Orion Academy (California)

Orion Academy[1] is a private high school in Moraga, California for students challenged by Asperger's syndrome, nonverbal learning disorder (NLD), and other neurocognitive disabilities. It offers a special education college preparatory program for grades 9-12.

The school maintains a staff-to-student ratio of 1:4 with an average class size of eight. Over 90% of its graduates attend college or post-secondary training.[1] In 2010, there were 80 students total.[2]

History

Orion Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC),[3] has a 180-day curriculum, and is approved as a nonpublic school[4] by the State of California.

Kathryn Stewart, Ph.D., is Orion Academy's Executive Director.[5] In 1988, Sue Thompson, Judy Lewis, and Kathy Allen, all involved with Nonverbal Learning Disorder, met with Stewart to ask her to set up a school for students with nonverbal learning disorder or Asperger's syndrome. They introduced Stewart to Aaron and Val Simon, parents of a child with Asperger's syndrome who were interested in funding a school. With funding from the Simons, after two years of planning meetings, Orion Academy welcomed its first eight students taught by four teachers in September 2000. By June 2001, there were twelve students.[6]

The founders' goals were to create an "Orion community" of students, faculty, staff, and families to work "collaboratively to help students discover and develop their individual gifts and strengths, become self-advocates, and realize their full potential."[7] Since its founding, the school has been located at 350 Rheem Boulevard in Moraga, California. The school expanded significantly in 2006, more than doubling its space.

Offerings

Orion Academy has teachers in language arts, math, science, special education, social science, and social skills.[8]

More than 35 college preparatory courses are offered to approximately 60 students with a staff including 20 professionals in total. Extracurricular activities include chess club, student council, a travel program, and a track team. Orion-specific activities include the Dog Program, an occupational therapy class, a mandatory personal project class, social skills groups, laptop computers as a basis of all work done by students, mandated volunteer experiences, and internships opportunities."[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Orion Academy". Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lyanne Melendez (March 24, 2010). "Orion Academy in Moraga helps kids with Asperger's Syndrome". ABC 7 News. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ See http://www.wascweb.org/ Retrieved 2013/8/24
  4. ↑ For information on non-public schools, see http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/index.html Retrieved 2013/8/26
  5. ↑ Steve Silberman. "Wired 9.12: The Geek Syndrome". Wired. Retrieved 19 August 2015. Kathryn Stewart, director of the Orion Academy, a high school for high-functioning kids in Moraga, California, calls Asperger's syndrome "the engineers' disorder."
  6. 1 2 See http://www.orionacademy.org/about/history-of-orion-academy/ Retrieved 2013/8/24
  7. ↑ "About Orion Academy". Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ See school website http://www.orionacademy.org/about/faculty-and-staff/ Retrieved 2013/8/24

External links

Coordinates: 37°51′40″N 122°7′43″W / 37.86111°N 122.12861°W / 37.86111; -122.12861

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