Society Inland Empire is aware of and attended by students with Autism in the Inland Empire area.
Beacon Day School
24 Centerpointe Drive, La Palma, CA 90623 | (714) 288-4200
6696 Via Vista Drive, Riverside, CA 92506 | (951) 516-8040
https://www.beacondayschool.com/
Beacon Day School (BDS) is a California non-public school for children with autism and related disorders, serving school districts, families, and students from across Southern California and the Inland Empire. With campuses in La Palma and Riverside, California, BDS is fully accredited by the California Department of Education. The school was founded in 2004 by Dr. Mary Jo Lang, a clinical psychologist and fellow autism parent. Dr. Lang recognized the unique and diverse academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of the autism population and aimed to create a safe, compassionate, nurturing school community dedicated to improving the lives of students and their families.
Big Springs Educational Therapy Center & School
41769 Enterprise Circle North, Suite 101, Temecula, CA 92590
(951) 719-3738
https://www.bigspringsedtherapycenter.com/
Class for Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism (HFA). The class co-taught by a special experienced education teacher and school psychologist. Academically, students will be taught at grade level standards keeping in mind their exceptional needs and individual strengths. Lessons and directions will include visual support. Occupational therapy, language therapy, and social skills training is available. Class seeks to improve the student’s social interactions, impulse control, flexible thinking, time management skills, compliance, emotional regulation, peer awareness and a variety of other skills necessary to build and maintain friendships and succeed academically in the traditional classroom. Social rules and norms will be explicitly taught using social stories, comic strip conversations, role playing and modeling. The students will practice in social groups. The student to teacher ratio will be no more than 12:1.
Canyon View and Desert View Non-Public Schools – McKinley
762 West Cypress Ave, San Dimas, CA | (909) 670-1597
8500 Escondido Ave, Hesperia, CA | 760-206-7820
https://www.mckinleycc.org/services/schoolprograms/
McKinley’s Canyon View and Desert View Schools are dedicated to providing educational services to students, ages 5-22 with learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, behavioral disorders, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Asperger Syndrome, and pervasive developmental delays. Serves students in a small class setting, structure, low student-staff ratios and specialized programs. Academic programs align with the California State Frameworks and Content Standards. Programs designed to address the disability of the students and to challenge them. The newest programs include Scientific Learning Fast Forward, Lindamood-Bell, Wilson Reading Program and the T.E.A.C.H. Program. These programs are available during and after school hours to districts and the public through private pay.
Haynes Family of Programs (formerly Leroy’s Boys Home)
233 West Baseline, Box 400, La Verne, CA
(909) 593-2581
www.leroyhaynes.org
Haynes Education Center is an accredited NPS that serves children kindergarten to 12th graders. Educational services are available from ages 5 through 22 who meet eligibility criteria. The school accommodates elementary and secondary level students not able to attend regular or special education classes in local school districts. The program serves both students from our residential program as well as those from the local community. Provides both clinical services during the day and an after school day treatment program to address each students individual needs. Haynes Education Center offers a curriculum taught by credentialed teachers in a highly structured environment. The staff is trained not only to address the curriculum but also to deal with learning disabilities and behavioral problems. These issues are addressed in the classroom environment to help the children who attend deal with them in a constructive manner.
Oak Grove Center – Murrieta, CA
Oak Grove at the Ranch – Perris, CA
(951) 677-5599
www.oakgrovecenter.org/
Oak Grove Center, a nonprofit, non-public school, 24-hour residential and educational treatment center serving children who live on campus and day students who attend their nonpublic school day program. Children and youth are admitted with a variety of psychological, social, emotional, behavioral, medical and neurological problems with concurrent behavioral difficulties, school problems, family dysfunction and alcohol or substance abuse. Many of the children have suffered physical and/or sexual abuse, other traumas or experienced many other social, emotional or behavioral challenges. Oak Grove’s school is certified NPA and accredited by WASC. The school serves students from districts throughout California. Program tracks include graduation, certificate of completion, GED, CHSPE, and vocational / transition. Additionally, the school offers Designated Instructional Services (DIS) of Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy, participation in community-based ROP, community college classes, and partial mainstreaming.
Oak Grove at the Ranch (OGR) is a California certified, WASC accredited nonpublic school operating under the umbrella of the Oak Grove Center in Perris, CA. Established in 2006, OGR provides five self-contained classes serving students ages 5-22 years old with emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and autism. Students are transported daily to and from school either by facility vehicles, their families or residential care program, or by their home district.
Port View Preparatory
1460 South Milliken Avenue, Ontario, CA
(909) 460-8140
https://www.portviewpreparatory.com/
Non public school for K -22 years; geared towards students with complex special needs have various areas that require individual services and therapies including cognitive, emotional, physiological and social needs, Port View Preparatory addresses each area in order to provide each student with the individual care and instruction needed to reach their fullest potential. Port View Prep provides an abundance of therapies and interventions designed to bring out the best in our students, both in the classroom and beyond. It provides ABA, Speech and Language services, Occupational therapy, vocational education, career development, PEERS program, social skills training, curb-to-curb transportation (home to school and school to home) in unmarked SUVs, community integration training, and the Keeping Fit at Port View Prep program.
Precious Hearts Academy
225 W. Hospitality Ln., #108, San Bernardino, CA
(909) 383-0388
http://preciousheartsacademy.org/
Precious Hearts Academy is a special education day school devoted to serving K-12 students with exceptionalities and their families by providing an individualized, enriched, trans-disciplinary and integrated educational program based on clinical evidence-based research standards to facilitate whole person development.
Sierra School of East Valley
1325 E. Cooley Dr., Colton, CA
(909) 254-5582
https://sesischools.com/locations/California/Sierra-school-of-east-valley/
Nonpublic school designed to meet the unique academic and social emotional learning needs of each individual student. Offers small class sizes, high staff to student ratio, specialized academic instruction, life skills training, counseling services, social skills training, and classroom & school wide behavior supports.
Spectrum Schools
http://spectrumschools.com
Chino Hills, CA
(909) 628-1201, ext. 5343
The Chino Hills location is a NPS for 8th-12th students. Serves students with a variety of special needs, behavioral challenges and differing abilities. Spectrum programs are designed for students with a wide array of special needs, including autism, emotional disturbance, physical challenges, behavioral disorders and developmental delays. BCBA on staff.
Jurupa Valley, CA
(951) 534-8493
At Spectrum Jurupa Valley, we strive to change the direction of children’s lives using quality research-based methods of academic instruction, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), direct instruction in social skills, and an increased focus on the development of the communication and life skills necessary for our students to grow and thrive as independent individuals.
TERI Inc.
251 Airport Rd., Oceanside, CA
(760) 721-1706
www.teriinc.org
TERI’s two non-public schools (San Marcos, CA) provide personalized learning experiences that cater to the complex needs of students with neurodiverse disabilities. Life Quality goals and evidence-based therapies are integrated within each student’s individualized education plans (IEP), ensuring a holistic approach to learning and development. Serves South Riverside County with privately funded ABA services. Also offers adult day programs: Center for Arts and Adult Education and Choices for Adult learning. Services include but are not limited to Functional Behavior Assessment and Functional Analysis Assessment when warranted, designing positive behavior support plans, providing safety training and support, and conducting research.
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion
